The New Orleans Saints will almost certainly have a new starting quarterback next season. Although Drew Brees continues to slow the game down in his inevitable retirement, the handwriting is on the wall. He finished.
In recent years, Saints head coach Sean Payton has suggested that Taysom Hill would be Brees’ eventual successor. Surely enough, when Brees was injured in 2020, Hill got a nod on Jameis Winston – although it caused a mini mutiny in the locker room.
If New Orleans choose to pick Hill as a starter, Winston is unlikely to want to return. And his departure in turn raises two important questions: 1. Where would he go, and 2. With whom will the saints replace him?
This week, Pro Football Focus’s Seth Galina set out to answer those two questions, as well as resolve the Patriots quarterback’s notable issues.
First, he pointed out that Winston has a natural home in New England.
“With [Jameis] Winston, Bill Belichick might believe he can be the one to mold him into a true NFL quarterback, ”he wrote. “The tools are already there. Winston was fourth in big throws in 2019 with 31, but he’s also led the league in turnover-worthy games with 40. Someone’s going to pay a lot of money to try and fix this man.
In his last full season as a starter in 2019, Winston threw over 5,000 yards. This is the good. The bad thing, however, is that he also led the league in interceptions with 30. And he did so by working with the backbone of this year’s Super Bowl winning team – a group far superior to the one he would end up with in New England.
Assuming Winston lands with the Patriots, though – what happens to New Orleans?
“If Winston leaves – and Drew Brees retires – the Saints will say whatever it takes to love Taysom Hill as a starting quarterback, but they’ll need some veteran backup,” Galina continued.
“Between Newton and Andy Dalton, there are two interesting and very different ideas. Dalton looked like the perfect replacement when he signed with Dallas last season, and he had times where he looked competent after being put on duty. With Cam, who didn’t look great in New England, at least there’s an attack deferral between what he can do and what will be in Taysom Hill’s playbook.
While Newton certainly carries some name recognition, his time with the Patriots this year hasn’t been particularly impressive. He no longer appears to have the ability to pitch to be a dominant quarterback in the NFL.
Klay knows how to do well on Valentine’s Day. https://t.co/Gxt1gRLTX2
– Thu 7 (@ game7__) February 15, 2021
If the logic here is to bring him in so that Hill, the full-time starter, has a veteran behind him, then of course. But if there is any expectation that he can actually be a credible contributor to a team with playoff aspirations, that bubble should have burst once and for all last season.
Payton’s recent comments about Winston and his future with the organization were revealing.
What this will ultimately mean for the future of all parties involved remains to be seen, however.
Either way, the final decisions on Winston and Newton are expected to come in the coming weeks.
A report: Why Tiger Woods won’t see his kids after an accident
–
