Past Quarterbacks the Saints could have drafted rounds 1 and 2 (2 Viewers)

[BayouSAINTJoe]

The only miss IMO is Love

 

[St. Geezy]

The only miss IMO is Love

Yeah I understand the sentiment that he may not have been ready, but at that point, we were at DEFCON-1 on Drew’s arm.

We were at “Draft first round QB just for the sake of it” territory at that stage.

 

[Geldo]

Trading first rd picks in the early 80s for Richard Todd and for Earl Campbell (When we already had George Rogers) and wasting another first on Dave Wilson who never once looked like a starter really hurt this team.
Imagine if we had stockpiled a couple for the obviously talent rich 83 draft. Always think we could have come away with Jim Kelly that year. But then let’s be honest Bum thought a QB had only two roles…
1. Don’t lose the game
2. Give the ball to a RB

Doubt if Kelly or Marino would have come to us over the USFL if they were going into a heavy run game scenario

 

[Dean in L.A.]

Had no idea that Craig Ironhead Heyward was a first round pick. Had just started watching football around that time with the 1987 season, and probably literally didn’t even know a college draft existed at that point. To those old kindergartener eyes of mine, it just seemed like new dudes just showed up wanting to play every so often. lol

A fullback in round 1…man football sure was different back then.

Loved me some Ironhead and could watch his highlight plays all day long. But indeed, the thinking going into a draft is totally different nowadays versus back then. The level of disconnect and disorganization makes Loomis' recent performance look wholly competent by comparison.

Looking at it with 21st century eyes, the Saints didn't need a fullback headed into 1988 after being run out of the Dome by the faster, speedier Vikings. They needed a WR who could actually get open for Bobby Hebert to throw to. He had Mark Duper in college, Anthony Carter in the USFL, then no one with the Saints. No one who could get open downfield. Eric Martin caught the same kind of pass nearly every time.

They actually drafted one in '88, Brett Perriman, in the second round. But he wasn't ever used as often as he should have been (you could hardly call the Carl Smith offense a "system," as we call certain types of offenses today. I dunno what the holy heck it was, actually). Perriman caught a balloon ball from Bobby to set up Morten's game-winner vs. Dallas in his rookie season, but then never really saw the ball again until Fourcade's three weeks of fame to end the following season. Can't quite remember if he was traded to Detroit or if he was part of the old "Plan B" free agency, but he ended up having a pair of thousand-yard seasons there, when the Lions had Barry in the backfield, Scott Mitchell at QB and Herman Moore on other side at WR.

and the Ironhead year didn’t we pass on Thurman Thomas woulda coulda shoulda.
Almost a decade later was passed on Eddie George to take Alex Molden.

 

[Dean in L.A.]

Not a Carl Smith hater or fan, but he did OC the Seahawks in 2 Super Bowls and won 1. Mora deserves most of the blame for not going to the next level and Smith’s philosophy was tied to his HC.

I’m not saying Smith deserves praise. I agree that McCarthy was definitely a HUGE upgrade, but he probably wouldn’t be where he is today if Mora had been the one to hire him.

I don’t disagree but with you, but with us he was I do think he got better. Just as Mora changed to a dynamic offense with Payton Manning. Heck Sean Payton was demoted with the Giants and then the Giants went onto the playoffs in spite of Payton under Jim Fassel. Then Payton got with Parcels and learned. I am a big believer that players and coordinators can develop and change/improve.

 

[Saintslfc13]

I’m excited for the draft this year simply because I literally have no clue what that Saints are thinking or who they may pick. I mean we never know but usually the picture is clearer. My dream scenario for this year would be a trade down for more picks next year. Then use those picks plus future picks if needed to move up and grab the top QB next year. I don’t see anyone super excited about Sanders or Dart. Or referring to them as can’t miss prospects. That’s why I would prefer to pass. If Coach Moore and the front office are sold on one of them then I’m fine with us picking either. I’m just worried that they will talk themselves into drafting one of them just because they’re scared to not draft a QB. We need a QB of the future so they overlook a few flaws and put too much trust in the positives so they can justify the pick. That’s what scares me.

My only issue with the "stock up on future picks" idea is that you still need a willing trade partner in that scenario. There's a good chance that anyone that is in position to get the best QB in the draft in any given year also feels they need that QB themselves. If they don't for whatever reason, they still might prefer another package to ours or maybe it's a team from our division or conference who'd prefer not to enable us to draft a potentially great QB.

I'm not extremely high on either Sanders or Dart either but if we draft one of them and they don't work out we're probably picking high enough ourselves within 1-3 years to not really need as much to offer in a trade situation, if we even have to trade at all.

 

[bigdaddysaints]

i can't believe we passed on Josh Freeman..

 

[St.Dan]

and the Ironhead year didn’t we pass on Thurman Thomas woulda coulda shoulda.
Almost a decade later was passed on Eddie George to take Alex Molden.

The entire league plus another half a round of 'em passed on Thurman Thomas due to concerns over a knee injury at Okla. St. He dropped to the middle of the second round.

I don’t disagree but with you, but with us he was I do think he got better. Just as Mora changed to a dynamic offense with Payton Manning. Heck Sean Payton was demoted with the Giants and then the Giants went onto the playoffs in spite of Payton under Jim Fassel. Then Payton got with Parcels and learned. I am a big believer that players and coordinators can develop and change/improve.

Accurate on all counts. The reasons why the Mora era teams couldn't get past the first round went beyond the playing field. Finks was already pretty much a dinosaur when he got here in '86. It's just that he represented some semblance of competency after decades of disorganization when Mecom owned the team. Free agency would've driven him to retiring had he somehow survived the lung cancer a little while longer. And Benson had too many other business interests at the time besides the Saints. And not just selling cars, either. Too many irons on the fire.