Saints met with top QB prospect Cam Ward; Cam Ward: “It would be a dream of mine to play for the Saints” [Saints inquired about trading up for Cam]

[Saintly Marine]

I don’t think this is a good year to take a quarterback early in the first round, but wouldn’t be opposed to one in the second or third — or late first if there was someone who slid that they liked.

Regarding Sanders, right now it would be a shock for him to get out of the top 10, but maybe that’s not how teams are looking at him? Or maybe he’s who the Saints really covet, and what they’re saying about him and Ward is a smoke screen?

Absolutely. We have Garrett Nuss coming in the draft Next Year..{Tongue in cheek}

 

[DSnfla]

Funny thing was Davenport wasn't really a Sean Payton pick - was largely a Jeff Ireland & Mickey Loomis collaboration! And I'm not sure why... not being close to contention should stop a team from going up to draft a QB that they covet.

“Let’s build up the team in other areas and then add one later.” So in theory your team is better so it means you’re lower in the draft so then you’re giving up far far more to go up to get a QB. And the kicker - the Saints LOVE Ward. Isn’t there something to just getting yr guy?

Saints been trying to build the trenches for YEARS much like PHI - and largely have failed mightily. Ruiz (average), Penning (borderline starter, who they traded a future first that became Jalen Carter), Fuaga (great pick but they would've taken Bowers if he was there), McCoy (good pick), Davenport (largely overdrafted and great up huge assets to acquire), Turner (lol), Foskey (should probably be cut after training camp coming up). What does that amount to... just a bunch of wasted picks on "areas of need" to build the team around.

At some point, the team needs to draft a QB. They tried last year with Penix. They will likely try again this year with Ward (doubt it happens because I just don't see TEN doing it) but the notion the the team shouldn't be the QB business when they don't have a franchise QB or even a good one is... so confusing & puzzling.

Underhill reported more than once that Davenport was a SP pick, he felt that after the Min. playoff game that a DT was the missing piece.

Building a very good team 1st means that you have a better chance to get to the SB even if you don't have a Mahomes, or Allen or Burow or even a Hurts. And if you have built a very good team then you could theoretically use a couple 1sts to move up to get your guy and STILL have a very good team that the transition to the new QB would be smoother

Also there have been quite a few franchise QBs drafted #10 or later, so if lets say next yr or even in 27 we are picking from 16-25 a trad up to top 10 would not be as expensive.

So if we missed hitting big on some OL and DL picks you're saying we should just stop drafting OL and DL?

I didn't say we should not be looking for a QB in the draft , I said just not THIS draft and certainly not trade up to #1 costing us at least 2 #1s and probably a 2,and 3 or even more. That would but our return to contention back 2 yrs because the draft is what we need to improve the team the most. AND what if Ward is a bust much like Trey Lance or Zach Wilson . Then you have very limited draft capitol and no franchise QB

 

[longtime lurker]

…
Ahead of Ward's Miami Pro Day on Monday, the Titans didn't explicitly say they plan to select the 2024 Heisman Finalist with the top pick. But they didn't have to. The contingent they brought with them to Miami made their intentions pretty apparent. That's because the Titans went beyond the standard "general manager, head coach, and top scouts" group. According to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, they even brought their in-house TV and website production team.

Oh. Huh. Why would you need your content team on hand for a player who isn't officially part of your roster yet? It's almost as if the Titans are laying down every possible piece of the groundwork to draft Ward and quickly get their fanbase excited about him as a potential franchise quarterback with things like hype videos, interviews, and exclusive stories…

The Titans going all out for Cam Ward at Miami Pro Day makes their NFL Draft plan seem clear

Cam Ward, get ready to learn honky-tonk, buddy.

ca.sports.yahoo.com

 

[AdamWest]

Underhill reported more than once that Davenport was a SP pick, he felt that after the Min. playoff game that a DT was the missing piece.

Building a very good team 1st means that you have a better chance to get to the SB even if you don't have a Mahomes, or Allen or Burow or even a Hurts. And if you have built a very good team then you could theoretically use a couple 1sts to move up to get your guy and STILL have a very good team that the transition to the new QB would be smoother

Also there have been quite a few franchise QBs drafted #10 or later, so if lets say next yr or even in 27 we are picking from 16-25 a trad up to top 10 would not be as expensive.

So if we missed hitting big on some OL and DL picks you're saying we should just stop drafting OL and DL?

I didn't say we should not be looking for a QB in the draft , I said just not THIS draft and certainly not trade up to #1 costing us at least 2 #1s and probably a 2,and 3 or even more. That would but our return to contention back 2 yrs because the draft is what we need to improve the team the most. AND what if Ward is a bust much like Trey Lance or Zach Wilson . Then you have very limited draft capitol and no franchise QB

Not gonna get into an argument for what Underhill reported because he's not the end all / be all when it comes to Saints reporting. I can report what I know of who was responsible of the Davenport selection much like me reporting that Derek Carr still wants to be traded.

I'm just trying to find where there's been a team where that has worked out where they had everything build out perfectly perfectly and all they had to do is really just add in the QB to the equation. It's just not realistic and rarely happens in the NFL. The Ravens did it with Lamar because the NFL was wrong on Lamar (Ravens were too bc they drafted Hayden Hurst). The Eagles did it a bit with Hurts but even they took a swing on him at 53 when they still had.... the QB they traded up into the top 2 to draft still on the roster and starting QB.....

 

[Booker]

The Titans going all out for Cam Ward at Miami Pro Day makes their NFL Draft plan seem clear

Cam Ward, get ready to learn honky-tonk, buddy.

ca.sports.yahoo.com

Unless they’re bluffing really hard to drive up the price for the pick, it’s looking like Ward will be a Titan.

Which is probably for the best. This team has way too many needs to deal multiple day one and two picks on one player. Hopefully they do get a chance to draft a quarterback they like, but they don’t need to lose sight of other positions of need.

 

[Tulsa Saint]

Unless they’re bluffing really hard to drive up the price for the pick, it’s looking like Ward will be a Titan.

Which is probably for the best. This team has way too many needs to deal multiple day one and two picks on one player. Hopefully they do get a chance to draft a quarterback they like, but they don’t need to lose sight of other positions of need.

Yeah more Turners/Foskeys/Millers etc will bring us back right?

If they don’t do the trade Mickey is salviating to draft Stewart or Mykel Williams at 9. Or an injured CB or an OL that doesn’t fit.

Unless of course the new staff can completely change course which is doubtful.

 

[DSnfla]

Not gonna get into an argument for what Underhill reported because he's not the end all / be all when it comes to Saints reporting. I can report what I know of who was responsible of the Davenport selection much like me reporting that Derek Carr still wants to be traded.

I'm just trying to find where there's been a team where that has worked out where they had everything build out perfectly perfectly and all they had to do is really just add in the QB to the equation. It's just not realistic and rarely happens in the NFL. The Ravens did it with Lamar because the NFL was wrong on Lamar (Ravens were too bc they drafted Hayden Hurst). The Eagles did it a bit with Hurts but even they took a swing on him at 53 when they still had.... the QB they traded up into the top 2 to draft still on the roster and starting QB.....

How about the Chiefs? They made the playoffs 4 out of 5 yrs before Mahomes with Alex Smith a very Carr like QB.

What you gain by building the team when you have a good but not elite is a chance to advance in the playoffs. Many teams have made the SB without elite QBs. I don't think any QB in this draft is worth trading up for, especially when trading up for a gamble that could turn into a Lance or a Wilson or any other QB bust could severely stunt the growth of the team.

You can diss Underhill all you like but he's not the only one saying that.
Does this sound like a guy that didn't push for the pick? And it was all Ireland and Loomis??

https://www.canalstreetchronicles.c...arts-saints-packers-utsa-nfl-draft-cam-jordan

 

[StudioSaint]

Unless they’re bluffing really hard to drive up the price for the pick, it’s looking like Ward will be a Titan.

Which is probably for the best. This team has way too many needs to deal multiple day one and two picks on one player. Hopefully they do get a chance to draft a quarterback they like, but they don’t need to lose sight of other positions of need.

If the Titans are trying to drive up the price and if the Saints thought their price was too high, then the Saints are probably not going to make a trade with the Titans.

 

[StudioSaint]

Not gonna get into an argument for what Underhill reported because he's not the end all / be all when it comes to Saints reporting. I can report what I know of who was responsible of the Davenport selection much like me reporting that Derek Carr still wants to be traded.

Conflicting reports both claiming to be based on sources is an example of why having sources does not validate the accuracy of what someone is saying. Sources can give inaccurate information, even if they don't intend to.

Knowledge only comes from firsthand experience. When someone tells us that someone else did or said something, that is not actually knowledge. One can believe what they are being told is true, but they cannot know what they are being told is true without seeing or hearing it firsthand.

 

[Snakehead]

Ward and Daniels game is different, but their development arc is similar. They got better every year they played. Ward is still ascending as a player.

 

[tyler735]

How about the Chiefs? They made the playoffs 4 out of 5 yrs before Mahomes with Alex Smith a very Carr like QB.

Yet the Chiefs were a great example of a team trading up to get “their guy” at QB. A guy that wasn’t considered a “generational talent” at QB, but one with many traits they liked and great production in college. Certainly some parallels to Ward. They traded their 2017 first, 2018 first, and a 2017 third to jump ahead of the Saints to get Mahomes.

 

[Snakehead]

The report above about Tennessee bringing their entire crew to film everything pretty much seals the deal of Ward becoming a Titan.

I'm going to jump off this Ward train and back to the team/culture/identity building train.

 

[St. Geezy]

They've swung on Marcus Davenport. Traded up a future first for Mark Ingram. It's just wild to me that people are skittish on the team not wanting to address the most important the position in all of sports (especially when their recent drafts / picks have been dreadful).

I don’t think it’s that. It just has to be for the right prospect. Don’t force it and grab a QB just because you need one. There just needs to be a high level of conviction that it’s the right QB.

For the record, I do like Ward, just not with the added risk of trading tons of premium assets for him.

 

[SweetT]

Funny thing was Davenport wasn't really a Sean Payton pick - was largely a Jeff Ireland & Mickey Loomis collaboration! And I'm not sure why... not being close to contention should stop a team from going up to draft a QB that they covet.

“Let’s build up the team in other areas and then add one later.” So in theory your team is better so it means you’re lower in the draft so then you’re giving up far far more to go up to get a QB. And the kicker - the Saints LOVE Ward. Isn’t there something to just getting yr guy?

Saints been trying to build the trenches for YEARS much like PHI - and largely have failed mightily. Ruiz (average), Penning (borderline starter, who they traded a future first that became Jalen Carter), Fuaga (great pick but they would've taken Bowers if he was there), McCoy (good pick), Davenport (largely overdrafted and great up huge assets to acquire), Turner (lol), Foskey (should probably be cut after training camp coming up). What does that amount to... just a bunch of wasted picks on "areas of need" to build the team around.

At some point, the team needs to draft a QB. They tried last year with Penix. They will likely try again this year with Ward (doubt it happens because I just don't see TEN doing it) but the notion the the team shouldn't be the QB business when they don't have a franchise QB or even a good one is... so confusing & puzzling.

I agree that the team needs to stop drafting premium picks on the lines. Just last year, before the draft, I literally posted how the good/great teams have mid/late rd picks on their OLine and even UDFAs as well. Listed all of the rounds their players were selected. Still got pushback. We have wasted so many opportunities at BPA. Too many on here talks about the “cloud” of players, to justify picking the need portion of the cloud. That’s not how drafting is supposed to be. You draft the guy who is the better of the players, even if they are in a cloud. It should be simple, but it hasn’t been for our FO

 

[Hubig]

When Carolina moved up to number 1 after trading with the Bears, it was over a month before the draft. The Saints probably would have made this move already if they're super confident Cam Ward is their franchise guy. There is no reason to wait to make that move. You're not waiting till draft day to make that move because the closer you get, the more other teams have time to call the Titans.