The High Ceiling/Low Floor QB prospect that is probably our best option in the draft: Malik Willis(And some Sam Howell) (2 Viewers)

[Trey W.]

Using one draft pick to try to find you future franchise QB doesn't seem like to big a price to pay to me. It would still allow the team to draft other positions and build in this draft. And, there simply isn't a more important position on the field than QB. I don't know if any of the guys in this draft are worth a 1st round pick, but I do think the team needs to spend a 2nd to 4th round pick on a raw guy with great arm talent and mobility that may develop in a year or two. Ian Book just isn't that guy. It was clear when he played against Miami that he isn't close to mobile enough to gain yards running or even create extra time to throw by getting out of the pocket. To the extent he does develop, he is going to have to be a guy that learns to have elite movement in the pocket and elite accuracy. Maybe he can do that, but there is no reason to not try to find a better guy in the draft this year. Maybe Book can take over at QB #2 this year.

As far as don't have the time, yes the window for this defense is probably 2 or 3 years, but it's not like the team is going to stop playing football after that. And, if you can find a QB to lead your team for the next 10 years plus, it solves a lot of other problems.

I do get what you’re saying but you are also basing Book’s future on a one game performance where we were missing both starting OT’s and LG, a very underperforming group of WR’s, and a very short time to practice since he was thrown into the mix because TS and Taysom both had to sit out because of Covid.

Book had a very very good and long college career playing for a team that made the college playoffs and was in the top 25 pretty much every season he played. He is the winningest QB at Notre Dame, and accomplished some other really good statistics.

Willis wasn’t able to start at Auburn so he transferred to a very small school where he played against some very weak teams. His stats are average but his physical abilities are what makes everyone drool over him, not so much his QB abilities.

I’m not saying Willis can’t or won’t be a good NFL QB, but he’s going to need a different system then what we traditionally run. Now depending on who our next HC and OC are, that will have a huge determination on wether or not Willis would succeed here or not. If we keep Pete as the OC and we continue to run our regular type offense then I feel Willis would be set up for failure as that is not his strengths. The main thing that turns me off on Willis is both Hurts and Fields played at much bigger schools against much better competition and they more polished as a passer than Willis and both have struggled a lot in the NFL. If Willis is still there in the 3rd or later rounds then I would have no issue if we draft him. In the 1st or 2nd when we have much bigger issues and need players to step in immediately then I would not like the pick at all. We picked Book in the 4th and people were complaining about it last year.

 

[SweetT]

The QBs I would be ok with:
Pickett and Corral

Intrigued by:
Willis, Ridder, and Howell

Pickett and Corral will both be selected in the first before we pick

Willis, Ridder, and Howell will all be selected before we select in the second rd

Any other QB isn’t worth a selection bc it’s the same as drafting Book last year

 

[St. Widge]

I do get what you’re saying but you are also basing Book’s future on a one game performance where we were missing both starting OT’s and LG, a very underperforming group of WR’s, and a very short time to practice since he was thrown into the mix because TS and Taysom both had to sit out because of Covid.

Book had a very very good and long college career playing for a team that made the college playoffs and was in the top 25 pretty much every season he played. He is the winningest QB at Notre Dame, and accomplished some other really good statistics.

That's why I was careful to only talk about his mobility which I think is fair to judge from that game since he was running for his life. I looked like a guy who could get out of the pocket and run in college, but it's clear that he doesn't have the athletic talent necessary to do that in the NFL. I do think he left a lot of yards on the field in that game and didn't do a good job reading the blitz and hitting the hot route, but I won't judge if he can do that on that game.

As far as the rest, I just don't think Book was a particularly impressive pocket QB in college and he has a decent arm, but not an amazing arm. Anyway, I'm just saying that he is not a clear cut future starter and he's not some amazing natural arm talent guy that just needs to learn to play within himself. He could develop, but it's not sure enough to pass on a QB that has elite arm/leg talent and that you think you can develop into a franchise guy. I don't know if Willis is that guy, but given his natural ability, he is probably worth a shot if he falls to the 2nd or 3rd. And, for all I know, the Saints see something in him and think he's a 1st round talent. The truth is that #18 isn't that high of a pick to spend on any QB and they would still have a lot of picks left to address WR, TE, FS, OL depth, and DT depth.

 

[No2DC]

That's why I was careful to only talk about his mobility which I think is fair to judge from that game since he was running for his life. I looked like a guy who could get out of the pocket and run in college, but it's clear that he doesn't have the athletic talent necessary to do that in the NFL. I do think he left a lot of yards on the field in that game and didn't do a good job reading the blitz and hitting the hot route, but I won't judge if he can do that on that game.

As far as the rest, I just don't think Book was a particularly impressive pocket QB in college and he has a decent arm, but not an amazing arm. Anyway, I'm just saying that he is not a clear cut future starter and he's not some amazing natural arm talent guy that just needs to learn to play within himself. He could develop, but it's not sure enough to pass on a QB that has elite arm/leg talent and that you think you can develop into a franchise guy. I don't know if Willis is that guy, but given his natural ability, he is probably worth a shot if he falls to the 2nd or 3rd. And, for all I know, the Saints see something in him and think he's a 1st round talent. The truth is that #18 isn't that high of a pick to spend on any QB and they would still have a lot of picks left to address WR, TE, FS, OL depth, and DT depth.

Book's ceiling is backup QB. There's a reason that Kelly left ND and a big part of it was the disparity in talent. He and Taysom should be the most upset about Sean's retirement because their QB dreams are coming to an end.

 

[IlovemySaints]

We need a mobile qb every time our saints lose we lose to mobile qbs and our defense is good right , time for a change I rather us have him instead of the falcons having Vick again without the trouble everybody talking about Payton well he loved small school guys everybody talking about the draft class remember where Tom Brady was picked you never know ; if the class is filled with wrs get one in the second or trade back up on the backend we need a power back resign armstead and let the younger guys get more time in Ruiz and McCoy we need explosive plays our offense has been bland for a while now we have Michael Thomas he’s a beast but if need be will have trade value to get what’s needed

 

[SaintStephen1]

Not high on Book, Willis or Howell. None will be a starting QB on a winning NFL team IMHO. I would draft Pickett but he won’t be there. I would trade down a few spots and see if Strong were still available then take him and get WR with the additional pick.

 

[Taker597]

Not high on Book, Willis or Howell. None will be a starting QB on a winning NFL team IMHO. I would draft Pickett but he won’t be there. I would trade down a few spots and see if Strong were still available then take him and get WR with the additional pick.

Pickett small hands makes him worthless in rainy conditions.

 

[Taker597]

. If we keep Pete as the OC and we continue to run our regular type offense then I feel Willis would be set up for failure as that is not his strengths.

Why on earth would Pete run the same offense with a hybrid QB. Maybe Pete will make a completely different offense that play to his personnel's strength. Keeping Pete doesn't mean we have to keep the corpse of Payton around here.

 

[SaintStephen1]

Pickett small hands makes him worthless in rainy conditions.

8 home games in a dome and 1 in Atlanta every year. I wouldn’t pass on a guy you think is going to be great because he might struggle in the rain. The game plan in the rain will be run centric anyway.

 

[Taker597]

 

[saint_drago]

I'm really intrigued by Willis. Shorter running QBs were a nonstarter for years until offenses started opening up and these younger OCs who didn't have the same preconceived notions about the position started to take over from the old school guys. Instead of being moved to WR, RB, or Safety he's now a viable NFL QB prospect.

It's all up to the new HC and what system he wants to run. It would be exciting to have a mobile QB in NOLA though. I watch other games and see these QBs converting 3rd and whatever with their legs and making it look easy. That's such a great weapon to have. Get a good mobile QB on that Dome field turf and let it rain cheap 3rd down conversions!

 

[Pkessling]

I'm really intrigued by Willis. Shorter running QBs were a nonstarter for years until offenses started opening up and these younger OCs who didn't have the same preconceived notions about the position started to take over from the old school guys. Instead of being moved to WR, RB, or Safety he's now a viable NFL QB prospect.

It's all up to the new HC and what system he wants to run. It would be exciting to have a mobile QB in NOLA though. I watch other games and see these QBs converting 3rd and whatever with their legs and making it look easy. That's such a great weapon to have. Get a good mobile QB on that Dome field turf and let it rain cheap 3rd down conversions!

Lot of Super Bowl wins with mobile QBs.

 

[Taker597]

 

[madsaint1967]

Just NO! Willis is the flavor of the month. We already have a running QB in Taysom why would we need 2.

 

[Ken-Bob]

I think the QBs will fall farther in the draft than we think. Sure, some team may take a shot at an extremely athletic QB like Willis, but others like Howell or Ridder could fall pretty far. If one of those guys is available in the 3rd (maybe even the 4th) the Saints might take a shot. But I'd rather go with the existing QBs than lose a chance at a top flight receiver.