Three consecutive losses have moved the New Orleans Saints up to the ninth overall pick in the current 2024 NFL draft order, and Derek Carr’s struggles liven up the offense have some experts (and a lot of fans) looking at the Saints as a team that could use that top-ten pick on a quarterback.
And Pro Football Focus draft analyst Trevor Sikkema made a pick in his latest mock draft that’s sure to appeal to many Saints faithful. He likes the idea of LSU Tigers star quarterback Jayden Daniels staying in Louisiana so he can suit up in black and gold. Here’s what Sikkema wrote of the match:
The Saints are still just one game back from the NFC South lead and hosting a playoff game, but they are far too inconsistent (and far too frustrating) to feel confident about them beyond this season. They need a complete and total reset, and that means picking a quarterback.
Daniels is the biggest riser in the draft class to this point. An afterthought for many going into the year, Daniels had a Heisman-worthy season at LSU. He recorded elite season grades as a passer and a runner to garner the top overall quarterback grade in the FBS (94.7). He has drastically improved both how he takes care of the football (see 2022) and how he sees the field and executes big-time plays (see 2023).
Daniels was phenomenal for LSU in 2023: his 3,811 passing yards ranked third in the nation, but no one averaged more yards per attempt (11.7). His 40 touchdown passes tied Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix for the national lead. And as Sikkema said, he’s a dynamic runner — Daniels’ 1,134 rushing yards were the most of all quarterbacks this season. He scored 10 touchdown runs.
But would the Saints draft him if given the opportunity? They haven’t picked a first-round quarterback since 1971 when Archie Manning was their selection (and, for added context, his grandson Arch is a few years away from starting his own pro football career). They guaranteed the second year of Carr’s contract when they signed him, so he’ll still be here in 2024 even if they do draft someone like Daniels.
So much depends on uncertain factors. Carr was Dennis Allen’s handpicked quarterback and it’s tough to see him hitting the eject button after just one (admittedly tumultuous) season. But it’s no sure thing that Allen will be the head coach in 2024. The Saints spent more money than 24 other NFL teams on payroll this offseason and got Allen his quarterback — then they enjoyed the easiest schedule in the league and had the healthiest roster through September, October, and most of November.
And all Allen has to show for it is another third-place record in the NFC South. It’s very likely a new coach would want to bring in his own quarterback, but it’s too soon to say whether that’s an eventuality the Saints will see through.
