The #Saints are releasing QB Ian Book, source said. He is a practice squad target if he clears waivers and should have some interest.
Buy Saints Tickets— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 30, 2022
Woof. Ian Book has been waived by the New Orleans Saints, who drafted him a year ago in the fourth round at No. 133 overall. The second-year quarterback was a surprise pick at the time and characterized as a pet project for Sean Payton. That made sense given Book’s limitations coming out of college, especially in taking snaps under center — something he did only rarely at Notre Dame, and which he’s struggled to pick up in the NFL.
But Book lost his biggest advocate with Payton no longer coaching the Saints. He continued to put balls on the turf and mishandle center-quarterback exchanges throughout his second preseason with New Orleans, and now the team has decided it’s time to step away. At least temporarily.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Book is a “practice squad target” for the Saints should he clear waivers, though every other team in the league will have the opportunity to decide whether they want to roster him. If they all choose to pass on adding Book to their 53-man lineup, he’ll be a prime candidate to re-sign with the Saints practice squad and continue working on his development.
As for the other quarterbacks on the team: Jameis Winston is locked in as the starter, but Andy Dalton has looked very comfortable backing him up. And if disaster strikes and they really need him, Taysom Hill can also move back to quarterback after shifting his focus to tight end this summer. Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that.
