Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints endured a dismal end to their 2020 NFL campaign. The NFC South champions were knocked out in the playoffs at the hands of eventual Super Bowl winners, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. HC Sean Payton vowed to come back with a vengeance in 2021.
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 13, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) throws against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
However, the Saints were again dealt a massive blow in the offseason after Drew Brees announced his retirement from professional football. Backup QBs, Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston will both compete for the starting berth when the season starts in September.
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But coach Payton has other things on his mind right now as we edge closer to the 2021 NFL Draft.
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Sean Payton looking to draft a cornerback in the 2021 NFL Draft
Sean Payton said the Saints don’t consider the QB position a “must” in this year’s draft since they feel like they have two good candidates in Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston. But he did identify CB as a position that must be addressed at some point before the start of the season. pic.twitter.com/G6jRJumGCK
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) April 20, 2021
Despite the exit of the legendary Drew Brees this summer, the New Orleans Saints are not on the hunt for a quarterback this offseason. Instead, HC Sean Payton maintains that they are currently looking to bring in some firepower in defense.
“There’s one. Look, corner is an area that we have to address here between now and the start of the season, and I think we’ll be able to find that,” Payton said via NOLA.com.
Recent reports have linked the Saints to Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley. The North Carolina-born athlete initially joined the Hokies football team as a potential wide receiver. However, he suffered an injury in his freshman year.
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Upon his return from injury in 2018, Farley was converted to cornerback. He finished the season with 36 tackles, 2 interceptions, and a sack. Northwestern’s Greg Newsome III and Florida State’s Asante Samuel Jr. are also potential options for New Orleans who own the 28th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Regardless of who they draft, coach Payton will be eager to see how the team adapts to Brees’ exit. Make no mistake, this is the start of a new era at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
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Will the Saints live up to the hype surrounding them? Tell us what you think.
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