The New Orleans Saints are expected to sign free-agent quarterback and four-time Pro Bowler Derek Carr to a four-year deal, according to multiple reports.
With the addition of Carr, it’s unlikely that the Saints will draft a quarterback with their top two picks. That will mean that the franchise will have not used a first or second-round pick on a quarterback since 1971, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. You’d have to go back almost 52 years to when the Saints drafted Archie Manning with the No. 2 overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft.
Saints have not used a first- or second-round pick on a QB since 1971, when they picked Archie Manning, and that appears unlikely to change with Derek Carr’s expected signing.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 6, 2023
That is not counting Dave Wilson, who the Saints selected in the first round of the 1981 Supplemental Draft, or Richard Todd, who was acquired for a first-round draft choice from the New York Jets back in 1984.
Since the turn of the century, the Saints have drafted seven quarterbacks — Marc Bulger, J.T. O’Sullivan, Adrian McPherson, Sean Canfield, Garrett Grayson, Tommy Stevens and Ian Book. Grayson was the highest selected of the bunch, as New Orleans used a third-round pick on the quarterback out of Colorado State back in 2015.
As Schefter points out, that appears unlikely to change with the Saints appearing to be in win-now mode and owning picks No. 29 and No. 40 overall in next month’s draft.
The NFL world reacted to Schefter’s insane factoid on Twitter.
Explains why they’ll be stuck in the middle. They never want to embrace a proper rebuild
— kap (@hopefulmetsfan) March 6, 2023
This explains why they only have 1 Super Bowl win in their franchise
— Charles J Schlueter (@LuckyChuckie_FF) March 6, 2023
The Chiefs went 34 years without drafting a QB in the 1st round (the trade up was well worth the wait lol but frustrating all those years prior). The Saints will go 52 if they elect not to this year. Crazy.
P.S. Thanks again, Buffalo. https://t.co/lMYlXRhSJS
— ChiefsJayhawksRoyals (@CJR16255) March 6, 2023
This is one of those unbelievable stats. Also explains why they didn’t really have much success until Drew Brees came along. #Saints https://t.co/AOel3ZrZLP
— A Football Friend (@AFootballFriend) March 6, 2023
This is absolutely weird and fascinating. They've been great, terrible, and mediocre several times over without spending a priority draft pick on the most important position in pro sports https://t.co/pNjXLeYjPS
— The Bengals Show (@W2TJShow) March 6, 2023
The fact that the Saints haven’t drafted a QB in the first 2 rounds since 1971 is one of the wildest things I’ve ever heard https://t.co/BmUz5VkjYu
— Cameron Symlar (@CameronSym10) March 6, 2023
[Adam Schefter on Twitter, Pro Football Reference]