The Saints have a number of options they can go with the 2022 NFL Draft as owners of picks No. 16 and 19.
That could involve trading forward in the first round, trading backward and picking up assets, or standing pat and taking two quality players, assistant GM Jeff Ireland said. And this is also a team that would have no qualms about taking a quarterback if that's where the draft took them.
“It’s really unusual [because there's no consensus on the top QB] but there are some good quarterbacks in this draft," Ireland said on WWL with Mike Hoss and Deuce McAllister. "That’s the fact. … And we know who those guys are. But there are also good [players] at other positions, too.”
Listen to the full interview with Ireland in the player below. Can't see the embed? Click here.
Ireland indicated that the team wouldn't have issue drafting a player that has to sit as a backup as a rookie to build on a strength, whether that's at quarterback behind returning Jameis Winston or elsewhere. This year's QB class is headlined by the names Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder and Matt Corral, but the order of those players' in teams' rankings will vary drastically.
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The NFL draft kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday evening.