New Orleans Saints: Team Should Go All-In For Jimmy Garappolo

The New Orleans Saints have had a void to fill ever since the great Drew Brees retired before last season. Despite the success of Jameis Winston, there’s no guarantee that he’ll return to the Saints. Even if he does, how healthy will he be and can he be the guy who leads them to the Super Bowl? One key piece of the 49ers’ success was Jimmy Garappolo’s ability to step in for the offense and get them a deep playoff run. The Saints have similar talent and skill sets as the 49ers so New Orleans needs to bet big.

First, Winston had success with New Orleans but they really only relied on him in red zone success. He had plenty of touchdowns before getting hurt but only threw the football 250+ yards once last year. The Saints know exactly what they have with Jameis and despite his ability to sling the football around, he’s just as much of a liability in big-play situations. There have been plenty of games where He’d throw for 300, 400, or even 500 yards but a late interception would cost the Bucs the game. Smart coaching and talent took the ball out of his hands and balanced the offense to limit those mistakes.

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With Sean Payton retiring, it might be time to shake things up in New Orleans and Garappolo could be that fix. While he might not be the same gunslinger that Winston is, he has the poise to hang in there and run a similar offense that compliments the Saints’ strength. Garappolo looks to have plenty of interest in free agency but New Orleans needs to free up space since they’re near the bottom of the league, but if they can save a pick or move a couple of players to free up space Jimmy G might be the answer.

The Saints need a smart QB who can move the football and limit mistakes. They have plenty of talent and with a strong enough draft can afford to downgrade if need be. This year’s draft class won’t be full of game-changing quarterbacks and they don’t want to waste their current roster’s prime years. If New Orleans is looking to stay competitive, look no further than Jimmy G.