Taysom vs Jameis: Checking In On The Saints Quarterback Situation

The start of training camp is coming up for the New Orleans Saints on Fri, July 30, and who fills in for future first-ballot Hall of Famer Drew Brees looms over Mickey Loomis' team.

With the two leading contenders for the role boasting exact opposite skill sets, the dual between Taysom Hill and former Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston nears the end as head coach Sean Payton chooses where the offense will be headed in 2021-2022.

Cam Jordan, defensive end for the Saints, went on with ESPN to share his outlook on the QB competition.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about who’s going to put us in the best position of winning,” Jordan told the GMF hosts. “I do know that we have a baller in Jameis Winston, a guy who you know can release that thing in the air. … You know he’s going to take deep shots, he’s going to take a lot of deep throws. And at the same time, he’s had a year under Sean’s tutelage and watching Drew Brees. So he’s only going to get better, in my mind.

“Then, of course, you talk about Taysom, and you know after last year we went 3-1 with him, so we know we can win at a high clip with him. It’s going to be fun and interesting to see who ends up being the lead quarterback, if that is such a discussion. It’s beyond my pay grade. And I like to say not many things are beyond my pay grade, but that is.”

The Human Swiss Army Knife ability of Taysom Hill helped the Saints win three out of four games without Drew Brees last year. As the more seasoned Saints player, Taysom is more familiar with Sean Payton's offense, and with his extensive tutelage under Brees, he may be the safe pick to start the season.

On the other claw, Jameis Winston's more-traditional gunslinging has given him both strong upside and downside as a quarterback.

As Marcus Spears mentioned in the post-interview discussion among the ESPN panel, Winston's arm under Bruce Arians will see a new identity under Payton's offensive game plan, which forces QBs to release the football quickly and makes a menace out of Michael Thomas.

A revitalized Jameis Winston and improved receiver talent, including the aforementioned Thomas and a high-upside WR3 in Tre'Quan Smith, could place the Saints on brighter horizons than they were in the final years of Drew Brees.

Though Hill's 70-plus percent completion percentage during the four-game stretch gives the Saints coaching staff some security in picking him over Winston, his five lost fumbles in that same stretch suggests that he is also turnover prone.

Don't be surprised if Taysom gets the start, but be even less surprised once Winston takes over by Week 7.