METAIRIE, La. — The New Orleans Saints added another Possible successor to Drew Brees by drafting Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book together with the 133rd overall pick in Round 4 on Saturday.
Just like Brees himself, Novel will have to overcome the stigma of being just 6-foot to be successful in the NFL. However he moved 30-5 as a starter at Notre Dame — the many successes at the school’s storied history.
“That’s only been the story my whole entire life,” Book said of his elevation. You know I’m not getting any taller. And Drew Brees has been able to do it, there are many other quarterbacks you can go down the list which have been able to take action.
“We’re different players, but we’re similar in stature. And (Brees) proved to everyone down there and in the world he can do it. And I want to do exactly the same thing, and I just feel like I fit in that system well. You know, those are big shoes to fill, there’s no doubt about it, but that’s an exciting challenge for me personally.”
Saints coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis both insisted that the QB position was”not a necessity” in this year’s draft, because they are high on the capacity of current veterans Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill. But, Payton has said for years now that the Saints are”in the quarterback business” until the place is locked down long-term. And both Winston and Hill are scheduled to be free agents following this season.
Payton also fell a hint of his interest in Book a month after he had been a guest on The Dan Patrick Show. And if Patrick asked Payton what current QB reminds him of his acting style, Payton said,”That kid at Notre Dame is fairly scrappy. He is fairly fascinating to watch on tape”
Book threw for a combined 5,864 yards and ran for a combined 1,031 yards over his final two seasons at Notre Dame.
ESPN draft analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. stated his accuracy has been inconsistent. But McShay said,”I love the way he plays with the game… the power he brings” and said Book is in his finest when plays break down.
“He loves taking off and running. He’s got great feeling in the pocket of where the rush is coming and how to elude the rush, and then he throws really well on the series,” McShay said.
ESPN analyst Louis Riddick added that Book landed at the perfect offense, since he said he’s one of the best timing passers in this season’s draft — and that’s what the Saints have done well over the years using QBs like Brees and Teddy Bridgewater instead of relying on deep passes.
