NFL executive likes Garrett Grayson

From the Advocate:

Not only did the New Orleans Saints draft a possible Drew Brees successor on Friday night. They also might've nabbed the best quarterback in the draft, one NFL executive believes.

In an interview with USA Today, a "veteran NFL personnel executive," who asked to remain anonymous because of intense draft competition, said he wouldn't be surprised if Grayson ends up being a better quarterback than the first two players taken in the draft -- Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota.

New Orleans selected the former Colorado State quarterbackith the 78th overall pick.

"I just think he's got the intangibles. He's got a good presence about himself in the pocket. He's got the physical traits. His arm's strong enough, and I think he's got the right temperament," the executive said of Grayson.

The Saints can’t know and won’t know if Grayson is the heir apparent until they see him on the field and he has time to develop, but there’s a chance, if everything works out, that he could one day stand under center in the same spot Brees used to turn this team into one worthy of playing in the iconic Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

For Saints coach Sean Payton, Grayson was the only quarterback he wanted in this class. He worked out several and, after putting a second-round grade on Grayson, Payton felt this was the player he wanted.

“Throw out the grade,” Payton said. “He was a player we wanted.”

That thought is also somewhere in Grayson’s mind, but he wasn’t yet able to process it or think that far ahead immediately after being selected.

“I’m just extremely excited to get behind him and learn as much as I can,” Grayson said. “I’m going to come down there and compete like I’m the starter, like any position should, but I’m just extremely excited to learn from him and hopefully I’ll learn as much as I can to prepare me through the next couple years.”

Link to USA Today article before the draft