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Jared Cook brings a different skill set to the team’s tight end corps
“My understanding is he’s signed. And we’re excited to have him. It gives us a threat opposite of (wide receiver) Mike (Thomas). A lot of times where Mike lines up is opposite the tight end. We feel like we have some good tight ends in the building that we have roles and visions for. But we feel like Jared has a unique skill set and we saw a lot of good tape from him. ... I think he can run. I think he’s a really good receiver in space. I think he does a good job after the catch, his yards after the catch. He’s comfortable playing in a lot of different spots. He’s not a great end-line blocker, and yet he’s a guy that challenges you if you’re playing a linebacker or safety on him."

Mark Ingram’s departure was a disappointment
“It happened pretty quickly. Look, I’m excited for Mark’s opportunity. He’s been a tremendous player for us and leader for us. It was frustrating because I felt there was little dialogue. Usually I’m able to visit with the player, and I wasn’t able to so the ins and outs specifically and how that unfolded is still to me a little bit cloudy. I tried texted him, tried calling him, direct message. He texted me back and then the next day we weren’t able to speak. I’m excited about Latavius (Murray) joining our team. We’ve had coaches who were on a team with him (in Oakland and Minnesota). We’ll have a clear vision for him.”

Retaining Teddy Bridgewater was important
“We were down (in Florida) recruiting him hard. He brings a lot to the table. Our quarterback room last year was one of the better rooms that we’ve had here, when you go to Drew and then you go to Teddy and Taysom (Hill) and even J.T. Barrett. We’re excited to have a player of his quality at that position. We think someday he can be a starter. We traded a third-round pick for him a year ago. A lot of people said, well, why are you doing that? He’s just going to be a free agent in a year. And my response is once he sees our place and how we run our offense and what we do as a team, I think that will mean something to him and sure enough it did.”

The Saints were prepared for Max Unger’s retirement
“I knew it was something he was considering. We kind of stayed in touch. The season ends and it’s a long year especially for those guys up front. It was most important for him to do what was best for him and his family and really give him that time to unwind and see where he was at. He and I share the same agent. You have to begin to make plans in the event that (he retires). I would say in Indy (at the NFL Scouting Combine) there was no certainty. (Unger’s retirement) was something we were considering and preparing for and at that point I would say it could have still gone either way. We stayed in touch.”

Defensive tackle was the team’s top offseason priority
“We just had to address the defensive line position. Part of that was, all right, Tyeler (Davison) is a free agent, and Sheldon (Rankins) is going to be up against the timeline when we start the year. It wasn’t as much about David Oneymata (and his potential suspension) as it was about Sheldon’s injury. Put that with Tyeler and it was a 'must’ position. We signed a couple of players there (including Mario Edwards Jr.). We just felt like if the season were to start as we came out of last year, Sheldon’s unhealthy, Tyeler’s a free agent and you really had our young player (Taylor Stallworth) and Onyemata and that was all.”

Defensive tackle Malcom Brown was a key free agent target
“He’s strong. He’s a physical player. He’s tough to move out of his gap. He’s been well-coached obviously, and a guy that we studied closely coming out of Texas and saw a lot of good tape from in New England.”

The lack of picks won’t change the club’s NFL Draft process
“You have to prepare for it just like any other draft. You have to set your board the same way. Look you can always get a first-round pick. I’m not suggesting we will. But you can always get one. If a player fell to a certain spot. You prepare the board accordingly and thoroughly. I don’t think you can prepare the board just specifically where you think you’ll be. Our interviews in Indy (at the NFL Scouting Combine) might have been more geared toward our second round selection and who we bring in to visit.”

The Saints feel like they “won” the Marcus Davenport trade
“We like it. We saw some real good traits where we fell like this guy is going to be a dominant player fo us. Exceptionally against Minnesota and exceptional two or three other games for us. His toe slowed him down. But if you do the math on the trade right now. Do the numbers. That’s the challenge when you try to grade that trade. Hypothetically, we finished with four wins this year. That’s not a good trade because the value....But (Nos.) 27 and 30 on any number chart I don’t think you’re going to arrive at (No.) 14.”

Payton thinks the Saints have three starting-caliber quarterbacks
“Our vision (in acquiring Taysom Hill) was at quarterback, clearly. I think he has a great chance to start as a quarterback. We would change our offense whoever we had a quarterback. We did when we signed Drew (Brees). I think he’s a passing quarterback. I think Teddy Bridgewater is a starting quarterback. You tailor what you’re going to do with those guys around their strengths. I thought it was a great (quarterback) room a year ago and I’m excited it’s staying intact."

The Saints’ secondary has great potential to improve
“(Safety) Vonn Bell’s progress is exceptional. Marcus Williams. Those two guys. Encouraged with the direction we are going there. I think we’re going to see more growth, and I expect more growth from (cornerback) Eli Apple. Obviously we are excited about Jared Cook, only because we haven’t had a chance to work with him yet. Those would be right away what comes to mind. I think (guard) Andrus Peat and his health., (left tackle) Terron (Armstead) and those guys being a little healthier and getting through an offseason clear and able when the time comes to start getting back on the field. And lastly I’d say the younger receivers. I didn’t mention (Keith) Kirkwood earlier. Tre’Quan (Smith). And I still consider Cam (Meredith) young. As a group of young receivers, I think they will improve.”