re: What level of heartbroken would you be if Saints trade up big time for Lamar Jackson?

Said this yesterday:

Let me start by saying I don't know what Lamar will look like in 5 years, but neither do any of you.

The wonderlic test is a concern, but not the deciding factor. Marino scored 16, Jim Kelly Steve McNair and Terry Bradshaw were a 15, Donovan McNabb was a 14. All those guys were great QBs with a similar wonderlic. It's a factor, but not the only factor.

Running QBs may not be winning Super Bowls at the same rate as pocket passers, but it's ignorant to think they can't. Russel Wilson should have won 2, only won 1. Cam made it to the big show, so did Colin Kaepernick, both running Qbs. That's 3 of the past 8 Qbs who played in the Super Bowl over since 2013, and there has been a dual threat QB starting in four of the last 6 Super Bowl games. "But those QBs lost more often than not, and got outplayed by pocket passing QBs" Yes they did, and those QBs were usually named Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, top 3 QBs of all time.

Accuracy. Lamar Jackson never completed 60% of his passes in college. He completed 59% last year. That's 4 drops from 60%, he definitely had more than 4 dropped balls. Russel Wilson completed 58% of his passes his Junior year. Tom Brady completed 62% of his passes his Junior year, he also threw half as many TDs and the same number of INTs in 100 fewer attempts. Tom's last 2 seasons in Michigan he threw as many TDs as Jackson did his sophomore season alone. Guys can improve their passing numbers with time.

Worried about his height and size? Drew Brees is shorter and lighter. Russel WIlson is shorter and lighter. Mike Vick was shorter and the same weight. Tom Brady was 6-5 195, compared to Jackson at 6'2" 215. You have prototypical geight/weight, but there are always exceptions.

Are there risks taking Lamar? Sure are. Are there risks taking any other QB at the top of the draft? Sure are. Do we have a successor to Drew? Sure don't. We almost certainly need to replace him in the next 3 years, and until we have a guy we feel confident can do that, I can't hate drafting a QB first round each season. Chances are we will miss, because most drafted QBs don't work out to be long term starters. But you have to have one to win, and we have to look at life after Drew sooner rather than later IMO.

That being said, if we mortgage the farm to get any player I am skeptical. Drafting players is a gamble, including more picks jest reduces the number of rolls of the dice you get. If he's there at 27 and the front office likes him I have no problem taking a shot. If we move up 5-8 spots and don't sacrifice a ton, I won't love it but I'll understand the logic behind it.

The past few draft they made an emphasis on drafting smart players. Are they going to throw that out the window this draft?

I would be pissed if we drafted him but I would take a wait and see approach before calling him a bust.