New Orleans Saints bringing in QB for pre-draft visit

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports New Orleans is bringing Hendon Hooker in for a pre-draft visit after addressing its need at quarterback earlier this offseason by signing Derek Carr to a four-year, $150 million contract.

Jameis Winston also agreed to a restructured contract to remain with the franchise and the team also uses Taysom Hill at QB in some offensive sets.

Hooker is seen by many as the fifth-best QB in the 2023 class and there's an argument to be made he would be higher if he didn't tear his ACL last November.

In 2022, Hooker was 229-of-329 (69.6 percent) for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions.

New Orleans' first two picks are at 29th and 40th overall and ESPN's Mike Tanenbaum recently projected Hooker to go fifth overall to the Seahawks.

It's unlikely that Hooker will go that high and he should be available when the Saints are on the clock. He wouldn't fill a need this year but could later down the line when Carr's contract expires. 

And even if New Orleans decides not to spend a first-round pick on Hooker, he could be a great value at 40th overall.

The last two teams to draft in the first round -- Philadelphia and Kansas City -- shouldn't be in the market for his services while the teams with a need at QB drafting ahead of the Saints in the second round are expected to address the position with their first-round picks.

A defensive lineman such as Calijah Kancey or Bryan Bresee -- two names attached to New Orleans in mock drafts -- would be more immediately impactful for the organization than Hooker. But it's possible both are off the board by the time the Saints pick 29th. In that case, the front office is doing the responsible thing by bringing Hooker in for an interview. 

In a worst-case scenario where all of the team's other top players are off the board, the Saints couldn't do much better than selecting a potential quarterback of the future while Carr takes care of the present.