3 potential free agent backup quarterback options for the Saints

Sean Payton has already said that Taysom Hill will be the second quarterback behind Drew Brees for the New Orleans Saints. At the same time, he has also said the team will likely carry three quarterbacks on the roster so Taysom can still be used in his Swiss Army Knife role on the offense.

It’s completely possible the Saints choose to find their third quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft. But if the Saints instead wanted to go the route of free agency, here are three veteran options that would make sense for the Saints who aren’t named “Cam” or “Jameis.”

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Matt Moore

Let’s start with what amounts to the ideal option on this list. Moore is still only 35-years-old, and spent last year backing up Patrick Mahomes for the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Moore was pressed into duty for two games while Mahomes nursed an injured knee, and averaged 329 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions over the course of both games, with a 109.8 quarterback rating.

Moore has shown he can keep a Super Bowl-caliber team afloat in the event of an injury, and is still a free agent after turning down a contract offer from the New York Giants. He likely is holding out for a gig with a contender, and the Saints could offer just that.

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Joe Flacco

Let’s go from the ideal scenario to what is the least likely: former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Flacco has been in the league a while, but he’s actually five months younger than Moore.

There are injury concerns with Flacco as he was released by the Denver Broncos in part due to concerns over a serious neck injury Flacco suffered 8 games into the 2019 season. With Denver opting for Drew Lock, Flacco could be an experienced veteran in New Orleans. Flacco could help Drew Brees on the sideline by looking at coverages while providing a veteran voice that Brees and Payton would respect and value.

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Tom Savage

From the least likely to the most likely, another quality back-up option for the Saints is 29-year-old Tom Savage. If Savage’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he was previously penciled in to be the Saints backup behind Brees before New Orleans traded for some backup QB of the New York Jets named Teddy Bridgewater.

Before the Saints knew Bridgewater was available and eventually pulled trigger on the trade, Sean Payton was ready and willing to have Savage as the clipboard-holder behind Drew. Savage is still a free agent, having been without a team since being released by the Detroit Lions in August of last year, but he could still serve a role in New Orleans backing up Drew Brees and Taysom Hill.