Sean Payton was on the coaching staff of several NFL teams before taking over as head coach of the New Orleans Saints in 2006 and in all that time, he believes Patrick Mahomes was the “best college quarterback” he has ever seen.
Payton recalled his visit to Texas Tech during an interview with NFL Network on Wednesday, saying he was “amazed” by what he personally witnessed.
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“Yes, we spent a whole day on that campus … We left there, like, just dazzled. Impressed. I know I made the comment that you are the best defender, the best defender in college, that I have evaluated.”
Payton said there were things about Mahomes that the film did not capture, qualities that convinced him even more.
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“There were all the other checks, the things you don’t see in the video. His personality was fantastic. He was one of those guys who probably always stayed at the gym after school, he comes from a family of athletes. He has a brilliant smile . It was all there. “
Payton said the team tried to leave without being noticed. The Saints were in a good position to summon Mahomes in 2017, but a last-minute exchange for the Kansas City Chiefs from 27 to 10 allowed Andy Reid to grab Mahomes.
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“We were picking at 11, Andy went to 10 and as soon as the exchange happened, we knew it was Mahomes. We were looking at (Marshon) Lattimore and Mahomes, so those were two great scenarios. He’s fun to watch and certainly difficult to defend.”
Payton may be looking for a quarterback in the next draft, as rumors suggest that Drew Brees played in his last NFL game. Payton said in the same interview that the team has every intention of developing Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill backups.