The New Orleans Saints drafted Mississippi State quarterback Tommy Stevens with a definitive plan in place, according to Jeff Duncan of The Athletic.
In a story outlining how the Saints came to select the 23-year-old, head coach Sean Payton's passion was evident. He and his front office fought tooth and nail with the Carolina Panthers for the rights to sign Stevens as an undrafted free agent, with Payton calling the process his "project." The Saints identified Stevens as a "bigger Taysom Hill," leading to the belief that he could be used in a variety of roles as a rookie. And just after Payton traded into the seventh round of the draft (the Saints didn't have any picks before making a move), he texted Stevens' camp, “I’m tired of asking. Now, I’m taking.”
In nine games last season, Stevens threw for 1,155 yards with 11 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He also ran the ball 83 times for 381 yards and 4 scores.
Source: Jeff Duncan, The Athletic