Mickey Loomis Takeaways from the Scouting Combine

Mickey Loomis spoke with the local Saints media at the Scouting Combine to talk about the team and a variety of topics. Here's some of the biggest takeaways.

John Hendrix | Mar 1, 2023

Mickey Loomis Takeaways from the Scouting Combine /

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New Orleans Saints

INDIANAPOLIS -- Saints general manager Mickey Loomis met with some local members of the media on Wednesday to talk about the state of the team and a wide range of topics. Here's some of my biggest takeaways from the Scouting Combine in talking with him.

GOOD MEETING WITH DEREK CARR: "We had a good visit and he's going through his process and we're going through our process, and we'll see what happens."

Carr is very much in-play for New Orleans, and he appears to be their top priority to figure out. To be plain and simple, it is their top play and quarterback remains their most important position to figure out.

DRAFT PHILOSOPHY ON QUARTERBACKS: Loomis said balancing the conversation with players like Carr and then evaluating in the draft means you're just looking at everyone, with the exception being if you were in the top of the draft.

Loomis said, "When you're late in the draft, or even later rounds, there's nothing that prevents you from signing a free agent quarterback and drafting one. Look, we're in the business of collecting good players and collecting quarterbacks."

Loomis added that it's just the normal process that the Saints have always spent a good amount of time evaluating quarterbacks, even in the prime of Drew Brees' career. "We just didn't end up having a lot of opportunities to draft guys that we liked, you know, at the point where we had the pick available."

Carr isn't viewed as a short-term solution by the Saints either, as Loomis mentioned and Allen also agreed.

"I think if we were lucky enough to get him, I think he's a long-term solution. About as long as if you had a draft pick and hit on it right away, although you still got to re-sign them at some point."

Loomis was asked about the scenario and possibility of having a third-round grade on a quarterback and then possibly having to take them in the second round to get their guy at the position. He said, "I think what Jeff (Ireland) and our scouts do a good job of is grading guys where you're available to take them."

Loomis said that they consider that and factor that in to the grade, but the team isn't looking to take a guy who might be graded No. 315 overall and take them in the top of the second round. He also said that he believes quarterbacks, in particular, are overdrafted. He also added that the evolution of how college offenses run, like a spread offense, makes it harder to evaluate.

DRAFT CLASS VALUE: "I feel like initially there's a lot of good receivers. There's a good group of tight ends, that's just my initial reaction."

Both Mickey Loomis and Dennis Allen mentioned that it was still very early in the process, and Allen said that the team was just starting to get the bulk their work in here.

ACQUIRING A FIRST ROUND PICK: "I wouldn't say it was important for us to necessarily have a first-round pick this year. Important thing was to get a first-round pick and then something (for Sean Payton)." Loomis added that it's nice to have one going into the draft and be in the mix, but wished it was Pick No. 12 instead of 29.

He envisions getting a good player that can compete for play time. The team will go through their mock process to have 5-8 names that they believe will be available and do more work on that particular group of players that they know won't be available. Loomis pointed out the team getting Ryan Ramczyk at No. 32.

RUNNING BACK OUTLOOK: The Saints haven't drafted a ton of running backs over the past few years, but it's not because they haven't wanted to.

"In particular, the last couple of years we had some guys targeted and they went, and then you're not dropping down too far to justify taking the guy in that round."

Loomis said the Saints went into last year and the year before with the intent of drafting a running back. He said the middle rounds made the most sense, but there was a running back that was not worth the pick or there was a player in another position that was graded so much higher that the team never expected to get and they would draft them.

The uncertainty of Alvin Kamara's case isn't necessarily a factor going forward, but the Saints want to get another running back, whether that's in free agency or in the draft, or both.

EVALUATING DENNIS ALLEN: The Saints had an evaluation process a little later after the season concluded, and Loomis talked about his first season as the team's head coach.

"Look, I think there were some really good things. There's things that were out of our control, his control, primarily the injuries. So, there were some really good things and some things that we've talked about that we collectively have to do better. But, we don't have any reservations about our choice as head coach."

HBCU/SMALLER SCHOOL SCOUTING IMPORTANCE: Loomis was asked about if there was more of a scouting emphasis in HBCU or smaller schools from their growth over the past several years, but mentioned that the scouting department has always focused on this area.

"I think for us, our guys have always done a really good job. They pride themselves on on finding somebody from a smaller school, they just do. I mean, Jahri Evans, Jermon Bushrod. We've had a good history of of finding guys at the smaller schools. So, I don't know that it's any different. But we've been lucky enough for the last two years to have that HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans, and so we get a little closer look at some of their prospects, but I think we've done a good job in the small school area. It's an emphasis that Jeff (Ireland) makes, and we've been fortunate enough to get some guys.

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