The Saints only have one pre-season game until the regular season kicks off on September 12. And they still don’t have an official quarterback starter after spending 15 straight years with Drew Brees under center. However, coach Sean Payton would like to declare a No.1 ahead of Saturday’s preseason final, and if not, certainly by Week 1, when the Packers come to town. That leaves a question: Following Monday night’s final pre-season action, who has the edge in the battle to succeed Brees? Is it Jameis Winston, the former Buccaneers starter; or Taysom Hill, Payton’s famous utility?

Going into Monday’s show with the Jaguars, we might have argued for Hill. While his bright side has never matched that of Winston, who is also four years younger at 27, he is already a well-established Payton favorite – so convincing in his double threat abilities that he has regularly stolen from photos of a future Hall of Fame in Brees. And despite an uneven camp and preseason debut, he’s already a proven threat with his legs, arguably giving New Orleans a higher floor for their first post-Brees offense. Add to that Payton’s promised commitment to ball protection – a notorious flaw by Winston over the years – and Hill seemed like a real possibility to open at least Week 1 as a quasi-starter, tasked with bring efficiency to balance the larger but more mercurial of Winston. arm.

Can a preseason game really change that? In the case of Monday night’s win over the Jaguars, in which Winston scored 9 of 10 for 123 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers, we think it’s possible. No one on the Saints’ staff equates throwing bombs at reinforcements in Jacksonville to doing the same against real defense in a real game. But Winston’s electrical performance on his first official start to QB competition was not only productive; he’s also fully shown why the Saints probably even bothered to bet on Winston as a substitute in 2020, and why they’re giving him a chance to take over a potential team in the playoffs now. Despite all the mental mistakes and turnover frenzy that have plagued his career, Winston has always had great playing ability, and his physical talent as a passer – a more prototypical QB – was far superior in his battle with Hill. Monday. night.

Ultimately, whether it’s two weeks into the regular season or 10, Payton may get to a point where he prefers the reliability of Hill’s short-range specials – a gadget-style approach that could work well if Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas are at full speed for the home stretch. We would still be shocked if Hill didn’t have a prominent role from the start, whether as a rotating QB or in his jack-of-all-trades duties. But if a higher cap is what the Saints are looking for in the first year of their revamped QB experience, if Payton is more concerned with running a surprise title than just sniffing the playoffs, and if New Orleans is just a Little eager to rediscover some of the downfield magic that has waned over Brees’ later years, the best bet – albeit slightly riskier – seems to be Winston.

It has been tough competition throughout the offseason, and probably still is. That probably says more about the Saints’ long-term lack of response than it does to the quality of their callers from 2021. With Hill, again, it wouldn’t be a total shock to see Payton roll it out early. and often, even as the official starter with Winston taking most of the shots. And yet, if you’re looking to assess the current battle and project which man will actually open the New Year under center, the current favorite is Jameis.

The Drew Brees era is over. Are the Saints looking to Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill? The CBS Sports app will prepare you for every step of the 2021 Saints season. If you’ve already downloaded the CBS Sports app, give preference to Saints so you don’t miss any updates.