With extra pick, Saints could consider drafting Drew Brees' successor

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints were thinking defense, according to Sean Payton, when they traded receiver Brandin Cooks to the New England Patriots.

But adding the No. 32 pick in the draft has to at least slightly increase the odds of New Orleans drafting Drew Brees' successor this year.

For now, the Saints have five picks in the first three rounds (11, 32, 42, 76 and 103). Even if they wind up trading one of those early picks back to New England for cornerback Malcolm Butler, they will have filled one of their most pressing needs before the draft -- freeing up their options with the other picks.

I would still label the idea of drafting a quarterback early as a long shot -- or to use…