Payton: Saints always looking at adding quarterbacks

Sean Payton isn't taking the experience and performance of an elite quarterback like Drew Brees for granted, but he's always preparing for that well to dry up.

The New Orleans Saints head coach admitted Tuesday that his team is looking to potentially draft a quarterback this spring to preemptively prepare for life after Brees. Despite the veteran quarterback's play remaining at a high level, Payton says the Saints are always looking for depth at the position.

"I think we’re in the quarterback business always because they’re so difficult to find," Payton told Sirius XM NFL radio. "And there's been a year or two we're close to drafting maybe a player (at the position) and he went a little before we were ready to pick. And certainly you pay attention to it when your quarterback's older."

Payton has drafted two quarterbacks to play behind Brees since arriving in New Orleans in 2006. Garrett Grayson was picked 75th overall out of Colorado State in 2015, but has only been active in one game over two seasons as Brees' play hasn't called for him to be subbed out often.

The veteran head coach has felt very fortunate to be a part of Brees' Hall of Fame career.

"Evaluating Drew and watching him and watching the way he trains and prepares, he's operating at an extremely, extremely high level," said Payton. "And today's elite quarterback, compared to where we were 20 years ago, it's amazing to see their attention to detail when it comes to detail, but beyond that - nutrition, sleep, hydration - all these other elements, we're just further along in regards to the science of training athletes.

"It's an extremely important position for the team and we're fortunate, I'm fortunate, that currently, in our building and on our roster, we have someone that gives us a chance to win each week."