The call that changed Garrett Grayson’s life came shortly before 7:15 p.m. on Friday
Watching the NFL Draft in the living room of his parents’ home in Orchards, Grayson’s cell phone rang.
On the line was New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, telling Grayson he would be selecting him in the third round of the NFL Draft.
Grayson was overjoyed.
“This really is and I’m not just saying this it really is a dream come true for me,” he said.
The Saints took Grayson with the 75th overall pick. He was the first quarterback selected after Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota were taken with the first and second picks, respectively.
In New Orleans, Grayson has a chance to be the heir apparent to future Hall of Famer Drew Brees, who led the NFL in passing last season.
“I’m just extremely excited to get behind him and learn as much as I can,” Grayson said of Brees. “I have no problem sitting behind a (potential) Hall-of-Famer like Drew Brees just like Aaron (Rodgers) did with Brett Favre.”
Grayson worked out for the Saints in Colorado as recently as Monday. He felt, however, that he underperformed and might have blown his chance with New Orleans, which also had a private workout with Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty.
Friday, New Orleans coach Sean Payton said Grayson was the only quarterback New Orleans felt was worthy of a draft pick.
“This was the one. If he wasn’t available, we probably would have gone without drafting a quarterback,” Payton told NOLA.com.
Brees, 36, has two years remaining on his contract. The other quarterbacks on the Saints’ roster are Luke McCown, who has 12 years of NFL experience, and Ryan Griffin, a second-year QB out of Tulane.
The Saints have drafted just one quarterback since acquiring Drew Brees in 2006. Grayson is the first quarterback New Orleans has drafted in the first three rounds since Archie Manning in 1971.
NFL draft analyst Mike Mayock says Grayson’s style compares well to Brees.
“He throws with anticipation, which is rare for a college quarterback these days. He won’t overwhelm with his physical traits, but I think the whole is better than the composite parts. He has a game similar to Drew Brees,” Mayock said via NFL.com.
Last season, Grayson started 13 games for Colorado State, completing more than 64 percent of his passes for a school-record 4,006 yards and 32 touchdowns against seven interceptions. He owns every major career and single-season passing record at Colorado State.
The 6-foot-2, 213-pound Grayson played for Heritage High School from 2007-09, leading the Timberwolves to the postseason each year. He was the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League player of the year as a senior.
Jim McElwain, Grayson’s coach at Colorado State, was among the first to congratulate him publicly.
“There it is! Wow-congrats,” the current Florida coach wrote on Twitter. “You deserve it! Saints just picked up a class act and a heck of a QB.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story
