Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest NFL mock draft has teams waiting so long to draft QBs

NFL mock draft season continues to be in full swing, and now the latest from ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has us wondering once again just how long it’s going to take for QB-needy teams to grab a quarterback.

I bring this up because Kiper’s latest mock has teams waiting … and waiting … and waiting for a quarterback.

No trade-ups, no shocking top-10 picks, nothing until pick No. 18, where the New Orleans Saints will be waiting for their QB of the future after re-signing Jameis Winston.

Who do they take as the first quarterback off the board? That would be Kenny Pickett and his small hands (a reminder, that doesn’t matter!):

The Saints tried and failed to add Deshaun Watson, so are they definitely committed to Jameis Winston now? I don’t think so. If the board shakes out this way — with all of the passers available — why shouldn’t they take Pickett? He’s the most NFL-ready of the bunch, leveling up last season with 42 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions. He is super accurate. He understands how to run an offense and lead a team. He could be the Saints’ future.

This is a strange quarterback class, and the range on when Pickett and Malik Willis come off the board varies from everyone I talk to in the league. No one knows for sure. I would not be shocked if either of them fell into New Orleans’ lap here.

For the record, he has Liberty’s Malik Willis going to the Steelers at No. 20 and Ole Miss’s Matt Corral at No. 32.

Check out our latest NFL mock draft, too.