Saints' Allen sets attention on finding starting QB: 'We want a winner'

New head coach Dennis Allen's first order of business is finding a starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints.

"I think it's the most important decision that you make," Allen said Tuesday at his introductory press conference. "That's going to be one of the first things that we do, is we get together as a staff, as an organization, and evaluate that position."

Allen kept it simple when asked what style of quarterback he and the Saints are looking for.

"There's a lot of different ways to do it, but we want a winner," Allen noted. "Just a winner, a guy that's got tireless work ethic, a guy that can help lead men. That's what I see in the quarterback position."

The Saints have struggled to find the next face of the franchise following Drew Brees' retirement, with four different passers starting games last season.

Jameis Winston entered 2021 as the team's starter and was serviceable before tearing his ACL in Week 8. Winston, who is due to be a free agent this offseason, threw for 14 touchdowns to three interceptions and compiled a 5-2 record.

Following Winston's injury, New Orleans turned to Taysom Hill, Trevor Siemian, and Ian Book to close out the season. Siemian and Book went winless over five total starts, while Hill went 4-1 as the starter. However, the versatile Hill failed to show much promise, throwing four touchdowns to three interceptions with a 75.4 passer rating.

Allen was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach after Sean Payton stepped down following a 15-year tenure as the team's coach. He takes over a Saints squad that missed the postseason for the first time in five years.

"I want to take those lessons learned (from Payton) and build on it, but I want to create my own legacy with the New Orleans Saints," Allen said, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett.