Via ESPN:
“It became my project,” said Payton, who said the Saints first offered to match Carolina’s offer (a $15,000 signing bonus and $30,000 of Stevens’ salary guaranteed).
Then Payton said the Saints tried upping the offer to $144,000 of the salary guaranteed. But Stevens and agent Buddy Baker didn’t budge because Stevens wanted to honor his commitment to Carolina.”
Payton respected Stevens for keeping his word, but he wasn’t about to allow him to go to the Panthers.
During the final round of the draft, Saints traded next year’s sixth round pick to the Texans for their seventh round pick this year.
They then took Stevens.
“I said, ‘Honestly, I was having some fun,’” Payton said. “‘You had given your word and I respect that. But we weren’t going to lose you. You were going to become a Saint.’”
Stevens has played the position of quarterback throughout his entire collegiate career. Payton believes he can continue to work on his skills as a signal-caller, but could land at tight end or on special teams in his rookie season.
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