Although this day was seen from a mile away, the NFL witnessed another major retirement on Sunday.
The official announcement on IG from Drew Brees: pic.twitter.com/NW2NJgZzx7
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2021
Drew Brees will remain one of the greatest of all-time. His 80,358 yards and 7,142 completions are the best among anyone to ever put on a uniform. His 571 touchdowns are second to Tom Brady (581). These metrics, coupled with an All-Pro selection and 13 Pro Bowl selections, truly exemplify an excellent career for Brees. The signal-caller always knew how to put on a show and put up a fight.
His career may be over, but Brees’s mentality lives on. Viewers from around the world witnessed a true leader and fighter for not just the Saints but also the city of New Orleans. Thinking back to Hurricane Katrina is painful, but those willing to do so will remember Brees and the Saints working day and night to help make New Orleans feel like home again.
He is a true hero both on and off the field.
First-Ballot Hall of Famer?
The truth is obvious. The face of New Orleans will undoubtedly be selected in his first chance to make it to Canton. His consistency, fight, leadership (both on and off the field), and tenacity will easily bring him next to the many greats that came before him. Brees may not be the greatest of all-time, but he will be remembered among them.
The Saints’ Future Quarterback?
Through the tears and pain for the loss of Brees, a problem has arisen. Who will fill his shoes?
Sean Payton can surely make due with many quarterbacks to patch the whole, but the long-term answer is definitely cloudy. The Saints are not in a good position to grab a quarterback this draft. Their best chance is grabbing Kyle Trask at the end of the second or third round in order to potentially have someone young and cheap on a very cap-heavy roster.
Jameis Winston was hinted at being told that he may have the keys to the franchise, but Taysom Hill started over him in the absence of Brees last year. Hill also just received a fully-voidable four-year, $140 million extension to create cap space while Winston is slotted to get a new contract and be the starter.
Saints are restructuring QB Taysom Hill’s contract to create cap room. Details are great: it’s a 4-year, $140 million contract extension – but all years are voidable and it’s a mechanism to free up cap space this year, per source. It saves Saints over $7.5M against cap this year.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2021
From @NFLNetwork: #Saints QB Drew Brees has finally officially retired, but New Orleans had already been working on a deal with Jameis Winston, the likely starter in 2021. pic.twitter.com/Nq1qV2cGa9
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2021
These are great patchwork options, but Winston and Hill are not long-term solutions. The cap-ridden Saints will have their work cut out for them this offseason.
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