Let’s set the scene if you will. Or what I like to call the picnic table. Arguably a top 10 quarterback ever and top 3 if you count the 21st century. Drew Brees finished his career with 571 total touchdowns only to be beaten by Tom Brady who has 624 touchdowns as the sun begins to set on his career.
Closest Competition?
The next quarterback closest to his record that’s still active is Aaron Rodgers who owns 449 TDS. Rodgers will most likely not pass Drew’s Bree’s needing 120 TDS before he retires. It is certainly not impossible, but just a tad bit or a lot bit harder without the best receiver in the game at his disposal. Davante Adams went to go play in the sandbox with long time friend Derrick Carr.
Brees’ TD/INT Ratio:
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In nearly 300 games played Drew Brees has a career of 243 interceptions which as a ratio is pretty low. He ranks 2ND all-time behind king Brady with over 80,000 passing yards. He ranks top 5 with a career QBR of 98.7. Although in a perfect world this man would have brought New Orleans 3-4 titles he gave them a championship. After the 2020 season Drew Bree’s hung it up and will by default be remembered as the Greatest Saint ever.
Sadly, like Aaron Rodgers, has been cursed in the Playoffs . 13 pro bowls in 15 seasons. After Brees’s retirement, the Saints were sent back to the drawing board. Knowing like all of us Drew Bree’s successor won’t be anything close to a mirror of him.
What’s Next?
Taysom Hill has been a nice spark plug for the Saints, who can by the way play multiple positions. However, he isn’t viewed as their future QB. In 2020 the Saints signed Jameis Winston to a one-year 1.1 million dollar deal after 5 years with the Buccaneers Jameis, and these numbers might be off a bit but in his career has 135 TDS to a horrific 91 interceptions. Some playing time in the 2020 season after Drew Brees’s injury but not enough for long-term evaluation. It may have been enough for the Saints, they resigned him to another one-year deal worth 12 million and he was named the starter over Taysom Hill
Winston had a hot start:
Winston leads the Saints to a 5-2 record before tearing his ACL in week 8 and being inactive for the rest of the season. He had 1170 yds, 14 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions, and a QBR of 105. The Saints once again re-signed Winston this past offseason. A 2 yr 28 million dollar deal will keep him him in the Big Easy for a few years. As Saints faithful noticed a big jump in Winston as a starting quarterback for the Saints, many are optimistic.
No quarterbacks are ever really viewed as a future of a franchise unless drafted or acquired via trade super young in their career. But if a pattern means anything like a one-year deal, then another one-year deal is worth more. Then a 2-year deal, if what Jameis Winston provided the Saints ‘ Fans is an indication of what can be done there is hope to be had in New Orleans.
Saints’ Weapons:
Michael Thomas who 2 seasons ago lit up the league with 149 receptions and a stellar season suffered an injury in 2020 and only played a few games in the 2020 season battling his injury. His ankle surgery was inevitable and Michael Thomas had ankle surgery in June of 2021. He had an initial return expected sometime in October but rehab delays caused Thomas to miss all of the 2021 season. With training camp a few short weeks away Michael Thomas has been limited in practices. Jameis Winston seems significantly far along in his rehab. He recently was seen practicing without his brace on and is fully expected to start in the team’s season opener. Rookies are expected to report to camp on July 19th and veterans on the 26th. As a side note, the saints drafted WR Chris Olave in the first round out of OhioState.
In Conclusion:
Key moves for the Saints include signing Tyrran Mathieu who’s been the top safety in the league in recent years, Jarvis Landry who bounced from the Browns, and Marcus Maye who was a stud on the Jets. In a volcanically charged NFC a fully healthy Saints team could have a breakout season and despite not on paper being division favorites, a playoff spot isn’t far fetched. Jameis Winston comeback player of the Year?
