Drew Brees is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and some have wondered if the 39-year-old’s future with the New Orleans Saints is in doubt. According to head coach Sean Payton, the veteran quarterback is not going anywhere.
At the Pro Bowl in Orlando on Thursday, Brees was asked if he plans to be back with the Saints next season. His response was similar to the one he gave after New Orleans was eliminated from the playoffs.
On his future in New Orleans, Saints QB Drew Brees told me “I’ll be back if they’ll have me”
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) January 25, 2018
As far as Payton is concerned, the contract situation is just a minor speed bump. Payton, who is the head coach of the NFC squad at the Pro Bowl, expressed certainty that Brees will be wearing the same uniform in 2018.
HC Sean Payton followed up on Brees future in New Orleans by telling me “he’s coming back. We’ll get this done” https://t.co/V7fGfKW5AH
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) January 25, 2018
While his passes don’t have the same velocity that they used to and he missed some throws this year that he normally makes in his sleep, Brees is still better than most quarterbacks in the NFL. He threw for more than 4,300 yards and completed 72 percent of his passes this season, which was a career high.
If not for one of the worst missed tackles in NFL postseason history, Brees would have led the Saints to the Super Bowl. New Orleans can address the quarterback position in the draft, but they need look no further than No. 9 as their starter in 2018.
