Brees back up
Many people are convinced that Drew Brees’ time in the NFL should be permanently over. In fact, some think he should have retired sooner than he did. But reality is, there aren’t 32 quarterbacks in the NFL better than Drew Brees, nor are there 64. Prior to retirement, Brees has the highest passer rating over the past five years which exceeds both Mahomes and Rodgers.
Despite the emergence of Jameis Winston, the quarterback room is still the weakest part of this loaded Saints roster. With the additions of Jarvis Landry, Chris Olave, and the resurgence of Michael Thomas, this New Orleans offense is equipped with all the right pieces to make a Super Bowl run. Even if they can’t throw the ball effectively every game, they have a top five back in Alvin Kamara. On the defensive side, they add New Orleans native, three time All Pro Safety Tyrann Mathieu, and Marcus Maye who joins Marshon Lattimore, Demario Davis, CJ Gardener-Johnson, and Cam Jordan who makes up a top five defense in the entire league.
The Saints set an NFL record for starters last season with 57 and still managed to finish 9-8. Now they have one of the best rosters in the NFC. Lack of talent and health will stand in the way of any teams’ success at some point. The last time the Saints had a “healthy” Drew Brees, Kamara and Thomas, they were one play away from the Super Bowl but they would go on to lose at the hands of the worse no call in NFL history. Brees’ number number two receiver that year was Ted Ginn Jr. Can you imagine that offense with this years additions? Not to mention the impact he has on the locker room, and the city of New Orleans in addition to his Super Bowl experience. I do think New Orleans should give Jameis the starting job for now. He throws a great deep ball in which Brees struggled doing towards the back end of his career. He is only three years removed from a season where he threw for 5,000 yards. That’s no easy accomplishment as that is a very short list.
However, if he for some reason can’t be the guy they need him to be by Week six, it would be insane to not consider a guy in Drew Brees who is the most accurate QB of all time, Super Bowl MVP, seven-time passing leader and 13-time pro bowler as your backup. He’s had the shoulder surgery and time to heal from it. This team is built to win now, and Drew Brees can still be their guy.