New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) talks with Jameis Winston (2) during an NFL football training camp practice at the Superdome in New Orleans, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. (David Grunfeld/The Advocate via AP, Pool)
Jameis Winston reportedly factors into the New Orleans Saints' plans to win their fifth consecutive NFC South title.
After quarterback Drew Brees announced he was retiring following a legendary career, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported, "All the indications that I've received are that Winston is the likely starter in New Orleans. It's just a matter of wrapping it up, official."
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
However, ESPN's Dianna Russini reported Winston's return to the Saints does not guarantee he will be named the team's starting quarterback:
It's no secret in New Orleans they like Jameis Winston and want to bring him back. The two sides are working on getting a deal done, per sources. This would not mean Winston is the starter if it gets done, it was explained to me, this will be a quarterback competition at camp.
Winston is afree agentthis offseason, but it would be difficult to find a better spot for him than staying in New Orleans.
For one, the Saints are regular Super Bowl contenders. He is also familiar with the system from his time as a backup in 2020. Having Michael Thomas at wide receiver and Alvin Kamara at running back also means Winston's most important job will just be to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers and let them win games.
The Florida State product has never played outside of the NFC South after spending the first five years of his career on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Winston was a Pro Bowler as a rookie in 2015 and led the league with 5,109 passing yards in 2019. However, he also led the league with 30 interceptions that same year, so finding a way to protect the ball will be critical in the Saints offensive system.
That the Saints are apparently leaning toward keeping Winston and potentially making him the starter is also notable because ESPN'sAdam Schefterreported in February that they were one of the four teams Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson would accept a trade to this offseason.
Wilson would clearly be an upgrade over Winston as one of the best signal-callers in the league, but it would also cost the Saints a significant amount to land him in a trade.
Instead, they can keep Winston and hope he maximizes the talent around him as they chase a Super Bowl.
Tom Brady Praises Drew Brees on 'Incredible Career' After Saints QB Retires
Mar 14, 2021
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, center left, speaks with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady after an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. The Buccaneers won 30-20. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Tom Brady sent his support to one of the few players who has been in the NFL for almost as long as he has when he tweeted his congratulations to longtime New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who announced his retirement Sunday.
Congrats my friend on an incredible career. Thank you for the inspiration and dedication on and off the field! Look forward to seeing what’s next @drewbreeshttps://t.co/2rDMn78OQD
"After 20 years as a player in the NFL and 15 years as a Saint,it is time I retire from the game of football," Breeswrote. "Each day, I poured my heart & soul into being your Quarterback. Til the very end, I exhausted myself to give everything I had to the Saints organization, my team, and the great city of New Orleans."
The move didn't come as a surprise, as Brees agreed to restructure his contract in order to help the Saints free up cap space heading into 2021. He missed time with injuries over the past two seasons, including four games this year with a collapsed lung and fractured ribs.
The 13-time Pro Bowler set NFL records for completion percentage (74.4), career completions (6,586) and passing yards (74,437) in 2018.
Where Drew Brees Ranks Among Best QBs in NFL History After Retirement
Mar 14, 2021
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, center left, speaks with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady after an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. The Buccaneers won 30-20. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
The quarterback announced his retirement on Sunday with a message on his Instagram page:
"After 20 years as a player in the NFL and 15 years as a Saint, it is time I retire from the game of football. Each day, I poured my heart & soul into being your Quarterback. Til the very end, I exhausted myself to give everything I had to the Saints organization, my team, and the great city of New Orleans. We shared some amazing moments together, many of which are emblazoned in our hearts and minds and will forever be a part of us. You have molded me, strengthened me, inspired me, and given me a lifetime of memories. My goal for the last 15 years was striving to give to you everything you had given to me and more.
"I am only retiring from playing football, I am not retiring from New Orleans. This is not goodbye, rather a new beginning. Now my real life's work begins!"
Drew Brees has officially retired from the NFL @brgridiron
Brees has become synonymous with the city of New Orleans during his illustrious career and will go into the Hall of Fame as one of the best players in NFL history. He is a Super Bowl champion who won two Offensive Player of the Year awards and was selected to 13 Pro Bowls while throwing for 80,358 yards, 571 touchdowns and 243 interceptions from 2001 through 2020.
The Purdue product played for the San Diego Chargers for the first five years of his career before signing with the Saints and becoming a franchise icon.
The question now is where he ranks among the best quarterbacks in NFL history.
He belongs in the discussion among the best-ever based on the numbers alone. He is first on the league's all-time list in completions and passing yards while checking in at second for passing touchdowns behind only Tom Brady.
Being second to Brady will be a common theme for Brees soon, though, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signal-caller is only 1,154 passing yards and 364 completions behind him. Considering Brady just led the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl title and doesn't look to be slowing down any time soon, he will likely end his career first on those lists.
That, along with Brady's seven Super Bowl rings, makes him the unquestioned GOAT.
Unfortunately for Brees, the fact that he has just one Super Bowl title and never won a league MVP puts him behind more than just Brady. Peyton Manning won two Lombardi Trophies and five MVPs, while Joe Montana won four Super Bowls and two MVPs.
Both rank ahead of Brees in the all-time quarterback discussions, putting the Saints signal-caller in fourth at best.
And he may be keeping that spot warm for Aaron Rodgers, who has a Super Bowl title and three MVPs while playing during the same era as Brees. Rodgers is also still playing and very well could add another Lombardi Trophy with a Packers team that made the NFC Championship Game last season.
Still, Brees ends his career as one of the five best quarterbacks in NFL history.
Report: Taysom Hill, Saints Agree on 4-Year, $140M Contract After Brees Retires
Mar 14, 2021
New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
The New Orleans Saints and quarterback Taysom Hill have reportedly agreed to a four-year, $140 million restructured contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Schefter noted that every year on the deal is "voidable, and it's a mechanism to free up cap space this year."
The 2021 savings come to $7.5 million, per that report. Schefter added that Hill's contract for the upcoming season includes a "$9.686 million signing bonus, a $1.439 million guaranteed roster bonus and a $1.034 million guaranteed base salary, plus incentives."
Essentially, the restructure is a short-term chance to create some much-needed cap space but gives the Saints and Hill long-term options:
The thinking on Taysom Hill’s 4-year, $140 million voidable extension is this to create cap space this year, which Hill wanted. But if he starts and performs like a top QB, the framework is there for a new deal next off-season. https://t.co/Ooy7akgPlv
Congrats my friend on an incredible career. Thank you for the inspiration and dedication on and off the field! Look forward to seeing what’s next @drewbreeshttps://t.co/2rDMn78OQD
It appears Hill is the favorite to be the team's starting quarterback next season, though the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that "the Saints are expected to turn their attention to Jameis Winston, whose next contract could look a lot like the deal Cam Newton just signed in New England."
Winston would likely be brought back with the expectation that he would have to win the job from Hill. It was the 30-year-old Hill who started the four games Brees missed last season, throwing for 928 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 72.7 percent of his passes. The Saints went 3-1 in his starts at quarterback.
Ever the versatile tool, he also rushed for 457 yards and eight scores and caught eight passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.
It's fair to question whether Hill is the right man to lead the Saints, a team with Super Bowl aspirations. His lack of experience as a starting quarterback is working against him. Barring a major trade or other move at the position, however, it appears he'll get the chance to prove he's up to the task.
Saints' Updated Depth Chart After Drew Brees Announces Retirement
Mar 14, 2021
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) takes the hand off from quarterback Taysom Hill (7) during the NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
For the first time since 2006, the New Orleans Saints need to find a new starting quarterback.
The 13-time Pro Bowler is the second notable departure from the offense following the reported release of Emmanuel Sanders, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Here's how the unit is shaping up without Brees:
Saints Offense
QB: Taysom Hill
RB: Alvin Kamara
WR: Michael Thomas
WR: Tre'Quan Smith
WR: Marquez Callaway
TE: Adam Trautman
LT: Terron Armstead
LG: Andrus Peat
C: Erik McCoy
RG: Cesar Ruiz
RT: Ryan Ramczyk
The obvious question is whether the Saints intend to ride withTaysomHill at quarterback, attempt to bringJameisWinston back or pursue an outside addition.
Many were surprised when Hill replaced an injured Brees during the 2020 regular season. New Orleans went 3-1 with him under center, but hisperformance(834 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions) didn't really answer whether he can be a long-term solution. It's also worth noting two of Hill's starts came against the Atlanta Falcons, who allowed a league-high 293.6 passing yards per game.
Winston, meanwhile, attempted just 11 passes in the regular season. His 56-yard touchdown pass toTre'QuanSmith in the divisional round wasn't far off from matching his total output (75 yards) to that point.
According toCBSSports.com'sJason LaCanfora, the Saints are interested in re-signing the 2015 Pro Bowler. IanRapoportfiled a similar report and described Winston as the "likely starter":
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
The franchise could potentially have a pretty seamless transition from Brees to a true successor, be it Hill or Winston.
Should neither signal-caller work out, general manager MickeyLoomiscould have a big problem on his hands because finding a franchise quarterback is easier said than done.
Drew Brees Announces Retirement from NFL After 20 Years with Saints, Chargers
Mar 14, 2021
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to Taysom Hill in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Drew Brees' historic 20-year NFL career has come to an end after the New Orleans Saints quarterback announced Sunday he is retiring.
"After 20 years as a player in the NFL and 15 years as a Saint, it is time I retire from the game of football," Brees wrote on Instagram. "Each day, I poured my heart & soul into being your Quarterback. Til the very end, I exhausted myself to give everything I had to the Saints organization, my team, and the great city of New Orleans."
Drew Brees has officially retired from the NFL @brgridiron
The announcement was expected in the wake of Brees agreeing to rework his contract for 2021. He lowered his base salary to the league minimum of $1 million in February, clearing $24 million in cap space for the team.
Brees had been scheduled to earn $25 million in base salary before that.
The 2020 season marked the second straight year in which Brees had missed time because of injuries. He suffered a collapsed lung and fractured 11 ribs during the Saints' 27-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10. He missed four games as a result before returning in Week 15.
New Orleans' hopes for a Super Bowl were dashed in the NFC Divisional Round with a 30-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In that game, which turned out to be the last of his storied career, Brees finished 19-of-34 for 134 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.
After winning 13 games during the 2019 regular season, New Orleans' championship quest came to an early end with an upset loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card Game.
Even though Brees took some time to decide whether he wanted to play a 20th NFL season, he ended the suspense with an Instagram message on Feb. 18: "My feelings about the 2020 season! I look forward to the grind and the journey, for the reward at the end will be worth it!!! Love you #WhoDatNation. Let's make another run at it!"
The Saints eventually signed Brees to a two-year contract extension through the 2021 season. He also set up his post-playing career as a broadcaster, with Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reporting in April 2020 that the future Hall of Famer signed with NBC to serve as an analyst for Sunday Night Football whenever he decided to hang up the cleats.
Marchand noted Brees would "be groomed" as Cris Collinsworth's potential replacement for the Sunday night games.
The 13-time Pro Bowler is going out on a high note, setting the NFL record for completion percentage in 2017 and breaking his own mark the following year (74.4). He is the only quarterback in NFL history with more than one season completing at least 70 percent of his attempts, accomplishing the feat seven times.
Brees also set NFL records for career completions (6,586) and passing yards (74,437) during the 2018 season.
The 2019 season was another successful one for Brees despite him missing five games early in the year with a torn thumb ligament. He led the league in completion percentage (74.3) and had the highest touchdown percentage (7.1) of his career.
Brees helped the Saints win their fourth straight NFC South title in 2020. He completed 70.5 percent of his passes for 2,942 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions in 12 games.
Despite all of those things still working in his favor, he is walking away from the NFL pretty close to the top of his game.
Brees will not be forgotten in retirement. He was a key figure on and off the field in New Orleans, joining the franchise one year after the horrific tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.
He told Robin Roberts on Good Morning America (h/t Julie Boudwin of NOLA.com) in August 2015 what it meant to be part of the Saints' Super Bowl team in 2009:
"There were so many emotional moments along the way, just because we knew this was about an overall recovery; an overall resurrection of this city, of this community, of a spirit. I needed somebody to believe in me just as much as New Orleans needed someone to believe in them. In so many ways, New Orleans not only saved my football career, but for me as a person."
The Saints took a big risk on Brees when he first signed with the team in March 2006. He tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder during the season finale with the San Diego Chargers in 2005, which led to Miami Dolphins team doctors suggesting they not sign him because of uncertainty about his recovery.
While the Dolphins will always look back on what might have been, the Saints became one of the NFL's best franchises over the past 15 years thanks in large part to having Brees at quarterback.
This may be the end of Brees' NFL career, but he's not going to be out of the spotlight forever. He will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame the second his name goes on the ballot.
Drew Brees Rumors: Saints Managing Contracts, Salary as If QB Will Retire
Mar 14, 2021
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) warms up before the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Drew Brees hasn't announced he will retire from the NFL, but the New Orleans Saints are reportedly preparing to move forward without him this offseason.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN explained as much on SportsCenter on Sunday:
"Everybody is pretty much waiting on a retirement announcement; no clarity yet. The Saints have managed their books as if he's going to retire, they've restructured his deal where he's only owed $1 million in salary, but maybe he'll get the itch to come back. Right now, the Saints are working independently of Brees. They've said publicly and privately they want to re-sign Jameis Winston; he might test free agency at this point. They're also busy restructuring contracts, just trying to get under the cap right now."
Brees was initially scheduled to make $25 million in 2021 but restructured his salary down to the veteran minimum of $1.075 million in February, per Mike Triplett of ESPN.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in January the 42-year-old was likely to retire this offseason, although there still hasn't been any announcement from Brees.
Saints head coach Sean Payton said onPFT Livein early February that he was expecting an announcement in the next couple of weeks, but there has been no update.
New Orleans still has to plan for the upcoming season, including determining the starting quarterback for 2021.
Taysom Hill started in place for Brees when he was injured last season and remains under contract with a $16.2 million cap hit in 2021, perSpotrac. The versatile player could still have competition for the job, including from Jameis Winston as he prepares to hit free agency.
"We had enough time to see what we had with him as a player, as a leader, as an athlete," Payton said of Winston on NFL Network'sGood Morning Football in February. "I really like what we had a chance to see. He was a tremendous leader for this team, and that's hard to do when you come in new in free agency your first year as a backup quarterback."
Outside of the quarterback position, the Saints have been forced to make significant adjustments as a result of a salary-cap crunch. Janoris Jenkins, Emmanuel Sanders and Kwon Alexander were among those already released, while Trey Hendrickson is set to enter free agency.
New Orleans entered the offseason $54.4 million over the cap, per Katherine Terrell of The Athletic.
Michael Thomas, Saints Agree to Restructured Contract, Saves $8.7M in Cap Space
Mar 12, 2021
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) warms up before an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Chicago Bears in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
The New Orleans Saints and wide receiver Michael Thomas reportedly agreed to restructure his five-year, $96.3 million contract before the NFL's new league year begins Wednesday.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported Friday the reworked deal will save the Saints $8.7 million in salary-cap space for 2021.
Thomas was one of the league's top players in 2019. He posted a record-setting 149 catches for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns en route to NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors. It marked his fourth straight year with over 1,000 yards since New Orleans selected him in the second round of the 2016 draft.
The 2020 campaign wasn't nearly as memorable. He suffered a high-ankle sprain in the Saints' Week 1 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and didn't return until Week 9. He played six games before landing back on injured reserve because of lingering issues with the ankle.
He finished the regular season with 40 receptions for 438 yards and no touchdowns, though he did find the end zone in the team's Wild Card Round victory over the Chicago Bears.
Thomas finished the year with a catchless outing against the eventual Super Bowl champion Bucs in the divisional round.
The Saints' offensive outlook for 2021 remains a bit murky with Drew Brees' retirement decision not finalized. If he does hang up his cleats, the front office will either need to find a new quarterback or go all-in with Taysom Hill as their new starter, which would likely change the system.
Brees is a pocket passer and one of the most accurate throwers in NFL history. Hill is a dual-threat playmaker who last played QB on a full-time basis in 2016 at BYU.
One thing that's for sure is the Saints will be betting on a major bounce-back year from Thomas, a three-time Pro Bowl selection who's a game-changer when at full strength.
Meanwhile, New Orleans has come a long way in its efforts to rectify a troublesome cap situation heading toward the new league year, but it's still an estimated $15.2 million over the cap based on its top-51 roster, according toSpotrac.
So a couple more roster moves or contract restructures are on the horizon in the coming days.
Janoris Jenkins Reportedly Will Be Released by Saints to Save $7M in Salary Cap
Mar 11, 2021
New Orleans Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Friday, Dec. 25, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Jenkins started all 13 games he played for New Orleans last season, totaling 55 tackles with three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown in a Week 1 win over theTampa Bay Buccaneers.
The 32-year-old was a major piece of the Saints pass defense that ranked fifth in the NFL last season.
Jenkins initially joined the Saints in December 2019 after being waived by the New York Giants, and he immediately contributed to his new team while starting the squad's playoff game that year. He signed atwo-year extensionlast offseason but is now once again a free agent.
The move will save the Saints $7 million against the cap in 2021. PerSpotrac, New Orleans will still be left with $7.2 million in dead cap after the transaction.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network provided more details about the cap maneuver:
More cap fun: Since Janoris Jenkins had a $1.2M fully guaranteed roster bonus, it would’ve accelerated upon being cut. So NO turned it into a signing bonus, spread it out over 2 years… and saved themselves an additional $600K against the cap #loomishttps://t.co/LNEOk6Psan
The salary cap being lowered in 2021 hurt the Saints as much as any team in the NFL. They entered the offseason $54.4 million over the cap, per Katherine Terrell of The Athletic.
Field Yates of ESPN broke down how this has led to changes in the roster:
Saints departures this offseason so far include: QB Drew Brees (expected retirement), WR Emmanuel Sanders, CB Janoris Jenkins, TE Josh Hill, LB Kwon Alexander, P Thomas Morstead and OL Nick Easton
Jameis Winston, Trey Hendrickson, Jared Cook and Sheldon Rankins are free agents.
New Orleans has been one of the most consistent teams in the league in recent years with at least 11 wins in four straight seasons. The squad was a legitimate Super Bowl contender last season while finishing 12-4 with a top-five scoring offense and scoring defense.
If the team wants to return to this level in 2021, it will have to overcome significant losses on both sides of the ball.
Emmanuel Sanders Released by Saints After 1 Season with Team
Mar 10, 2021
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (17) runs in the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New Orleans signed Sanders to a two-year, $24 million contract last offseason. Per Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus, releasing him will save the Saints $4 million against the salary cap with $6 million in dead money.
Spielberger noted that even with the move, the Saints are about $30 million over the cap.
In his only season in New Orleans, Sanders finished with 61 receptions for 726 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games.
As No. 1 wideout Michael Thomas missed nine games last season because of injury, Sanders led Saints wide receivers in catches, receiving yardage and receiving touchdowns.
He ranked second behind running back Alvin Kamara in receptions and receiving yardage and second in touchdown catches behind tight end Jared Cook.
With Sanders out of the picture, Tre'Quan Smith may have to fill the No. 2 wideout role on a more permanent basis behind Thomas. In 14 games last season, Smith reeled in 34 passes for 448 yards and four touchdowns.
The Saints may also look to address the wide receiver position in the draft, especially since they don't figure to have much money to play with in free agency.
New Orleans owns the No. 28 pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. LSU's Ja'Marr Chase and Alabama's DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle figure to be gone by that point, but Florida's Kadarius Toney, Purdue's Rondale Moore and Minnesota's Rashod Bateman stand out as potential targets.
As for Sanders, who turns 34 this month, he shouldn't have much of an issue finding a new landing spot given all he has accomplished during his 11-year NFL career.
