Will Drew Brees return to Saints in 2016?

After the announcement that Sean Payton will return to New Orleans, we ask will Drew Brees also return with his long time head coach.

There have been significant rumors as to the future of both Sean Payton and Drew Brees for sometime now. The pair have brought great success to the New Orleans Saints. Under Payton’s tutelage, Drew Brees won the 2009 Super Bowl against Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts with an MVP performance.

However, two consecutive losing seasons in a row, two years not making the play offs and the doubts have begun to creep in. The defense is utterly terrible, and after trading away Jimmy Graham in the off season to the Seattle Seahawks, the offense is purely on Drew Brees’ shoulders. Payton’s job was under significant pressure, and there had been musings of a move elsewhere, perhaps the Giants. Nonetheless, the Saints have now announced that Payton is staying. So, will Drew Brees join him.

Payton, himself, has said that “it’s a good assumption” that Brees will continue to be his quarterback next season. Brees and Payton have had undoubted success. Brees has just come off an apparent down year where he led the NFL in passing yardage. This is a top class quarterback, even as his age advances. He is also, though, on a top class wage, and this could well be the sticking point for New Orleans.

The Saints are not happy about his wage. Perhaps rightfully so. Like so often in the modern day NFL, salary cap issues drive decisions, and the future of Drew Brees could well depend on such issues. There is a clear want to keep him in New Orleans. However, there are also limitations, financially, and Brees may have to take a pay cut to stay.

Whether Drew Brees returns to New Orleans in 2016 is ultimately a question of money. Payton obviously wants to keep his quarterback. Whether he will get the chance is another question altogether.