5 reasons Drew Brees extension is brilliant move by Saints

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Dec 27, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) walks off the field following a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Jaguars 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 27, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) walks off the field following a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Jaguars 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

4. The Saints would be horrid without him the next three seasons

The Saints cannot afford to pull the plug on Brees as their starting quarterback just yet. They don’t have the roster to sustain that type of locker room blow. Brees is the elder statesman in the New Orleans locker room and he will help guide the Saints through potentially a rough next few years.

New Orleans had a historically bad defense in 2015. The pass defense was about as bad as one could imagine an NFL team ever having. Having a quarterback like Brees who can win shootouts masks major defensive liabilities on the defensive side of the ball.

Brees is also the type of quarterback that elevates the play of his teammates. Can we really say the Saints have an offensive weapon that would be great in the NFL without Brees? Wide receiver Brandin Cooks is a compelling argument, but other than him, the offense lacks elite playmakers.

Even in his late 30s, Brees is a security blanket that the Saints could not think about parting ways with in 2016. They may not be great with him in 2016-17, but would have been one of the worst teams in football without him at quarterback.

Next: 3. Look at the quarterbacks in the NFC South

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