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Five reasons why Drew Brees extension would be a mistake for Saints

By Dave Stevenson

Sep 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) walks off the field after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Ravens won 23-14. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) walks off the field after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Ravens won 23-14. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Salary Cap

The Saints need to look no further than the NFC West to see why having a young, cheap quarterback could be better than having an expensive one. Obviously, elite quarterbacks are an exception to this rule. But the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers built strong teams around their respective cheap young quarterbacks several years ago. Russell Wilson is thankful for having a great team around him, allowing him to steadily grow into the leader that he is today.

New Orleans could save themselves $25 million a year by not re-signing Brees. That $25 million a year must be used properly. But if spent wisely, the Saints could infuse their defense with a ton of talent. That could easily turn the Saints into contenders again if they manage to find a replacement for Drew Brees.

Of course, asking the Saints to copy what the Seahawks did with Wilson is asking a bit much. The Seahawks paid him pennies because they drafted him in the third round. They also had a great team around him from the moment he stepped on the field.

It’s silly to try and guess future options for the Saints, but perhaps Texas Longhorns quarterback Shane Buechele could be that guy. He has an excellent arm and he showed a lot of poise against Notre Dame in his first college start. There are some talented quarterbacks in college football, so the Saints will have options to replace Brees, whether that’s next year or several years in the future.

Next: Drew Brees' Decline Has Begun

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