New Orleans Saints: Should they trade Drew Brees?

Last week, the New Orleans Saints announced everyone was available, and they followed that up by trading All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks.

The move sent shockwaves throughout the entire NFL, and it seems like the Saints are expecting to part ways with quarterback Drew Brees sooner rather than later.

With the team appearing to begin the rebuilding process, should Brees be the next starter to be jettisoned?

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Last year was a rough year for Brees, along with the whole Saints team. The quarterback was uncharacteristically inaccurate at times, although he still threw for 4,952 yards and 33 touchdowns. The only problem, though, was that it wasn’t enough to elevate the Saints to a playoff berth. In the past, Brees’ super-human efforts were enough to carry the Saints (see the 2011 team).

According to NFL.com, 2014 was also the first year Brees had more than one game with three or more interceptions since 2008.

Brees obviously still has more football left to play, but it’s hard to make the case that the 36-year-old quarterback has anywhere to go but down.

Nov 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback

Drew Brees

(9) prior to kickoff of a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

His size – 6’0″, 209 pounds – probably works against him as he gets older and after 14 seasons, he could very well be in the twilight of his career.

However, that’s not to say Brees is a bad quarterback. He’s still a Top 10 signal caller and the Saints could likely get a good deal in exchange for Brees.

Here’s the thing: New Orleans doesn’t currently have a great cap situation (around 2$ million in cap space, per OvertheCap.com) and Brees is due $20 million in 2015 (per NFL.com), which is good for the league’s fifth must lucrative contract. So getting rid of Brees to a suitor with a lot of cap space would be beneficial for the Saints, especially if they stop to question how many good years Brees truly has left.

It almost seems like the Saints are preparing for life after Brees.

Re-signing Mark Ingram and bringing in speedy C.J. Spiller gives the Saints a very formidable backfield that also features underrated Khiry Robinson. Ingram rushed for 964 yards and nine touchdowns in only 13 games last year.

With the team also shipping talented, young wide receiver Kenny Stills to the Miami Dolphins, the offense seems to be devoid of dynamic pass-catchers. And with a free agency class that isn’t particularly deep, the Saints could be in trouble.

So if the Saints are indeed ready to move on from Brees, which teams could be potential suitors?

Well, I think the most likely candidate to want to acquire Brees would be the New York Jets. The Jets, like the Saints, have had a wild offseason, although theirs has been wild in a good way.

While some people have speculated the Saints might try to send Brees to Tampa Bay in exchange for the first overall pick, I don’t think the Saints would be foolish enough to send a future Hall of Fame quarterback to another team in the division. But hey, I also didn’t think the Saints would ever trade Jimmy Graham.

Gang Green traded for Brandon Marshall, and they also brought back the cornerback tandem of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. By making these moves, the Jets have shown they’re absolutely all in for 2015 in a now competitive AFC East.

The Jets – in my mind, at least – are one good, solid quarterback away from being a serious contender. Acquiring Brees would obviously give the team that sought after quarterback, and at the same time, given Brees’ age, the team wouldn’t necessarily have to give up on Geno Smith. If the Jets decide to stay put and possibly draft a quarterback, the Geno Smith project would essentially be over.

Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs with the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the game at AT&T Stadium. The Buckeyes defeated the Ducks 42-20. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

If the Saints are ready to start over and build with a strong run game and a young quarterback, the Jets have the sixth-overall pick, and many speculate Oregon’s Marcus Mariota will be available at that slot.

Mariota obviously isn’t Brees, but the Saints now have a defense that is much better — the team signed cornerback Brandon Browner, and acquired linebacker Dannell Ellerbe as part of the Kenny Stills deal, per multiple outlets — than last year’s (at least on paper), and a run game that should give opposing defensive units headaches. Don’t forget the Saints are expecting three-time Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd to be back after he suffered a torn lateral meniscus.

Look, I don’t 100 percent expect the Saints to pull the trigger on this trade, but there is at least some possibility. The Saints do possess two first-round picks, thanks to the Jimmy Graham trade, so they have a lot to work with in regard to trade negotiations.

It’s not impossible for a team like the Jets to consider a New Orleans offer that consists of a 2015 first-round pick, 2016 third or fourth-round pick and Brees.

If the team thinks Mariota is the guy who can lead the team for the foreseeable future, I don’t think there’s much stopping the Saints from executing a trade.

Let’s be frank and say that the NFC South (hopefully) won’t be as lackluster in 2015 as it was last year, so the Saints need to have a plan.

The Saints could also just ask Brees to take a pay cut, but where’s the fun in that?

Next: New York Giants: What's next in free agency?

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