New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees the NFC South’s best quarterback?

From Ryan to Winston to Newton to Drew Brees, quarterback talent rules the NFC South, but where does the New Orleans Saints star land in the hierarchy?

The NFL regular seasons feels like it’s light years away. Thankfully, there’s still a lot of topics to discuss before the season starts. While the New Orleans Saints are the biggest contender in the NFC South, it brings up another question. Is Drew Brees the best quarterback in the NFC South?

The NFC South is easily one of the most challenging divisions. Each team has a certain spark and they use it to their advantage. That’s why almost all of them made it to the playoffs in 2017. Additionally, each has a different situation at quarterback.

There are a lot of ways to break down each quarterback but this is simple. Which quarterback has made the biggest impact on their team and how big of a void would there be if they left? Pretty simple questions, but there’s a lot to break down with them.

First, let’s talk about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs quarterback is Jameis Winston, the youngest in the NFC South. Drafted in 2015, Winston has led the Bucs to zero playoff games and finished fourth in the division twice and second just once. To say he’s had a rocky start is an understatement.

Winston did rejuvenate the team but didn’t produce on the field. As a young player, he still has a lot of time to learn but he hasn’t made a big impact. Losing Winston wouldn’t leave as huge of a void compared to other quarterbacks in the division.

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Next is the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons quarterback is Matt Ryan and Ryan has had a stellar career thus far. Drafted in 2008, Ryan changed the landscape of the NFC South and has taken the team to the playoffs multiple times.

He has led the Falcons to the Super Bowl once, but they lost to the Patriots. Even so, he just signed a mega-deal with the team for five years. The impact Ryan has made is tremendous and he is poised for many years of success. If Ryan left, the team would struggle and it would be hard to find someone who fits as well as he does.

Ryan has made a huge impact, but so has Cam Newton. Moving onto the Carolina Panthers, the Panthers quarterback is Cam Newton. Drafted in 2011, Newton became the face of the franchise. From 2013-15, he helped guide the Panthers to first place in the NFC South and a Super Bowl.

Similar to Ryan, they made it but lost to the Broncos. His impact on the team was huge as he became their franchise quarterback and helped liven up the team. He took them to the playoffs multiple times but had some off-the-field issues. If Newton left, it would be a huge hit to the depth chart and the team would struggle immensely.

Last but not least is the New Orleans Saints. Unlike his fellow rivals, Drew Brees wasn’t drafted by the Saints. He was drafted by the Chargers and came to the Saints in 2006. Since then, Brees has become a HOF quarterback along with a career full of ups and downs.

He led the Saints to the playoffs multiple teams and won a Super Bowl in 2009. Even with the team’s defensive struggles, he still played at an elite level. His impact on the team was and still is huge. He recently signed a two-year deal, hoping for another Super Bowl ring.

The impact Brees made is immeasurable. He changed the franchise forever and is one of the greatest to ever play the game. Right now, the Saints are struggling to find a Brees replacement and that should be answer enough. If Brees left, the team would undoubtedly struggle after making such strides.

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Maybe I’m a bit biased but of all the quarterbacks, Drew Brees is the best in the NFC South. He’s made the biggest impact, has the most Super Bowls and changed the New Orleans Saints franchise forever. When he leaves the game, it will be a sad day for all NFL fans.

Even though Brees is the best, cases can be made for both Newton and Ryan. Both have many years ahead of them and success will follow. Until then, Drew Brees will reign supreme.