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New Orleans Saints: Who will be the heir to Drew Brees’ throne?

By Jake Rajala

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 28: Taysom Hill #7 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates the victory with Drew Brees #9 while eating turkey legs following an NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 28: Taysom Hill #7 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates the victory with Drew Brees #9 while eating turkey legs following an NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM )
(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM ) /

Drew Brees contemplated retirement this offseason. All things are pointing towards 2020 being his final season. The question is, who will be the Saints quarterback when he’s gone?

Drew Brees has been marvelous for the Saints’ franchise since coming in as a free agent in 2006. Brees has been first-team All-Pro, Super Bowl MVP, and been to the Pro Bowl an insane 12 times as a Saint.

It’s been a heck of a ride for the 6-foot quarterback who was drafted 33rd overall by the “San Diego”, now Los Angeles Chargers. Brees’ career was on the line after he severely injured his shoulder in 2005.

In 2006, Drew left the Chargers in free agency and had his sights set on joining the Saints or Dolphins. Former head coach of the Dolphins, Nick Saban, didn’t want Brees because of the injury concerns.

Brees then visited New Orleans and the first-year head coach of the Saints in 2006 — Sean Payton.

Payton decided that his shoulder was healthy, and Drew seemed like a good fit. Mickey Loomis got the signing done and the rest was history between the coach and quarterback duo, while Brees went on to prove to be the best free-agent signing of all time.

After 14 years in the big easy and reaching the NFC championship twice, winning a Super Bowl, Drew’s Hall of Fame tenure is coming to a finish. Father time is inevitable, and it’s taking a toll on Drew Brees. Brees has shown signs of declined arm strength, and his 41-year-old body can’t keep absorbing hits.

Brees took a “month” off to contemplate retirement this off-season, and he decided to give 2020 another round push to the Super Bowl.

Sean Payton has said that Brees is in his final season, but Brees said that’s not true, despite the all-around belief that it seems unlikely for Brees to play two more years. Brees has already signed to be a Sunday Night Football analyst for NBC after he retires. It looks like a strong probability that Drew will be riding off into the sunset of his fantastic career, come next off-season.

The biggest question for the Saints future chances of winning a Super Bowl after Brees retires is, who will be their starting quarterback?

Will Taysom Hill take over the quarterback role? Will Jameis Winston step in under Sean Payton, after a “Harvard degree”? Maybe, a new quarterback who’s not on the team starts under center in 2021.

Let’s take a look at the strongest candidates to succeed Drew Brees in 2021.

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