Are the Saints better or worse off without Drew Brees in 2021?

The New Orleans Saints do not know if Drew Brees will return for 2021, and it’s still up in the air whether the team should want him to return.

Yes, Drew Brees is and always will be a legend in the Big Easy. But, for the Saints, is he the right man to continue to lead the offense?

Brees, who is now 42 and has an NBC broadcasting deal waiting for him upon retirement, could return to the franchise to which he’s given so much. At the very least, it’s possible. He’s yet to say that he’s not going to return, so he’s still at least thinking over the decision.

Let’s not look at it from Brees’ perspective but rather from the Saints. Ultimately, it’ll be Brees who is under contract and controls his own destiny.

But, should New Orleans want him to return, or should they want to get on their long-term future at the position? That candidate, while it could be an in-house player like Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill, is yet to be named.

The Saints could also go out and draft a prospect. There’s no guarantee that the Saints are able to bring Winston back even if they view him as the future at the position as they’re knees deep in the salary cap.

Knowing that and knowing Brees’ contract situation, it may be ideal for him to return. The Saints could cut cap around him, and he could have his same weaponry. That’s one thought process for New Orleans.

After all, Brees really wasn’t that bad, and the Saints had a chance if Jared Cook didn’t commit that fumble. The Saints lost the Divisional Round game in the first quarter when they failed to capitalize on opportunities and score touchdowns.

The other thought process is that by Brees returning and working out an agreement with him, they may be able to help save cap space and then bring Winston back. Moving on could be good for a team that has elite players on both sides of the ball.

From my perspective, I think, given Brees’ three-interception game, his injuries throughout the past two seasons, and his obvious declining arm strength, that the Saints would be better off if he did return.

That said, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, even if the potential for Brees to be who he once was is slim to none.