Figuring Out Drew Brees' Future is the Biggest Pre-Draft Priority for the Saints

The New Orleans Saints remain contenders in 2020 after re-signing Drew Brees to a two-year, $50 million deal after there was real speculation about retirement. This came after the start of the offseason, when the Saints lost Teddy Bridgewater and offered up a booming endorsement for do-it-all quarterback Taysom Hill.

Hill is 29 years old, however, and entering the final year of his contract. His style of play leads to hard hits, and he just doesn't appear to be a long-term option for the Saints at QB post-Brees. As it stands now, No. 9 is the starter for two more years; however, head coach Sean Payton let it slip that Brees could be done after just one.

This could be nothing, or it could be something utterly crucial. Regardless, the Saints have to think about the future at quarterback, and must have their minds made up before the start of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Period.

The Saints cannot rely on Hill to be the future of the franchise at QB. That is true even if Brees makes it clear he wants to play for the duration of his contract. Plans can change, of course, and a team can never be too careful. Drafting a quarterback of the future is a solid contingency plan, and allows the team to recover quickly if Brees does retire after the 2020 season.

Unless Payton and Co. know something we don't, entering the summer without an heir apparent under contract amounts to playing with fire.

Brees should be open with the team about his plans. Even if he says he wants to play for two more years, the Saints could not go wrong by drafting a quarterback. If that rubs Tayson Hill the wrong way, so be it.