The analysts at EPSN ranked the top 50 free agents who will be on the market this offseason, and just two New Orleans Saints made the list. Worryingly, they both play quarterback: Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater.
Brees was named the third-best free agent set to hit the market in 2020, trailing only two other passers: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and New England Patriots legend Tom Brady. Here’s what ESPN had to say in ranking Brees so high among hist peers:
Brees produced the NFL’s third-best QBR (72.0) after returning in Week 10 from a torn thumb ligament, trailing only Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes during that period. His performance was a strong signal that he could play at a high level in 2020, even after a shaky outing in the Saints’ wild-card playoff loss to the Vikings. Brees has never been interested in leaving the Saints. Has anything changed? Would the Saints move on in favor of Teddy Bridgewater or Taysom Hill?
A few other free agent quarterbacks slotted in between Brees and Bridgewater, who ranked No. 29. That group includes Ryan Tannehill (No. 7), Philip Rivers (No. 16), and Jameis Winston (No. 25), with Marcus Mariota rounding out the group behind Bridgewater at No. 50. Bridgewater’s future — with the Saints or otherwise — figures to be one of the more interesting storylines of the offseason:
If there were any doubts, Bridgewater showed he can play at a winning level over an extended period of time. Three years after a catastrophic knee injury, Bridgewater helped the Saints to a 5-0 record after Brees injured his thumb. Bridgewater was picky last offseason, turning down the Dolphins’ starting job to return as a Saints backup. Would he do it again, assuming Brees returns? And can the Saints afford to give him a raise off the $7.5 million he earned this season?
