New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is due another contract extension when the NFL’s fiscal year restarts on March 18, and it appears he’ll be willing to settle for another team-friendly deal. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport suggested as much in a Thursday television appearance, reporting that the difference in salary between what Brees may agree to and what he could earn on the open market should be enough for the Saints to sign another significant veteran free agent.
This makes sense, given recent history. Brees’ last contract extension with the Saints brought in $50 million over two years, at a (relatively) middling rate of $25 million per year. At the time, that annual salary accounted for about 13.5% of the NFL salary cap; accounting for the cap’s rise in subsequent years, a comparable per-year payout would be $27 million.
For context, the difference between an approximated $27 million and the market value of $33 million or greater for franchise quarterbacks is $6 million. That’s enough to sign a starting-quality addition, near to the 2020 salary cap hits of left guard Nick Easton ($5.5 million), nose tackle Malcom Brown ($6 million),and slot corner Patrick Robinson ($6.15 million).
With lesser passers such as like Kirk Cousins (who bagged $28 million per year from the Minnesota Vikings) and Jared Goff (who is reeling in $33.5 million per year from the Los Angeles Rams) surpassing Brees in the overall rankings, it’s a sign of the veteran’s team-first attitude that he’s willing to settle for less. And the Saints are likely happy to reciprocate. We should find out soon just where his next (and maybe final) Saints contract matches up against his peers.
