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Bringing back a series of pieces from the past three years, we’re going to check each position group on the New Orleans Saints and discuss how they improve the Saints’ chances of making a run in 2019. On to the most important position on offense, quarterback!
To view previous parts, see below:
Drew Brees has been the New Orleans Saints quarterback since 2006. For the fifth time in his career, Brees led the league in completion percentage, completing an NFL record 74.4% of his passes. He passed for “only” 3,992 yards, the first time in his New Orleans career he finished with less than 4,000 passing yards, but he only played in 15 games, with Teddy Bridgewater starting the final regular season game of 2018 after the #1 seed in the NFC was already guaranteed. Brees is currently on the final year of his contract, the Saints re-signed Teddy Bridgewater as the back-up in 2019 on a one-year deal, and Swiss Army Knife Taysom Hill is still set to be a dynamic piece of the 2019 offense.
So here’s why they’re better in 2019:
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Yes, Drew Brees is another year older, and Father Time is clearly against him. But Saints fans should be fortunate for Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. With Tom Brady 19 months older than Drew Brees, every season Brady has held off Father Time, Brees is not in unchartered water for the next season. That being said, while both players are obviously different people, if or when Brady finally struggles and shows signs of age, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Brees face similar results the following season.
In 2018, Brady had the fifth highest completion percentage of his 19-year career and led his team to its sixth Super Bowl championship. For Brees, we can only hope for a similar outcome in 2019 as Brady’s 2018.
Brees is also the beneficiary of an improved supporting cast around him. The addition of Jared Cook and what Cook can provide after the catch should go a long way for helping Drew’s overall numbers . He has a top offensive line to protect him and what should be (spoiler alert) an improved defense to help get the ball back into his hands quicker.
If - heaven forbid - Brees is forced to miss time in 2019 or slumps due to age, the Saints have a Pro Bowl caliber backup in Teddy Bridgewater ready to take over. 2018 was also the year Taysom Hill was unleashed on the NFL, and he’s ready to return in 2019 to help the Saints as a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, special teamer, hair dresser, and tire salesman.