On the verge of a lost season at 0-2, the New Orleans Saints need to find a way to create hope for the years ahead.
That means doing the unthinkable: It's time to move Drew Brees and commit to a truly disastrous season.
It's early enough in the 2017 campaign that other 0-2 or 1-1 teams with quality defenses could be willing to pay the toll for an elite quarterback like Brees. But should the Saints wait too long, teams below .500 would likely trust their own luck in the 2018 draft, rather than parting with the current and future pieces necessary to acquire a 38-year-old future Hall of Famer.
Brees is signed for only the current season, and the Saints won't be able to use the franchise tag to retain him. Brees, already a Super Bowl champion, could opt to seek out his second ring rather than return for a 13th season with a New Orleans team clearly trending in the wrong direction.
The Saints are the NFL's fifth-oldest club by average age, and are heading toward a fourth consecutive losing campaign.
A trade would free up what's left of Brees $19-million cap hit for 2017 (at the time of the deal) - money that could be used to lure next summer's top free agents. The team currently has the third-least amount of cap space in the league at just $2.2 million.
The Saints have 44 players signed for 2018, with a projected $27.2 million in space without Brees, per Spotrac. With a plethora of other roster holes to address, opting for a younger quarterback would allow the team to address multiple areas of weakness instead of sinking the majority of its available funds into one position.
The biggest issue - by far - is the defense. The Saints have allowed a league-worst 777 passing yards through two games, while their six passing touchdowns allowed are tied for the most. The unit has looked completely inept, having allowed career days to both Sam Bradford and Tom Brady.
Only three starters on defense - defensive ends Cameron Jordan and Alex Okafor, and cornerback Marshon Lattimore - ranked inside the top 30 at their respective positions in Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus. There are simply too many soft spots for the progression of a couple players to make any meaningful difference.
The defense is in need of a complete revamp, something that won't happen in just one season or with the funds currently available to the Saints.
Brees has said he plans on taking things year by year following the 2017 season, neglecting to set a timeline for his inevitable final campaign.
The Saints feature backup quarterbacks Chase Daniel and Taysom Hill on their current roster. Neither is a long-term option under center, but Daniel has shown the ability to be a potential bridge if need be.
The offense has the pieces necessary to help along a young signal-caller without wasting his prime.
Michael Thomas is one of the best young wide receivers in the NFL, and rookie running back Alvin Kamara has already shown flashes of being the future of the backfield.
The New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers are who we thought they were - clear favorites for the No. 1 pick. The Buffalo Bills have looked better than most expected, and seem doomed to luck into a few wins en route to finishing among the league's mediocre sides. Even the Jacksonville Jaguars are 1-1, though their win is looking like a fluke after a horrendous Week 2.
The 2017 NFL season is open for the Saints to jump headfirst into the tank war. With Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson all expected to be available at the top of the 2018 draft, it's high time for the team to start fresh with a new franchise quarterback.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
