The Saints started their offseason this week, which means that meetings about upcoming opponents will be replaced by meetings about how to build the roster for the 2014 season.
New Orleans is projected to be more than $12 million over the cap as they head into the offseason, leaving them with some tough calls to make as they try to hold onto tight end Jimmy Graham, safety Malcolm Jenkins and other key impending free agents. One place where they might be able to find some money is by restructuring the contract of quarterback Drew Brees.
Brees is set to count $18.4 million against the cap in 2014, which is the third year of the five-year contract he signed before the 2012 season. That number can come down, although it would make for some imposing figures in 2015 and 2016. On Monday, Brees said he’s open to anything and suggested an extension that would allow the Saints to spread the cap hit out over a longer period of time.
“Whatever I can do to help this team, if they want to come to me and extend me even further, that’d be great,” Brees said, via the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “Listen, there are so many possibilities as to what can happen here. Let’s just let this offseason start. It’s what, today’s the second day of it unfortunately. We all wish it wasn’t, but whatever helps this team win and puts the best team on the field.”
Brees turns 35 on Wednesday and he’ll be 38 when his current deal is set to expire. There’s not much reason to expect a quick decline given the way Brees played in 2013, which could make the extension option one the Saints explore because of how much of their cap is set to be gobbled up by Brees’ contract in the coming years.