Apparently The Saints Had Talks To Move Up To #1 In The Draft Which Makes Next To No Sense At All

As storylines develop for Thursday, one to keep in mind: The #Saints had talks about moving up to No. 1 for a QB. Will they do it for Lynch?

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 26, 2016

Moving up to No. 1 proved too costly for the #Saints. If they feel strongly about Paxton Lynch, they are a team to watch late in the Top 10.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 26, 2016

​Live look at Drew Brees...

​Notice the headline said NEXT to no sense. Drew Brees is 37 years old. He may still play like someone 5 years his junior, but - as we witnessed with Peyton Manning these past few seasons - Father Time has a recovery speed that you wouldn't even believe. It's not crazy to think that the Saints could look for an eventual replacement at the quarterback position in this year's draft. Especially since their Hall Of Fame signal caller's contractual status is currently in a state of flux. That being said, Sean Payton doesn't seem like the type of person that is going to rebuild if he doesn't have to, and trading the eyeopening amount of assets that would have been necessary to get the #1 pick would have broken this franchise down to it's barest of bones. Everything we heard when Payton signed his extension was that there was a short term plan in place. Any short term that includes winning involves Drew Brees. Not only because he is still one of the best players in the league at a crucial position, but because there is nothing short term about trading EVERYTHING for your quarterback of the future. Especially when success in the league is so obviously predicated on building through the draft. 

That's why I have to assume that these supposed "talks" were nothing more than due diligence. All signs point to Drew Brees remaining in New Orleans for at least another year or two, and nothing would render those years completely unproductive like unloading any and all resources for the team to immediately improve. ​The New Orlean Saints need to get younger and faster on defense and add a reliable playmaker on offense. They couldn't do any of that if they traded away a handful of draft picks to reinforce a position that's already solidified - albeit temporarily. 

P.S. Not entirely sure this wasn't released intentionally as a message to Drew Brees about the state of his contract. By that I mean, I hope this was released intentionally as a message to Drew Brees about the state of his contract.