The Saints Restructured Drew Brees Contract Creating Cap Space And Pushing His Cap Hit To $30 Million In 2016

Source: #Saints held right to restructure Brees deal. Options after season: Negotiate extension, honor final year and $30M hit, release QB

— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) September 30, 2015

Things that aren't happening next season:

- The Saints are not releasing Drew Brees.
- The Saints are not paying Drew Brees $30 million dollars.

Well, that really cuts down on feasible options now doesn't it? It's pretty clear, to me anyway, that the Saints plan on negotiating an extension with Drew Brees at the end of the year. An extension that will lower his cap hit, and thus open up more possibilities to make this team better as a whole. Say what you want about the trajectory of his career, but the Saints didn't restructure Drew Brees' contract after missing one game because they don't have plans of him being here next year. And considering he will be here next year, I highly doubt Drew Bres wants to have his albatross of a contract anchoring this team from achieving it's full potential. Even Brees isn't confident enough to think that the Saints can field a competitive 53 man roster with his contract taking up 20-25% of the salary cap. Don't think he hasn't seen what we've seen. He would never admit it, but he knows this team is talent deficient, and 36 year old quarterbacks don't succeed on talent deficient teams. 

The fact of the matter is that this team's below average talent level is the only reason that this move was made when it was. The Saints are desperate for a formidable pass rusher and a proven big play wide receiver. It remains to be seen what moves they can make that can help this team win now, but without a restructure of Brees contract there were no moves that could have been made. This may be a rebuilding year of sorts for a team that underwent 20+ roster changes during the offseason, but when you have Sean Payton and Drew Brees no season is a throwaway season, even if it starts 0-3. This decision was made in hopes of making this team better now and going forward into next year. Nothing more, nothing less.