Drew Brees is the greatest quarterback to ever play for the New Orleans Saints.
He led the squad to great heights after he showed up in 2006.
Since his arrival, the Saints have made the playoffs nine times and reached the NFC Championship Game thrice.
That’s an improvement, considering the Saints reached the postseason just five times from 1967 to 2005.
They won just one playoff game during that stretch.
In contrast, Brees helped the Saints win nine playoff games, including Super Bowl XLIV over Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.
However, the franchise has struggled to find Brees’ replacement even when he was still with the squad.
The #Saints preparation for life after Drew Brees:
2015: Miss on Garrett Grayson
2017: Almost had Mahomes
2018: Pass on Lamar Jackson
2021: Miss on Ian Book
2022: Wanted Deshaun Watson
2022: Taysom to TE
2022: Re-sign Jameis
2022: Pass on Kenny Pickett
2023: No 1st round pick— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) September 25, 2022
WDSU Sports Anchor Fletcher Mackel shared a timeline of the Saints’ misses.
It started in 2015 when they selected Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson, who lasted only two seasons with the squad.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs took Patrick Mahomes one spot ahead of them in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Still, the Saints got a defensive ace in Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
They also passed on Lamar Jackson, who went to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Saints could reverse that blunder if they can sign Jackson during the 2023 offseason.
New Orleans also drafted Ian Book last season, but no one beyond Trevor Lawrence and Mac Jones has panned out for the 2021 quarterback class.
In Jameis They Trust
The Saints brought back Jameis Winston hoping that he finishes what he started.
Last season, he helped New Orleans race to a 5-2 record.
But he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
However, things are not going well for Winston to start the season.
The Saints are at 1-2, and he is struggling to navigate the team’s highly-talented offense.
With no solid backup plan and no first-round picks in the 2023 draft, the Saints will have to wait longer before finding Brees’ rightful successor.
NEXT: Mike Evans Faces A Hilarious Ban In New Orleans
