2022 NFL Team Draft Page

On our wedding anniversary, my wife and I visited New Orleans and hopped on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar to take in the big, beautiful houses and the oak trees that line the trolley in the Garden District. Viewable from the ride is a mansion decorated with a huge 40-ft long banner thanking Drew Brees for his service. I am now told that home was, in fact, the Brees household. The banner reflects how much the city loves this man.

The iconic QB gave the Black and Gold faithful 15 unforgettable football seasons, matching or breaking nearly every Saints passing record before retiring March 14. Yet, for many in the community, Brees' dedication to New Orleans meant as much as his work on the field. The NFL's 2006 Walter Payton Man of the Year has helped raise millions for the city through philanthropic activities such as hurricane relief efforts; donations to fight cancer; and, most recently, when the deadly coronavirus pandemic flipped the world on its axis last year, the Brees family donated $5 million to build multiple health care centers tailored to underserved communities throughout Louisiana. ... Needless to say, number 9 left big shoes to fill.

Head Coach Sean Payton can espouse confidence overflowing for Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston; but, we all know the truth -- the next guy is just a one-two year stop-gap. Although I found it hard to celebrate the draft selections of 2021, I do like that the Saints chose team balance over reaching for Brees' replacement. This year, however, it is time to invest in the QB of the future.

~ DatBudMan, Saints Analyst