Every year we give our premium content members a team-by-team, player-by-player look at the NFL season that was. The coverage will be in-depth, but because the Dynasty Capsule series begins immediately after the season, we won’t use it to discuss free agency or the draft. Come see us in early May once Mr. Irrelevant is off the board for another 32-article series giving you the same detailed discussion you’ll see below.
Buckle up dynasty fans, because you’re about to be reminded why our motto is, “There is no off-season.”
The New Orleans Saints had yet another controversial finish to their playoff run in 2019 after finishing the season as champions of the NFC South with the fourth highest-scoring offense in the league, and one of only four teams with 13+ victories - despite losing their starting quarterback for five games. The Saints showed no signs of slowing down offensively, but are all the signs pointing up? Let's look deeper at the team that will pick 24th overall in the 2020 draft.
We might as well start at the top of the food chain with the man calling the shots. Here we go!
Head Coach
Sean Payton
Age: 56
Payton was coming to the end of his deal signed in 2016 (five years, $45 million, signed through 2020). He and the team agreed on an extension to keep the Super Bowl-winning head coach in town for another five seasons - music to the ears of the Saints faithful who had worried about a possible change in scenery.
Quarterback
Drew Brees (ADP: 139.67, QB23)
Age: 41
All ADP data via Dynasty League Football
You can see above that just four months ago, the 41-year-old quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, was at an all-time low in terms of dynasty value. It is hard to argue when taking into account his age and the fact he missed five plus games in 2019 due to a torn ligament in his thumb. He just cannot keep doing it, right?
Well, think again. Brees just put up one of the best seasons of his 19-year career. When you exclude 2001, his rookie season, 2019 saw Brees post the highest touchdown rate (7.1 TD%) and quarterback rating (116.1 QB Rate), the second-highest completion percentage (74.3%) and second-lowest interception rate (1.1 INT%), tied for the third-highest adjusted yards per attempt (8.8 AY/A), as well as the fifth-highest total QBR (74.2 QBR). All despite injuring a finger that you kind of need to throw anything. His 16-game pace upon returning to the starting spot would have produced 4571 yards passing, 44 touchdowns, and just four inceptions. Brees is aging like fine wine at home, and on the road.
The Saints with Drew Brees went 4-1 on the road in 2019. Brees completed 68.84% and had a 10/1 TD/INT ratio. N.O. averaged 12.4 fewer att per game on the road so the volume was limited and he may not have won weeks but efficiency means he didn't lose any either, right? Well... pic.twitter.com/Sk1W3ELM95
2020 And Beyond
Brees is currently an unrestricted free agent (UFA) after making $25,000,000 in year four of a five-year, $45.5 million dollar deal. In fact, none of the Saints quarterbacks are under contract in 2020, with Teddy Bridgewater joining Brees as a UFA and Taysom Hill a restricted free agent (RFA). Needless to say, New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis has some work to do, and likely two - if not all three - quarterbacks will be back next season.
Thorough write-up. I especially appreciate how deep you go into the depth chart, and the salary references.
what is actionable? buy Tre’Quan!
Great job with this! Super detailed
