After the 2020 NFL season concluded, one of the games all time greatest quarterback decided to call it a career. Drew Brees, the long time starting quarterback of the New Orleans Saints had accomplished everything he needed to accomplish in professional football.

The question has been ever since he left, who will take his place? The assumed starter for the Saints at this point has to be veteran Jameis Winston. Winston, after struggling with the Buccaneers for a few years, was signed by the Saints a few years ago with the hope that he could learn well under the tutelage of Drew Brees. While that is certainly an optimistic outlook, many analysts do not think that Winston is the quarterback of the future for the Saints.

From there you have two other backups in Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian. Many speculate that Siemian may not even make the final roster with the Saints, so he is clearly not replacing Brees. And Taysom Hill? While he is currently competing for the job with Winston, at 30 years old it is nearly a bit too late for him to be just now blossoming as a first string quarterback.

So that leaves the Saints with their 4th round draft choice in the 2021 NFL Draft, Ian book. Today, New Orleans officially signed Book to a four year $4.15M contract. Book, who previously was the starting quarterback at Notre Dame could the potential to be a long term fit for the Saints. It is unfortunate that Book was drafted the year that Brees decided to retire, because he could have learned a lot for him.

Will Ian Book be the guy that actually replaces Drew Brees? Personally, I don’t think so. But anything can happen. I prediction is that you will see the Saints produce mediocre to lackluster seasons in the years ahead without having Brees at the helm. When Jameis Winston is your best option at quarterback, your offense is simply going to struggle.

I certainly hope that Book excels and can develop into a future starter for the Saints, but on paper, I just don’t see it happening.

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