Saints should lose at least 4-5 key starters this offseason

[ed bell]

At 33 years old, I could see Brees getting ticked off at having the franchise tag hung on him....if he takes a serious injury hit he could be looking at a big financial loss moving forward....overall, if the Saints are committed to keeping him for the final big contract of his career, they really need to get that deal out of the way. The franchise hit at QB would be the largest amount, dollar wise, of any position on the field.

This is a prime example of why cap space is a fluid variable. We might look like we don't have much to work with, but we aren't looking at losing major pieces of our team while the Saints appear to suddenly be staring down the barrel of some tough choices.

[The_Mango55]

Brees is going to take a 100 million dollar, 6 year contract.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

Another thing to note on Brees is that they've been trying to work out an extension during the season and it never happened. The two sides went back and forth but eventually gave up and decided to wait until the offseason. Brees was quoted as saying "there was no progress really being made".

Not exactly what you'd expect to hear from a guy willing to take a discount. He could have just accepted whatever offer they made, let them get his deal out of the way so they could focus on resigning other players but he didn't.

[Shotgun]

I would like to go after at least one of their players. Hurts them and helps us at the same time. ;)

[R0CKnR0LLA]

Unfortunately, we don't have the cap space to go after any of their top end free agents. Maybe one of those DTs or Dunbar would be relatively cheap. Either way, just having them leave the Saints will help us.

[Kurb]

I bet Bree's would take a discount.

Hasnt so far.

They were working for a good part of the season.

Least thats what talking heads said.

[Kurb]

Unfortunately, we don't have the cap space to go after any of their top end free agents. Maybe one of those DTs or Dunbar would be relatively cheap. Either way, just having them leave the Saints will help us.

We have more cap space than you realize.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

how so?

[CollegePanther]

look at that, all the positions we need!! lol

[Donald LaFell]

We have more cap space than you realize.

How? Cut davis//wharton?

[Kurb]

how so?

We are always close to the cap.

We rarely are incapable of bringing in people.

Contracts are not freely released, structure counts a ton.

I respect your research on the subject, but I dont think us normal peeps can really get a grasp on it like a frontoffice person can.

[Woodie]

I don't think Brees will take a discount, but I do think he will sign a new contract before the Tag needs to be applied so it can be used on Nicks (who I think will be the one getting the tag). I also think the contract he signs will be structured in such a way that will allow them to make some moves and keep the guys they want. While the numbers will be big, the initial cap hit will be manageable.

[4Corners]

Drew Brees is a free agent but he's fully expected to resign or be franchise tagged. His contract will eat up the vast majority of their cap space, though.

They have roughly $25M in cap space and Brees' deal will take up 18-20M of that, maybe more. After accounting for their draft picks, bare minimum guys to fill out their roster and leaving a bit of wiggle room they'll only have enough to sign one, MAYBE two of their key players.

Here's a list of their key free agents:

Offense

Marques Colston, WR

Robert Meachem, WR

Carl Nicks, OG

Defense

Aubrayo Franklin, DT

Shaun Rogers, DT

Jo-Lonn Dunbar, OLB

Tracy Porter, DB

If they resign either Nicks or Colston then along with Brees that'll be it for them. Wave goodbye to the rest of those guys on that list. At best they can retain maybe 3-4 of the low-end starters if they let both Colston and Nicks walk.

And don't forget, they're also without a 1st round pick. Should be interesting to see the totally "revamped" New Orleans team in 2012.

Colston has to be their #1 priority along with Franklin.

I heard Nicks wants to leave because of $$$$$.

Also can realistically see some dumbass team like the Bears or Jets throwing a ridiculous, absurd amount of cash at Meachem and the Saints doing the smart thing and letting him walk.

[Kevin Greene]

Hasnt so far.

They were working for a good part of the season.

Least thats what talking heads said.

Yeah, and didn't he move his wife and kids out of the Bayou reecently to Texas?

Hmmm, I bet Jerruh would love Breesus wearing the Lone Star on Sundays. I think Ol' Romo is 4 years into his current contract already............