Saints GM: We want Brees for as long as he wants to play

If Drew Brees wants to keep playing football, the New Orleans Saints want him to be their quarterback.

General manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday that the Saints' approach to Brees' future is "no different than it's been the last few years" despite the veteran being out of contract in March, per ESPN's Mike Triplett.

"It's easy to take him for granted, yet I don't take him for granted," Loomis added.

The NFL's all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns will become a free agent when his contract automatically voids March 18.

The 41-year-old showed little sign of decline in 2019. Brees missed five games due to a thumb injury, but he still racked up 27 passing touchdowns and led the league in completion percentage (74.3) for the third consecutive season.

"Look, if any of us are surprised at what he does, then we're just not very smart," Loomis said.

New Orleans has the sixth-lowest amount of available cap space entering the offseason, per Over The Cap. This will make it a challenge for Loomis to pay Brees top dollar while also extending young building blocks like cornerback Marshon Lattimore and running back Alvin Kamara.