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Unlike many shot-callers around the league, New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis did not schedule any formal media availability during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. Still, Loomis did share some quotes with New Orleans media in a brief question-and-answer session Thursday afternoon, and the conversation predictably focused on a complicated contract situation with Drew Brees.
“We certainly want to have that done before the league year begins,” Loomis said to NewOrleansSaints.com’s John DeShazier. “Whether that’s first or not (in priority of other free agents), I don’t think that matters. But we definitely have a goal of having that done before the league year begins.”
It makes sense that re-upping Brees would be at the top of Loomis’ list, even if he played it cool regarding the overall landscape of Saints free agency. Brees will no doubt have one of the largest salary cap hits on the team, effectively serving as the first domino to fall in a series of moves. It’s going to be difficult for the Saints to budget for other free agents if they don’t know what they’ll be committing financially to Brees.
Loomis and the Saints must make difficult decisions on many Saints players, including each of their quarterbacks. Like Brees, Teddy Bridgewater will be an unrestricted free agent on March 18, while Taysom Hill carries restricted free agent status. While Saints coach Sean Payton has suggested re-signing Hill to a long-term deal could be a possibility before that March 18 deadline, Loomis declined the opportunity to share his take on it.
“I don’t want to talk about that in the media before we have a chance to talk about that with him and his people. But, look, I know Taysom has had a good experience in New Orleans and we’ve had a good experience with him. Obviously I think we’d like to continue that, and he’s stated he’d like it to continue,” Loomis told Nola.com’s Luke Johnson.
While the circumstances and contexts are totally different in re-signing Brees versus Hill, it’s interesting that Loomis feels no such compulsion to speak about Brees’ situation only behind closed doors. That might suggest a little more reluctance on his part to inking Hill to a multi-year extension, which adds another level of intrigue to what already looks like a busy Saints offseason. Or maybe we’re looking too deeply into what reads like a quick aside, and Loomis really hasn’t broached the topic with the agents representing one of his most-fascinating players.
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