2012 NFL Free Agents: Drew Brees and More Free Agents Who Must Stay Put

While these players may officially be NFL free agents, it would be stupid of them to even consider leaving their current destinations. They have enjoyed tremendous success, and leaving their current teams would only result in a letdown. 

Drew Brees, QB (New Orleans Saints)

For everything the Saints and Drew Brees have meant to each other, there is no way they can part company—not after the season he just had.

Brees is a fantastic quarterback, but he is certainly helped by New Orleans and their seemingly infinite number of weapons. There is no way that defenses can focus on one man, which means the deadly accurate Brees is throwing into favorable matchups in single coverage.

The only other teams that have that advantage aren't looking for quarterbacks. If Brees were to separate from Sean Payton and the Saints, it would be nothing short of idiotic for both sides.  

Alex Smith, QB (San Francisco 49ers)

These are the teams that had a better year than the 49ers: the New York Giants and New England Patriots. If you want to include regular season, you can include the Green Bay Packers.

None of those teams are looking for a quarterback. 

Playing in the NFC West, Smith has a tremendous chance to return to the postseason over the next several years. He has finally found an offensive head coach in Jim Harbaugh, and he is familiar with the offense and receivers. 

If Smith and the 49ers were going to part ways, it would have been after any of the previous six seasons. But after 2011, these two need each other. 

Wes Welker, WR (New England Patriots)

To say that Welker's career has taken off since joining the Patriots would be an understatement. Prior to joining New England, he had one receiving touchdown, 96 receptions and 1,121 yards. 

Welker has caught more touchdowns in every one of his five seasons in New England, and has only failed to reach the reception and yardage totals once. 

That is not coincidental. Tom Brady has transformed Welker from a special teams player to a possible Hall of Fame receiver. It would be foolish of him to leave Brady and the rest of the Patriots. 

With the other weapons New England has, Welker will always have room to catch passes and run free, which will bolster his already prolific resume. 

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