Drew Brees Rumors: Saints to Discuss Potential Short-Term Contract at Combine

Quarterback Drew Brees is expected to meet with the New Orleans Saints at the NFL Scouting Combine to discuss a new contract.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t NFL.com's Chris Wesseling), Brees and the Saints want "to try to hammer out what is potentially a short-term deal."

Brees, 39, will become a free agent if no deal is reached.

Rapoport added that the Saints want to sign Brees before the start of the new league year on March 14 since he would count for $18 million in dead money against the salary cap.

The expectation is Brees will sign a deal with New Orleans worth somewhere between $20 million and $25 million per season.

In January, Brees told reporters he believed the Saints would re-sign him for 2018.

The future Hall of Famer has spent the past 12 seasons with the Saints after playing five years for the then-San Diego Chargers.

Brees is an 11-time Pro Bowler, and he led the Saints to their only championship in franchise history when they beat the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV at the conclusion of the 2009 season.

The two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year is third on the all-time list in passing yardage (70,445) and passing touchdowns (488).

Brees experienced a drop in production last season, as his 4,334 passing yards and 23 touchdowns were his lowest totals since his last season with the Chargers in 2005. He did complete 72.0 percent of his passes, however, a single-season record.

Much of Brees' statistical fall-off had to do with more focus on running the ball with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. That worked for the Saints, as they returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2013 with an 11-5 record.

Brees and the Saints will have an opportunity to meet when the combine begins in Indianapolis on Feb. 27. It will run through March 5.