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Former New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush will always side with his former club, but he believes New Orleans’ path to a fourth consecutive NFC South title became tougher after the way this offseason unfolded.

Speaking with Playboy magazine to promote his TV show Celebrity Watch Party, Bush said the Tampa Bay Buccaneers addition of quarterback Tom Brady this offseason makes them a “real threat” to the Saints’ divisional supremacy.

“Tampa Bay just quickly climbed the ladder,” Bush said. “… It’s crazy, because now we know it’s going to be Drew Brees’ last year. And most likely Tom Brady’s last year, but who knows? The guy just seems to not age. But Tampa’s a real problem for the Saints. If you think about how good they were with Jameis Winston, despite the 30 interceptions — now you replace him with Tom Brady, who doesn’t turn the football over and is literally the GOAT (greatest of all time).

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From Sean Payton implying that this will be Drew Brees’ final season to Brees inking a post-NFL deal with NBC, it sure seems like 2020 will be Brees’ swan song.

Especially since Brees almost retired a few months ago.

“I think he very seriously considered retiring after the season,” Saints radio voice Zach Strief said on The Zach Gelb Show. “I think he felt at points in the year like this was his last run, and there’s just something that kind of pulled him back. Yet at the same time, it’s got to end. You say that every year. But I do think if I was going to have to bet on it, I’d say that it was his last year, yet I’ll never get him to admit it ahead of time.”

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Pre-Draft Analysis

Trautman ran the third-fastest three-cone time at the combine, is quicker than fast and flashes as a route runner. He’s not a track star, but he plays a little faster than his timed speed and has got the frame to win 50-50 balls downfield. Trautman is good after the catch. His technique is inconsistent, but he’s a willing blocker who plays with an edge. — Steve Muench

Post-Draft Analysis

Trautman is an absolute steal this late in the draft, and while tight end might not be a pressing need for the Saints, adding one makes some sense with Jared Cook turning 33 earlier this month. Trautman can make an impact in a limited role and give coach Sean Payton yet another weapon as a rookie, developing into a starter over time. — Steve Muenc

Pre-Draft Analysis

Baun is a relentless pass-rusher who shows top-end closing speed when he gets a path to the quarterback. There’s some shock in his hands and he should continue to improve his hand-to-hand combat skills. He covers ground and shows good instincts in coverage. Baun is a rangy run defender and strong tackler. — Steve Muench

Post-Draft Analysis

In defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s defense, Baun can be utilized as both a stack linebacker and in pass-rush situations in schemed matchups. The Saints return All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis, but with A.J. Klein leaving in free agency, there was a need here to add a linebacker in the draft. — Matt Bowen

Pre-Draft Analysis

Ruiz is a well-built center with longer arms and massive hands. He has very good balance and rarely falls off blocks. He has made huge improvements and developed into an outstanding pass-blocker over the past two seasons. He projects as a plug-and-play starting center but also started five games at guard as a freshman and is versatile enough to play there in the NFL. — Steve Muench

Post-Draft Analysis

This is one of the more surprising picks based on what we know. The Saints traded up to get center Erik McCoy in the second round last year, and he started 16 games. Guards Andrus Peat and Larry Warford both went to the Pro Bowl. Warford is entering a contract year, so the Saints could see Ruiz as his future replacement. Ruiz is good player, but this remains a curious pick. — Steve Muench

New Orleans Saints

Day 1 grade: A-
Day 2 picks: Wisconsin LB Zack Baun (No. 74 overall); Dayton TE Adam Trautman (No. 105)
Day 2 grade and analysis: A-
The Saints required help in the second level of their defense and thus traded up in Round 3 to grab Baun, a top-50 talent. He might have fallen due to a diluted drug test at the combine and the fact that he is still growing into his frame. Giving up a 2021 third-round pick to move up 14 spots for Baun will be worth monitoring down the line. New Orleans made another major move late in the third, trading their fourth- (No. 130), fifth- (No. 169), sixth- (No. 203) and seventh-round (No. 244) picks to the Vikings for the right to take Adam Trautman, an excellent receiving tight end who also gives great effort as a blocker. The Saints went all-in on this pick, giving Drew Brees a very worthy target over the next couple of years. The deal used up the rest of New Orleans’ draft capital, but the team’s depth chart is so strong that its late-round picks would’ve been as likely as undrafted rookie free agents to make the final roster.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On the same day the Carolina Panthers gave Cam Newton permission to seek a trade that he says he didn’t ask for, the team agreed to give free-agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater a three-year, $63 million deal, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Bridgewater is guaranteed $40 million in the first two seasons, a league source told ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

The contract is expected to be done by the time the new league year begins Wednesday, the source said.

That news came hours after Newton responded to the team’s post on Instagram saying that he could seek a trade.

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METAIRIE, La. — Drew Brees has agreed to a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints that is worth $50 million, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

The $25 million per year is the same value as the previous deal he signed with the Saints in 2018. The deal is even more team-friendly than last time, considering the inflation of quarterback salaries since then.

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