NFL Nation

          Saints mailbag: Draft Drew Brees' successor?

          Thanks for submitting your New Orleans Saints questions to me on Twitter. Send them anytime @MikeTriplett.

          @MikeTriplett: I still don't think it needs to be an urgent priority for the Saints to draft Drew Brees ' successor yet -- certainly not a first-round pick -- because I can't imagine Brees giving up his starting job before 2017 at the earliest. And I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he starts for four or five more years.

          But I completely understand the concept and wouldn't have a problem with the Saints using something like a third-round pick on a guy. As long as they really like him and aren't reaching. Coach Sean Payton mentioned the Saints considered doing that with Mike Glennon last year. I'm fine with that. Maybe you need him in a couple of years, or maybe you can trade him.

          However, where I felt like the NFL Network report was really off target was the stuff that suggested the Saints are concerned about a steep decline with Brees and that they wish they had already drafted a successor earlier. That implies the Saints would be looking to turn to a new QB within the next year or so -- and I can't believe that's the team's thinking.

          I haven't seen a serious drop-off with Brees' arm strength or skill set this year. He's on pace for nearly 5,000 yards with the best completion percentage in the NFL. His only real problem has been too many interceptions and cases of poor judgment when he's tried to force things -- but that's always been a part of his makeup.

          If I'm the Saints, I'd be even more concerned about replenishing the offensive line, where they don't have any obvious successors in place for Pro Bowl guards Jahri Evans and Ben Grubbs, who might need to be replaced even sooner. But then again, the draft is always about the "best player available." So I'm sure they won't get locked in on either position.


          @MikeTriplett: I went back and added them up out of curiosity, but there's no real obvious rhyme or reason based on the intended targets. As expected, the most were intended for tight end Jimmy Graham -- but only three of them. Marques Colston and Robert Meachem were tied for second with two (including one for Meachem that was essentially a Hail Mary). Then one each for Brandin Cooks, Kenny Stills, Benjamin Watson and Travaris Cadet.

          @_clau_rius: Has Rob Ryan got the right players to their 3-4 defense?

          @MikeTriplett: It's kind of a moot point since Ryan has shown a willingness to adapt his system to fit his players. They essentially use a four-man front when they're in their nickel and dime packages -- which is more than 50 percent of the time. But they have used that base 3-4 look with linebackers Junior Galette and Parys Haralson playing off the line of scrimmage a little more this year than last year.

          Despite their struggles this year, I still think the Saints have a lot of good, young players to build around in their front seven (Galette, Cameron Jordan, Curtis Lofton, Akiem Hicks and rotational players John Jenkins, Tyrunn Walker and Glenn Foster). No matter what system they run, the one element in the front seven that they're missing most is another real impact outside linebacker -- whether that's another dynamic edge-rusher or more of a 4-3 outside linebacker, like Tampa Bay's Lavonte David.

          They missed on both draft pick Khairi Fortt and free agent Victor Butler in recent years. That should remain a priority.


          @MikeTriplett: He definitely remains a work in progress. But he also hasn't been getting picked on too badly back there. The entire secondary played great for most of this past game against Pittsburgh, with Warren spending a lot of time shadowing dangerous receiver Antonio Brown in help coverage. His biggest miscues against Pittsburgh were some missed tackles -- including two during the Steelers' late touchdown drives.

          Warren also had some highs and lows in his debut a week earlier against Baltimore -- the most notable being his forced fumble (a positive) and an apparent blown coverage assignment on a third-down pass to Steve Smith (a negative).

          "He's still digesting and getting comfortable with that position," Payton said this week. "I think there are a lot of things for him with regards to cleaning up and getting better. Nonetheless, the reps are working and you try to get as many looks as you can out on the field, as well as [continuing] preparation."