Financial hurdles could keep Tom Brady from theoretically joining Saints

Would Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady jump ship for another NFC South team?

That's the scuttlebutt around the NFL water cooler. A rumor has emerged that Brady would consider teaming up with coach Sean Payton in the Big Easy in the offseason. 

A Brady/Payton joining would dominate headlines, but would it actually make any sense? 

The positives for Brady joining the Saints are clear. He would team with Payton, one of the game's best-ever offensive minds. New Orleans' roster has plenty of veteran talent on defense, a solid offensive line and young playmakers on offense like wideout Chris Olave and running back Alvin Kamara. 

However, the one thing New Orleans likely won't be able to offer Brady is the one thing that could keep him away: financial flexibility.  

Per Over the Cap, the Saints are in the red with -$53 million in cap space for 2023. The team will have to go on a restructuring spree just to get back into the plus side of zero dollars. 

The Saints can cut certain veterans like quarterback Jameis Winston, wideout Michael Thomas, tackle Andrus Peat, cornerback Bradley Roby, linebacker Demario Davis and kicker Will Lutz, but that cap relief won't come until after June 1. Not many deals are sheddable until next June.

Brady can always take a discount to chase after one last Super Bowl. However, even the most rigorous cap maneuvering can't completely dig New Orleans out of its financial fracas. 

Plus, this is an aging roster that is in the midst of a 6-9 season. Payton might be a talented coach, but he's not immune to disappointment. His team went 7-9 three-straight seasons from 2014-16 and failed to capitalize on one of the NFL's best rosters from 2017-20. 

Could Payton's return lift a team that is missing a first-round pick, may have to shed talent to financially stay afloat and could face a very angry Tampa team twice a year? After all, Brady bailing on the Bucs would undoubtedly bring out a very personal double-header next fall.

Plus, there is just the issue of Brady potentially retiring. He almost stepped away after the 2021 season. If he really is to keep his career going, is New Orleans the best spot to do so? 

It might be an attractive theory, but key roadblocks sit in the way of this actually happening.