Home / Sports / Brees' Draft Fall: A Hall of Famer's Near Miss
Brees' Draft Fall: A Hall of Famer's Near Miss
17 Jul
Summary
- Drew Brees was drafted 32nd overall after being overlooked in Round 1.
- He later became an NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion with the Saints.
- Numerous teams, including his drafting franchise, underestimated him.
The 2001 NFL Draft featured two highly touted quarterbacks: Michael Vick and Drew Brees. While Vick was a near-certain first pick, Brees faced scrutiny due to a perceived disappointing senior year, despite significant Big Ten records. Questions about his size and arm strength persisted, with some whispers of his official combine height being fudged. Despite a thorough scouting report noting his poise and fundamental soundness, concerns about his stature and arm strength led to him falling out of the first round.
The San Diego Chargers selected Brees with the first pick of the second round. After sitting out most of his rookie year, he started for four seasons, compiling a 30-28 record. The Chargers let him walk in free agency, opting to move on. Brees then signed with the New Orleans Saints, where he cemented his legacy. He earned two NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards, made five All-Pro teams, thirteen Pro Bowls, and led the Saints to victory in Super Bowl XLIV, earning MVP honors.
Later this month, Drew Brees will be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Hindsight reveals that numerous teams, including the Atlanta Falcons who drafted Vick first overall, and the San Diego Chargers, missed a monumental opportunity. Teams like the Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders, and Baltimore Ravens also passed on Brees, only to draft future busts. It is clear that many organizations, even the one that drafted him, significantly underestimated the future Hall of Famer.
