Veteran quarterback Drew Brees is entering the last year of his deal with the New Orleans Saints with speculation brewing about what the team intends to do with the future Hall of Famer.

Unlike other quarterbacks stuck with franchise tags, Brees appears to be an exception after the 2017 NFL season. The Saints won't be able to use a franchise tag on the face of the franchise, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Drew Brees, who is heading into the final year of his contract with the New Orleans Saints, has a little-known, rarely used clause in his deal that prohibits the team from using its franchise tag on him, league sources told ESPN.

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If Brees has another solid season this year, the veteran will be able to leave the team in free agency if he isn't getting a deal with the Saints that he wants. However, Brees doesn't seem interested in leaving New Orleans where he's had his most success.

Fortunately for Brees, he's still very productive at his age and with another big year in New Orleans there's bound to be interested teams outside of the Saints. The 10-time Pro Bowler will turn 39 in January, and few teams around the league will likely be interested in signing an aging quarterback to a short-term deal.

The outcome of the 2017 campaign will likely dictate Brees' future in New Orleans. If the team is competitive with Adrian Peterson in the fold and Brees still playing at a high level, a new deal may well be on the table. If not, Brees could be headed elsewhere while the Saints potentially consider other options at quarterback.