Payton also said the ongoing contract extension talks with quarterback Drew Brees, who has one year remaining on his own contract, has picked up recently.

"I know Mickey and (Brees' agent, Tom Condon) have had quite a bit of discussion in the last week and a half," Payton said. "I would say ongoing now. It always takes a little longer than you want it to, and they're never the same. This was a different type of negotiation than the last one (in 2012, when Brees was under the franchise tag). But I know there's been quite a bit of dialogue."

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Couple this and the fact that the recent additions to the roster of LB's Laurinaitis and Robertson have not yet been officially processed through the league office and it makes sense that the two are related. This supports my supposition that the final structure of the Brees extension is tied to most certainly personnel moves in free agency, and very possibly draft moves, as well.