Drew Brees wants to stay with the Saints. But do the Saints want to stick with Brees?

The Saints are riding high. They’re on top of the NFC South, and they’ve got a 7-2 record. That hasn’t slowed down questions about Drew Brees’ future with the team.

The team is reportedly considering moving on from Brees after the season.

Brees just signed a five-year contract extension before the 2016 season, but there’s an automatic void provision built in that could end his time in New Orleans after 2017.

Brees is 38 years old, and the Saints are winning primarily on the strength of the defense and the running game. Brees is averaging 266.4 passing yards per game, which is his lowest number since 2005, his final season with the Chargers. He’s on pace for about 23 passing touchdowns in 2017. Last year he threw 37.

Right now, Brees is focused on the season. But he’s also looking ahead.

”We’re trying to get a little bit better each and every week,” Brees said during an appearance on Hardwick & Richardson on XTRA 1360-AM, according to Nick Shook of NFL.com. “I feel like we’ve got a great opportunity ahead of us and I don’t plan on leaving New Orleans ever.”

For what it’s worth, Brees’ starting right tackle, Zach Strief, doesn’t buy into Rapoport’s report.

But the Saints would have to shell out a bunch of money to keep Brees in New Orleans. Over the Cap estimates that the Saints will have about $34.5 million to work with next season. It’s not farfetched to think that Brees might want something in the ballpark of $25 million.

So you can’t blame the Saints if they’re starting to think about life after Brees. But you also can’t blame Brees for wanting to stay in New Orleans, either, especially considering the Saints’ success this season.