The New Orleans Saints will be unable to use the franchise tag on Drew Brees this offseason due to a little-known clause in his deal.

Brees could still re-sign with New Orleans but they cannot prevent him from leaving by using the franchise tag.

"Right now [no discussions are taking place]. I don't expect them to. I don't really desire them to," Brees said in July. "I just want to play football and help this team win."

Brees and the Saints worked out a one-year, $24.25 million extension just a few days before the regular-season opener in 2016 to avoid having him enter a walk year.