Maybe I'm making too much of this trade. Then again, maybe not. Drew Brees had a few great years with Antonio Gates, and there is no reason to believe that he won't do the same with a tight end who can stretch the field like Shockey can. With Gates in 2004 as the full-time starter, Brees posted an incredible 104.8 quarterback rating, threw for 3,159 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions. In 2005 with Gates, he threw for 3,475 yards, 24 touchdowns and 17 picks. 

Sure, Shockey hasn't been the same player since Tom Coughlin arrived in New York, but that's because Coughlin wanted Shockey to be more of a blocker, and the former Miami Hurricane wasn't as big of a part of the Giants' passing game. 

Sean Payton was the offensive coordinator in New York during the 2002 season when Shockey burst onto the scene as a rookie and caught 74 passes (a career high) for 894 yards (also a career high) and two touchdowns. So clearly, he knows how to use Shockey, and Shockey knows that. I believe that's one of the many reasons he's now a Saint. 

Let's put the individual numbers aside. The bigger impact here will be on the players around Shockey. As I mentioned earlier, he can stretch the field, and he will force teams to play their safeties deep. That means fewer double teams for Marques Colston, fewer eight-man fronts for Reggie Bush and Deuce McCallister, more options for Brees and more space for Bush to do what he does well in the open field. 

The two biggest winners in this are Brees and Bush. There aren't many linebackers who can hang with Bush in the open field. Because of Shockey's presence, he will have a ton of isolation in the flat against guys who cannot hang with him. Brees again has a tight end who can stretch the field, a great receiver in Colston and a terrific receiver out of the backfield in Bush as his three primary options now. 

From a fantasy standpoint, the stock of Bush and Brees just took an incredible leap. Naturally, Shockey's just jumped as well. Bush wasn't even on my radar, and now, he's a BORDERLINE first-round pick. Brees just put himself right up there with the Mannings and the Bradys of the world. It's very possible that he could have a 1999-Kurt-Warner-best-show-on-turf-type fantasy season. Shockey was low on the tight end fantasy chain, but now he's put himself in the top five without question.

I haven't gone into detail about my preseason predictions just yet. I was leaning towards picking the Panthers in the South, but my thoughts have INSTANTLY changed with this trade. This offense has now become so dynamic, that the Saints are far and away my new favorite to win this division, and I don't think it will be close.

The defense is of course the question mark, but if they are AT LEAST respectable, then don't be surprised if the Saints go marching into Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2009.