Here comes the offseason of speculation. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is scheduled to be a free agent when the 2020 league year begins in March. It’s anyone’s guess where he’ll land. Surely, Bill Belichick and Brady don’t know what will happen in the next few months.
It’s entirely possible Brady returns to New England. Sentimentality might drive Belichick and Brady back together again. Pragmatically, however, Brady and the Patriots no longer make much sense. That’s why he could — at the very least — look at what options he has in free agency. And there will be options for the greatest quarterback of all time.
Here are five teams Brady could consider.
Indianapolis Colts
They have the money to sign Brady along with a few talented skill players. Frank Reich led Indy to a 7-9 record with about $45 million of cap space in 2019. In 2020, they’ll have $93 million.
And while quarterback Jacoby Brissett has been promising, general manager Chris Ballard admitted he’s not committed to the young quarterback. Ballard has proven a shrewd — though, at times, thrifty — spender, which might be something Brady appreciates. But Brady would need Ballard to spend this offseason, with T.Y. Hilton and Zach Pascal looking like the top options in the passing game. The good news is that offensive line is solid, so long as left tackle Anthony Costanzo doesn’t retire. Running back Marlon Mack has been good, and Nyheim Hynes is the kind of back Brady would like targeting.
The Colts look like a stable place for Brady to jump.
Los Angeles Chargers
This move would be all about the money.
The Chargers would benefit financially from bringing in Brady, the highest-profile player in the NFL. They need a heightened profile in L.A. where — simply put — no one likes them. Because no one likes the Chargers, the organization is having trouble selling seats. Brady could be a band-aid for that problem.
Brady, meanwhile, would benefit financially, too. The Chargers have $56 million in cap space, which is enough to bring on Brady while helping with the offensive line, which is in need of improvements.
Beyond money, the Chargers’ skill players are off the charts. Brady would be throwing to Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Hunter Henry. I’d bet L.A. retains Austin Ekeler, too.
Carolina Panthers
If Josh McDaniels lands with the Panthers, the chances of Brady landing in Carolina go up tenfold. The Panthers may find themselves in need of a quarterback, if they decide it’s time to move on from Cam Newton. Brady is a tempting option as they figure out what to do next. They could draft and groom someone behind Brady while making a genuine attempt at winning now, with the greatest quarterback of all time.
For Brady, the Panthers offense has a few selling points. First, there’s Christian McCaffrey. Greg Olsen is a nice and reliable piece. And then there’s the young wideouts, D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel, both of whom have a play style that meshes well with Brady’s skillset.
If the offensive line gets its act together, Brady could be a happy man with the Panthers.
Las Vegas/Oakland Raiders
Jon Gruden is a fickle man, who seemed to grow tired of Derek Carr last summer only to help the quarterback manage an absurd 70.4 completion percentage. Gruden also benched Carr during a humiliating loss to the Jets. It’s easy to imagine the coach is considering every option. And, of course, Brady may be one of them.
Just like Carolina could ditch Newton, the Raiders could ditch Carr. Brady would step right in as a natural replacement. Oakland needs more talent at receiver, but with $67 million in cap space, they can certainly afford an upgrade. But tight end Darren Waller, and receivers Tyrell Williams and Hunter Renfrow are a good place to start. Running back Josh Jacobs will be in his second year, too.
There’s a lot for Brady to like about the Raiders — but Las Vegas might be a tough sell for the quarterback’s family.
