Tom Brady is entering the offseason as the most coveted free-agent quarterback on the market. As the market heats up for the future Hall of Famer, eight NFL teams are reportedly in the mix to sign Brady.
ESPN’s Jeff Darlington appeared on “Get Up” on Wednesday and said eight NFL general managers confirmed they are in the hunt to pursue Brady this offseason.
“I have spoken to executives with eight different teams that are at the very least monitoring Tom Brady’s free agency,” Darlington said on ESPN, via NBC Sports. “They are going down this list having internal discussions right now saying, ‘Is this the right fit for our organization?’ “
While the interest level in Brady among those teams is varied, Darlington added that at least four of them would want to sign him immediately if it was allowed. The opportunity to add a legendary talent with six Super Bowl rings and years of coming through in the clutch is a rare gift for numerous NFL teams. Given the impact Brady can have, these NFL teams should certainly be involved.
- Los Angeles Chargers – The Chargers will make a push for Brady and the reasoning is obvious. They need to draw fans and Brady would help make them more popular than the Rams. Plus, he’d love living in California and might snap this team’s unfortunate history of failing in clutch moments.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Tampa Bay wants to replace Jameis Winston with a poised quarterback that makes smart decisions. Brady is the logical fit and he’d get to play with the best receiving corps in his career. The Buccaneers plan to be a suitor and they will make a strong argument to Brady.
- Las Vegas Raiders – Jon Gruden and Brady in Las Vegas, it doesn’t get better than that. The Raiders reportedly plan to make Brady a massive offer. This is a situation where the future Hall of Famer could have a lot of fun, so it’s no surprise that the Raiders are among the favorites to land him.
- Miami Dolphins – While the Dolphins might scoff at the idea publicly, it has to be in consideration. They are flush with cap space to build a super team, potentially even going after Antonio Brown, with the draft picks to build around Brady. It would be the best story of the NFL offseason if it happened.
- New England Patriots – Brady remains in the Patriots’ plans and they will do what they can to bring him back. If they fail, it’s tough to imagine a devoted fan base taking it well.
- Indianapolis Colts – Brady thrives when he’s given time to throw and has receivers that can make plays after the catch. The Colts boast a dominant running game, can draft a top receiver to pair with T.Y. Hilton and have the best offensive line in the NFL. Jim Irsay wants to win and he must consider Brady in the pursuit of winning another championship.
- Chicago Bears – The Bears are a quarterback away from being a Super Bowl contender. If this organization is serious about living up to its potential, this is the time to forget about Andy Dalton and go after the greatest quarterback in NFL history.
- San Francisco 49ers – The 49ers recently emerged as a potential suitor and it would be the perfect spot for Brady. A better offensive line, supporting cast and defense with a team that made it to Super Bowl LIV. He’d get to play for the team he loved growing up, too.
While a return to New England once seemed certain, there’s reportedly a very real chance that Brady now leaves. While we’re still a few weeks away from a decision, it will send shockwaves through the NFL when it ultimately happens.