Would Tom Brady really fare that much better in Las Vegas under Josh McDaniels? QB’s Patriots exit could hold answers
Tom Brady has a lot of options this year in free agency. Should he decide to continue playing and not retire (a very likely reality), there are many teams that would like to gain his services.
That definitely includes his current team, who will likely be in for a rebuild without a good quarterback. A return for Brady looks less likely with every loss or painful win the Tampa Bay Buccaneers endure.
This nearly perfectly mirrors the way Brady left the New England Patriots. The Buccaneers have more talent than the Patriots did at the time, but the talent has still dropped dramatically.
Even just a couple of years removed from a Super Bowl win (the same scenario the legendary quarterback was in after the most recent Patriots ring), if the talent isn't there, he'll go looking for it elsewhere.
In 2020, that meant joining Tampa Bay and playing alongside Leonard Fournette, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and more. In 2023, it could mean joining the Las Vegas Raiders.
Why the Las Vegas Raiders make perfect sense for Tom Brady's next stop
With Derek Carr being benched, his Raiders tenure appears to be effectively over. The likelihood of him remaining in Vegas next season is slim. That opens the door for someone like Brady and the pieces of the puzzle fit really well. The Raiders hired Josh McDaniels last offseason and he appears set to stay for the foreseeable future.
McDaniels hasn't been a great head coach, but he's extremely familiar with Brady after being his offensive coordinator for many years.
The Raiders also have a couple of things the Buccaneers don't this season: an elite wide receiver and an elite running back. This seems crazy, but then the Bucs' offense has looked poor in both categories. Josh Jacobs could be leaving the Raiders in free agency, but if not, it makes for a tantalizing situation for Tom Brady.
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have been incredible in the past and their lack of production isn't due to a lack of talent. But Davante Adams has thrived with less than stellar quarterback play this year.
Jacobs has had a career year and would take a lot of pressure off of any quarterback. Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller as secondary targets are also a lot better than what the Buccaneers have right now.
The San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins are potential landing spots, but Las Vegas looks perfect.