FAB 2. Is Brady An Option For The Bucs?

“Free agency – who’s available,” said Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians at his post-season press conference. “What’s behind door number two? That’s the first question. As you evaluate for the draft, that’s another question. Are they better than what you have? And then you evaluate and that’s when you make your decisions.”

That was the last comment Arians made on the record to the media in 2019 before the start of the 2020 offseason. While the team has a lot of decisions to make regarding their 19 unrestricted free agents, the biggest decision this franchise makes this offseason will come at the quarterback position.

Bucs QB Jameis Winston and head coach Bruce Arians – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

What will the Bucs do with Jameis Winston?

Arians was pretty transparent in his post-game press conference following the Bucs’ 28-22 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, and also in his post-season wrap-up with reporters on Monday, December 30. For the first time since he arrived in Tampa Bay, Arians was open to the Bucs moving on with or without Winston.

This comes after a season in which the team did not re-sign Ryan Fitzpatrick, and only brought in Blaine Gabbert – a non-threat to Winston – as the backup. Arians acknowledged that the entire 2019 campaign was to give Winston 16 games to earn a new contract.

“We had to find out,” Arians said. “This is a franchise and we had to find out.”

Arians’ last words of 2019 have been ringing in my ears since he said them. The Bucs would like to discuss a contract extension with Winston, but may wait a bit to do, especially since they have the franchise tag at their disposal.

The biggest thing Arians, general manager Jason Licht and Tampa Bay’s front office have to figure out is what’s behind door number two. Which quarterbacks will be available to compare and contract against Winston?

Philip Rivers appears to be on his way out of the Chargers organization, in part because of his 20 interceptions this past season at age 38. Cam Newton, who turns 31 this year, could be left out of the restart in Carolina. Andy Dalton will be jettisoned out of Cincinnati as the Bengals make may for LSU’s Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Joe Burrow to be the top pick.

Dak Prescott is coming off a career year and seems destined to re-sign with Dallas this offseason and work with new head coach Mike McCarthy.

New Orleans could have a pair of passers hit free agency in Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Brees, although it’s doubtful Brees leaves the Saints after going 13-3 last year while throwing 27 touchdowns and four interceptions while missing five starts with a broken thumb.

Patriots QB Tom Brady – Photo by: Getty Images

But what about New England’s Tom Brady?

What if the greatest quarterback in NFL history was to actually hit free agency for the first time at age 42 (Brady turns 43 in August)?

If that were the case the Bucs would have to be interested.

Brady is the G.O.A.T., and still playing at a very high level, evidenced by his 4,057 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions despite not having any weapons in New England this past season outside of 33-year old receiver Julian Edelman.

Why would Brady possibly leave New England after 20 years with the Patriots and Bill Belichick? Two reasons.

The first is that Patriots, who are the oldest team in the league, need a reboot. They are the oldest team in the league, and not just at the QB position. New England’s defense is also aging, and that became apparent in back-to-back home losses to Miami in the season finale and the next week against Tennessee in the playoffs.

At some point in the very near future, Belichick and owner Robert Kraft have to start a youth movement or the up-and-coming Buffalo Bills will quickly replace the Patriots at the top of the AFC East. The last thing Kraft and Belichick want to do is cut a future Hall of Famer in a year or two after an eventual 8-8 season, so why not use the expiration of Brady’s contract as the perfect time to part ways and begin the Patriots’ rebuild?

The second reason is that while Brady would ideally like to finish his career in New England, he also wants to continue playing and win a seventh Super Bowl championship. After a season in which the Patriots offense really struggled without reliable Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski, does Brady trust that Belichick will surround him with the weapons he needs in 2020?

Patriots QB Tom Brady and WR Julian Edelman – Photo by: Getty Images

Belichick is also in charge of the personnel in New England and really let Brady down last year in not effectively replacing Gronkowski and not solidifying the receiver spot. The day Gronkowski retired, Jared Cook signed with the Saints and that left Belichick scrambling to sign 39-year old Ben Watson instead.

Belichick wanted former Bucs receiver Adam Humphries, but lost out to Tennessee in free agency, and then whiffed on both head cases Antonio Brown and Josh Gordon. The trade for Mohamed Sanu turned out to be a bust as the 30-year old had his worst season since his last year in Cincinnati in 2015.

First-round draft pick N’Keal Harry underwhelmed during his rookie campaign, and Phillip Dorsett II, an average receiver at best, wound up starting opposite Edelman.

Brady wouldn’t mind playing his 21st season in New England, but not with shoddy receiving corps. If Brady were to test free agency he would want to go to a team that had a full array of weapons to throw to and a chance at a Super Bowl. As it currently stands, there are only four teams with questions at the quarterback position that have an arsenal to work with.

The first is New Orleans with Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara, Pro Bowl wide receiver Michael Thomas and Cook at tight end, but the guess here is that Brees stays with Saints for another year with Bridgewater sticking around as the heir apparent.

The second is Carolina if the team moves on from Newton. The Panthers have Pro Bowl running back Christian McCaffrey, Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen and wide receivers D.J. Moore, who hit 1,000 yards this season, and Curtis Samuel. I don’t think Brady would want to be a part of a rebuild in Carolina with a new head in coach Matt Rhule.

The third is Los Angeles where the Chargers have a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, an up-and-coming tight end in Hunter Henry, and two quality backs in Melvin Gordon III and Austin Ekeler. Word is that the Chargers want to draft a quarterback in the first round, and I don’t see them replacing the 38-year old Rivers with the 43-year old Brady.

Bucs WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The fourth option to land Brady – and perhaps the best option outside of New Orleans – is Tampa Bay. The Bucs have a pair of Pro Bowl wide receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, two good tight ends in O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate and a promising young runner in Ronald Jones II. Tampa Bay has a good, young defense that is on the rise and a proven coaching staff led by Arians.

It’s not far-fetched to think Brady and the 7-9 Bucs could be a good fit in free agency, and if he becomes available Tampa Bay would have to be interested.

We’re talking about the greatest QB to ever play the game and a dynamic presence that could instantly make the Bucs a playoff team. For those that wonder about Tampa Bay’s long-term future at the QB position if the team opts for Brady over Winston, the objective for every NFL team to win a Super Bowl – now.

Who gives the Bucs the best chance to make the playoffs and possibly hoist a Lombardi Trophy in 2020 and 2021 – Winston or Brady?

You don’t think a quarterback-centric coach like Arians would love to coach the G.O.A.T.?

You don’t think Licht, who was brought up in the New England organization under Belichick, would love to sign Brady and see him end his illustrious career winning in red and pewter?

You don’t think the Glazers, who see between 15,000 – 20,000 empty seats every game at Raymond James Stadium would love to see sell out crowds again?

You don’t think Bucs fans would love to see a QB not lose games with pick-sixes?

Patriots QB Tom Brady – Photo by: Getty Images

Brady hasn’t thrown more than 13 interceptions in any season since 2009 when he matched his career-high of 14. Winston has only thrown fewer than 14 interceptions just once in his career, and that was 11 in 13 games during the 2017 season.

The interceptions – and Winston’s inability to stop throwing them – are top of mind for Arians and his staff this offseason.

“I think that’s when you sit down with him and you talk it all over,” Arians said. “And all of us – Clyde [Christensen], Byron [Leftwich], myself, Jameis – and look at it, and evaluate it. Is the [5,109 passing yards] still good enough to win a championship or is it the [30 interceptions], and whatever many fumbles losing the championship? So that’s where you go.”

If Brady and the Patriots part ways this offseason, he instantly becomes the most intriguing option for Arians and the Bucs behind door number two.

If Brady is a free agent, Tampa Bay has to make a run at him.