According to a report from Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston, quarterback Tom Brady may be able to lure top NFL free agents to wherever he ends up should he decide to leave the Patriots in free agency in March.
Despite his age, 42-year-old Brady could still serve as a “pied piper for an NFL Super Team” and could be instrumental in helping a new team stock up on talent prior to the 2020 season if he bolts from New England.
As Curran points out, there are plenty of teams with enough available cap space — Dolphins ($89.4M), Colts ($86.1M) and Buccaneers ($79.9M) — to sign a player like Brady as well as bring in pieces to complement him like former New England teammates Danny Amendola and Antonio Brown (if he’s eligible to play next season).
Tampa Bay in particular already has a number of talented pass-catchers on the roster in wide receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Breshad Perriman and tight end O.J. Howard, so adding Brady into the mix along with a superstar like Brown or even a depth piece like Amendola would almost automatically make the Buccaneers a Super Bowl contender.
Of course, there’s still a decent chance Brady sticks in New England and the Patriots go all-in to put a team around him for a couple more kicks at the can. But, if he leaves, watch out.
“If he does hit unrestricted free agency, those around Brady believe the market will be hot,” Curran writes. “Just as important, it’s believed other free agents will clamor for the chance to go where he lands. Because of his reputation, résumé and work ethic, Brady is unique as an NFL free agent. In the right situation, he can affect a culture change greater than the one Peyton Manning brought to the Broncos in 2013.”
In other sports news involving a former Boston MVP, Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers last night.
It’s crazy to think Betts and Brady, both of whom helped bring championships to Boston just a season ago, could both be headed out of town during the same offseason.
But, at this point, it now seems possible both of the former MVPs will be wearing new uniforms next season.
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