With three-time MVP quarterback Tom Brady announcing his retirement earlier today, speculation has already started on the future of the Buccaneers’ franchise. Brady’s retirement has experts wondering about the futures of tight end Rob Gronkowki and head coach Bruce Arians. Both have flirted with retirement before. 
Contributing to the postulation on Arians’ situation is head coaching interest in the Buccaneers’ coordinators on both sides of the ball. Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich recently had his second interview for the Jaguars open coaching position. Reportedly, talks have stalled as Leftwich has expressed issues with current general manager Trent Baalke continuing in that position, with Leftwich preferring Cardinals’ vice president of pro scouting Adrian Wilson to replace the polarizing GM. The Saints have requested an interview with Leftwich, who previously received interest from the Bears before they hired Matt Eberflus. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles has interviewed with the Bears, Jaguars, Raiders, and Vikings. With the Bears’ job taken, Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels being the presumed frontrunner in Las Vegas, and Jacksonville having conducted multiple second interviews Bowles’ opportunities for a head coaching job are starting to dwindle, as well.
More cause for speculation has risen from an article from Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. In the article Wilson reports that Arians has informed the entire coaching staff that they have permission to seek jobs around the league regardless of whether or not the new position would be a promotion. With the potential exit of the two New England-legends and the impactful group of Buccaneers heading into free agency, this permission could potentially be an opportunity to abandon ship before the start of a Tampa Bay rebuild.
In terms of those free agents, joining free-agent-to-be Gronkowski are three other significant role players: wide receiver Chris Godwin, center Ryan Jensen, and cornerback Carlton Davis. Godwin is expected to be the top free agent priority in Tampa Bay after he received the franchise tag for this past season. Jensen came over three years ago from the Ravens on what then made him the highest paid center in the NFL. Davis was a key contributor due for a big contract year on defense before being placed on IR after Week 4 of the season and missing eight weeks during a crucial year.
The domino-effect of Brady’s retirement is already looming large over the Buccaneers’ prospects for the 2022 NFL season. Tampa Bay has the entire offseason to navigate these obstacles and mitigate the potential fallout. After winning a Super Bowl just last year, the departure of Brady could be as game-changing to the Buccaneers as his arrival was nearly two years ago.
Aaron Rodgers come on down
Brady or Rodgers, I don’t think TB can afford a QB of that caliber and a decent team supporting him…coincidentally just like Green Bay.
Next announcement will be Arians jumping ship. Once a POS, always a POS.
Seriously. He doesn’t get enough flak for “retiring” from Arizona only to want to take multiple coaching jobs much later.
Garrapolo has to replace Brady somewhere
I’m willing to bet an American dollar that Tampa Bay does not win the Super Bowl next year…
The Cardinals wanted him to move on. Did you ever wonder why they only asked for a sixth rounder from Tampa? That’s how it is sometimes. Teams want something new and younger.
Exactly. Cardinals be like, “Either we fire you disgracefully or you retire with dignity. Your choice.”
Not disagreeing with your point cards didn’t want him back. However, cards reached an agreement of a
Sixth and seventh round pic with tampa to avoid a protractive dispute that may have only landed them minimal compensation. Tampa believed no compensation was due and the cardinals filed for compensation
Big decisions.
Presuming Brady retires, Gronk will follow but I think Arians stays another season.
I think retaining Godwin is a must. Together him and Mike Evans make a top 5 WR duo and whoever is at QB will need good receivers out there to help them out. However I think Jenson will leave, and get a good deal. Buccs just can’t afford him especially now he’s getting old.
With Brady (25), Gronk (8) and Jenson (5.5) off the books they will need to invest in replacements.
I’d go Bridgewater (2/50) and Njoku (3/24) the exact same as what you paid Brady and Gronk.
I’d replace Jenson via the draft.
I think Leonard Fournette is worth bringing back especially with his ability to catch the ball aswell. However Ronald Jones and Gil Bernard can leave and Vaughan can have a bigger role.
This leaves the offence with Bridgwater and Trask at QB, Len and Vaughan at RB, Godwin Evans Johnson and Miller at WR and Njoku and Brate at TE.
Don’t expect them to be a super bowl threat, they will likely struggle to make the playoffs but this gives them a chance. They will need to draft a QB either this year or next, or really have Trask surprise us in the next two years to be a threat again.
brady still has a cap hit on the books I believe
Ouch
Not sure how it works entirely… but Brady could restructure his deal before he retires just like Brees did before he retired.
Bring in Hopper and G. That is who you get to replace those two. Coach will stay or more up Leftwich to HC and look for a new OC. Jones and Bernard can leave as they can handle with Fournette and Vaughan. Draft a RB for a backup as well. Have to sign Godwin to maintain the WR strength.
oj howard is still on the team you don’t need a replacement te
Off contract
Simmons,
Your going to pay Bridgewater the same as you paid Brady ? That is totally idiotic! Bridgewater is nowhere near the quality of QB that Brady was or is!
Peter do you know anything to do with football?
Bridgewater is not getting that type of money. He’ll get somewhere between backup and low end starter pay. I’m guessing same as he got with Denver. He didn’t exactly prove himself in Denver even with their talented skill players
as his contract is now, Brady’s dead cap charge is 32 mil. I wouldn’t be surprised for that renegotiation to spread the hit across a couple years being why he hasn’t officially announced his retirement. Also, Gronk has a dead cap hit of 5mil because of the void year added to his contract.
Perhaps the Bucs should take the cap hit now. Start Trask and focus on his development.
I don’t agree on the Bridgewater numbers entirely but otherwise, I think you’re mostly right. This team was more of a “let’s get the guys together and make a run for it” than an actual franchise. Most of those additions will leave if enough of them start to go.
The distractions this year were expected, in my opinion, because of the nature of how it was assembled. The arrangement didn’t seem permanent enough to survive much complication for Brady, Arians, Gronk, or the new additions. Long term players like David are the ones who will have to sort out the fallout, if they remain in Tampa.
Bridgewater was #2 on the Bucs QB list in 2020. Worth giving him a chance with competition from Kyle Trask.
I just hope Brady stays so all these speculative article writers get criticized for a jumping to conclusions of epic proportions.
Is this the beginning of the Kyle Trask era? 😉
Ely Allen, show us the announcement, geez.