Tom Brady Expected To Sign With Bucs
It looks like the Tom Brady sweepstakes are coming to a close. The expectation is that Brady will sign with the Buccaneers, sources told Jeff Darlington and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Tampa’s offer is “roughly” $30MM annually, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets, although the duration is unclear.
Rapoport added that the Buccaneers have been confident all day about landing him. It’s not at all unexpected given today’s developments, but it still is a wild conclusion to an unpredictable saga. A couple of years ago we got the first reports that Brady might want out of New England, but nobody at the time could’ve predicted it would end with him teaming up with Bruce Arians in Tampa Bay. It became clear in recent months that Brady leaving was a very real possibility, and earlier this morning the legendary quarterback announced he wouldn’t be back with the Patriots in 2020.
We heard just a little while ago that the Chargers were out of the running, which left the Bucs as the only known team aggressively pursuing Brady. The Raiders had been floated at various points, but they recently signed Marcus Mariota and the same report that had the Chargers out indicated Brady wanted to stay closer to his family on the east coast.
The Patriots were one of the best teams in the league last season, but it was mostly because of the defense and not the offense. Brady had one of his worst seasons statistically, averaging his lowest yards per attempt (6.8) since the 2002 season. The Pats were widely criticized for not providing him with enough weapons, and that won’t be an issue in Tampa.
The Bucs have arguably the best receiving duo in the league, with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans forming a matchup nightmare for any opposing secondary. Their defense also made major strides down the stretch last season under DC Todd Bowles, and they’ll now be considered an instant contender in 2020.
Brady spent 20 incredible years in New England, helping to create one of the most iconic dynasties in sports history. He’ll leave the Patriots at the age of 42, having won six Super Bowls with the team. We may never know exactly what happened the last few years, but it seems clear that Brady wanted a fresh start. His frustration with the offense was evident toward the end of last season, and it culminated in an embarrassing home loss to the Titans in the first round of the playoffs.
As for the Buccaneers, they’ll obviously be moving on from Jameis Winston, who they drafted first overall back in 2015. The game of quarterback musical chairs has almost ended, and there aren’t too many starting jobs left available for Winston to nab.
Chargers Out Of Running For Tom Brady?
Momentum for Tom Brady going to the Buccaneers continues to build. The Chargers believe they are out of the running for the quarterback, according to Jim Trotter of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Everything we had heard indicated that the Chargers and Bucs were the two teams with strong offers on the table for Brady, and if the Chargers are out then there aren’t many other known suitors outside Tampa. In a different tweet, Trotter reports that Brady’s camp “led the Chargers to believe he is going to stay back East because of family considerations.” Obviously Brady’s family lives in the New England area, and Tampa would certainly be a lot closer than Los Angeles.
Many had speculated that Brady might choose the Chargers because Los Angeles would provide a better pivot for off-field ventures like the entertainment industry a la LeBron James and the Lakers, but that apparently wasn’t the case. The Raiders just agreed to terms with Marcus Mariota and they’re out West as well, which likely takes them off the table too.
At this point, it seems like it’ll either be the Buccaneers or a mystery team swooping in that we haven’t heard much reporting about. That’s not out of the question given how wild things have been this week, but as of right now Tampa seems to be considered the solid favorite. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said when free agency opened that it was down to the Bucs, Chargers, and Patriots, and two of those teams have since been eliminated.
As for the Chargers, they’re in an interesting spot. They decided to let long-time quarterback Philip Rivers walk this offseason, and most of the top free agent passers are now off the board. They could turn their attention to the trade market and go after someone like Cam Newton, or they could focus on the draft where they could theoretically get Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick.
Contract Details: JPP, Cousins, Weatherly
Deals are coming in quickly, so we’ve compiled some important contract details below:
- DE Jason Pierre-Paul, Buccaneers: two years. Deal is worth $25MM, and could be worth up to $26MM ($12.5MM/season, up to $1MM in incentives). Via The Athletic’s Greg Auman on Twitter.
- DE Stephen Weatherly, Panthers: two years, $12.5MM. Deal includes $6.25MM guaranteed, $4MM signing bonus. Annual per-game active roster bonus up to $100K, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
- QB Kirk Cousins, Vikings: two-year, $66MM extension. Effectively now three-year, $96MM deal. As Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com observes, this gives Cousins the highest AAV at his position ($32MM, bumping Russell Wilson‘s $31.4MM).
- DE Arik Armstead, 49ers: five-year, $85MM extension. Includes voidable sixth year, allowing team to lower cap number. $6MM cap number in first year, $12.5MM in second year, $20MM+ in 2022 through 2024. All via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner on Twitter.
- QB A.J. McCarron, Texans: re-signed. One-year, $4MM deal, including $3.75MM guaranteed. Via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter.
- DE Mario Addison, Bills: three years. Worth $30.45MM, including $15.25MM guaranteed. $14MM in first year of deal. Via Pelissero on Twitter.
- QB Nate Sudfeld, Eagles: re-signed. One-year, $2MM deal, including $500K guaranteed. Another $1MM in incentives. Via Pelissero on Twitter.
- TE Blake Jarwin, Cowboys: three years, $24.25MM. Includes $4MM signing bonus. Base salaries: $2.25MM (2020), $3.5MM (2021), $4.5MM (2022), $5.5MM (2023). From 2021 through 2023, there are active roster bonuses totaling $750K and escalators maxing out at $750K per season. Via ESPN’s Todd Archer on Twitter.
Bucs Still In Contact With Jameis Winston
The Bucs have been exploring their options under center, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll make a change. The Buccaneers are still in “close communication” with Jameis Winston, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link).
This jibes with what we heard yesterday as well – the Bucs, clearly, see an opportunity to upgrade from Winston and his endless stream of interceptions. However, they’ve let to find their solution. As of this writing, they seem intent on making a big play for Tom Brady. No one knows where Brady will go – not even Brady himself – but he won’t be back with the Patriots. The Chargers are also believed to be a leading suitor for TB and other teams could still get involved.
Ditto for fallback options like Teddy Bridgewater and Philip Rivers, so the game of musical chairs could very well lead the Bucs back to Winston. It’s impossible to forecast how it’ll all play out this week, but here’s a scenario that could lead to a reunion: Bridgewater to the Patriots, Rivers to the Colts, and Brady to the Chargers.
Tom Brady Bids Farewell To Patriots
Tom Brady doesn’t know where he’ll play next season, but he knows it won’t be with the Patriots. On Tuesday, the future Hall of Famer took to social media to announce that he’ll be signing elsewhere. 
“To all my teammates, coaches, executives, and staff, Coach Belichick, RKK, and the Kraft family, and the entire organization: I want to say thank you for the past twenty years of my life and the daily commitment to winning and creating a winning culture built on great values. I am grateful for all that you have taught me – I have learned from everyone.
You all have allowed me to maximize my potential and that is all a player can ever hope for. Everything we have accomplished brings me great joy and the lessons I have learned will carry on with me forever. I couldn’t be the man I am today without the relationships you have allowed me to build with you. I have benefited from all you have given me. I cherished every opportunity I had to be a part of our team, and I love you all for that.
“Our team has always set a great standard in pro sports and I know it will continue to do just that. Although my football journey will take place elsewhere, I appreciate everything that we have achieved and am grateful for your incredible TEAM accomplishments. I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to know each and every one of you, and to have the memories we’ve created together.”
There’s been talk of Brady leaving the Pats for more than a year, but many believed that the two sides would ultimately resolve their differences and come to terms on a new deal to cover the rest of his career. Ultimately, that was not the case – Brady found lots of suitors, and greener pastures, when the league’s legal tampering period opened this week.
Beyond the obvious reasons, Brady’s departure will sting the Patriots badly. Thanks to his revised deal from last summer, Brady will count $13.5MM in dead money against the Patriots’ cap – while he plays elsewhere. The Pats may be able to spread that hit out over the course of two seasons, but it’s a blow to their limited flexibility nonetheless.
Brady’s next destination remains a mystery, though the Buccaneers and Chargers have both made strong offers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. He has not reached a handshake (elbow-bump?) deal with any clubs, either: he’s still exploring his options, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets.
The Dolphins, long rumored to be a potential suitor for Brady, did not make a major play for him, according to Rapoport. And, according to previous reports, the same goes for the Giants, Colts, Titans, and 49ers.
It’s not clear where the Patriots will go from here, but history suggests that they will not replace Brady with a similarly high-priced quarterback. By the same token, it’s hard to imagine the Pats relying on a rookie QB as their Week 1 starter. Instead, the Patriots could bypass the star signal-callers and acquire a less glitzy veteran via trade – Bengals QB Andy Dalton, perhaps.
Brady has been the Patriots’ starting quarterback for the past 19 seasons, entering the fray in 2001 after a frightening Drew Bledsoe injury. He grew from sixth-round pick to a game manager-type role in his early years to one of the most legendary players in NFL history, being tabbed for an NFL-record-tying 14 Pro Bowls.
The New England icon does not lead the quarterback pack in MVPs or All-Pro honors (three and three, respectively), but his postseason resume dwarfs his peers. And his nine Super Bowl appearances will be difficult for future passers to match. He will attempt to book a 10th big-game outing in another uniform, however.
Raiders Still In On Tom Brady, Not The Favorite
Over the past couple of days, the options available to free-agent quarterback Tom Brady have become clearer. After reports emerged that the 49ers are not pursuing Brady and the Titans resigned Ryan Tannehill, two of the most speculated destinations are no longer on the table. According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, the Raiders are not totally out of the Brady sweepstakes but are behind the Buccaneers in their pursuit.
Of course, it remains unknown how Brady feels about a reunion with the only organization he has ever played for. Brady has already etched himself into football’s Mt. Rushmore over his 20-year career with the Patriots. If the Patriots, Bucs, and Raiders are the only suitors for Brady, the Patriots are the only team that made the playoffs last season and would seem to clearly be the best option for Brady if he is prioritizing winning.
Still, Brady’s priorities (and sentiments towards the Patriots organization) remain a mystery. While the Buccaneers quarterback last season, Jameis Winston, like Brady, is a free-agent, the move would be a bit more complicated for the Raiders who have Derek Carr under contract through 2022 with a $21.5MM cap hit. However, Carr’s deal has plenty of cap flexibility and could easily be moved for assets if Brady did choose the Raiders.
Bucs Have Communicated With Winston
While rumors continue to swirl tying the Buccaneers to quarterback Tom Brady, Tampa Bay is continuing to keep their fallback options open. The team has had communications with Jameis Winston, according to Mike Garafolo.
Winston has had a tumultuous career on and off the field since he was selected with the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. While he has had plenty of flashes of excellence, Winston’s inconsistencies have been well documented. In his first season under head coach Bruce Arians, Winston excelled in some respects surpassing 30 passing touchdowns and 5,000 passing yards, but his limitations were also very much on display throwing 30 interceptions.
It still remains to be seen whether Brady is willing to leave New England in search of greener pastures elsewhere. The 49ers were reportedly Brady’s top choice and the Titans were rumored to be another possible suitor, but both appear uninterested in making a change at quarterback, leaving Brady with no suitors (aside from the Patriots) that made the playoffs last season. Obviously, Tampa Bay is pursuing other options, but by still keeping contact with Winston, it appears the Bucs still consider him a reasonable option.
Buccaneers To Re-Sign Jason Pierre-Paul
Jason Pierre-Paul will be back for another tour of duty in Tampa. The Buccaneers and the veteran pass rusher agreed to terms on a two-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
While JPP’s status in Tampa became murky after his scary car accident, and the subsequent restructure of his deal that made him a 2020 free agent, the sides agreed on a two-year, $27MM pact. This comes hours after the Bucs made the expected move to keep Shaquil Barrett around via the franchise tag.
The Bucs traded for Pierre-Paul during the 2018 offseason and saw him deliver 12.5 sacks — his most since his dominant 2011 campaign — that season. Even after sustaining a severe neck injury in the 2019 car accident, JPP returned and registered 8.5 sacks in 10 games.
Although Pierre-Paul will be going into his 11th season, he just turned 31. Bruce Arians indicated earlier this offseason he wanted to retain Barrett, JPP and Ndamukong Suh. The Bucs are two-thirds of the way there. And they remain in the Tom Brady sweepstakes. Big day in Tampa.
Latest On Buccaneers, Tom Brady
The Buccaneers are not bowing out in the Tom Brady sweepstakes. Competing against the Patriots and Chargers for the superstar quarterback, the Bucs have made an “aggressive” pitch, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link via the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud).
While this does not indicate a firm offer is on the table, the Bucs do possess more cap space than both the Pats or Bolts. And they have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and O.J. Howard under contract for 2020.
Bruce Arians said earlier this offseason he would be interested in discussing a deal with Brady. The two have not worked together, but Arians has been either a head coach or offensive assistant for most of the 20-year veteran’s career.
The Bucs have also been linked to Philip Rivers and Teddy Bridgewater. On what’s becoming a complicated quarterback day, the Bears have emerged as a Bridgewater suitor and the long-rumored Rivers-Colts partnership is being discussed. Brady, though, obviously hovers above all of this. And the Bucs are still in the mix for the three-time MVP.
Tom Brady Market Down To Patriots, Buccaneers, Chargers?
The tampering window has opened, and Tom Brady‘s options are narrowed. The Patriots legend is down to the Buccaneers, Chargers or a Pats return, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Several teams were linked to the 42-year-old superstar, but the 49ers and Raiders balked and the Titans — perhaps the most closely linked suitor — ended up extending Ryan Tannehill.
The Patriots also extended Devin McCourty and used their franchise tag on guard Joe Thuney, tying up funds going into the tampering period. Brady’s contract will void once the new league year starts at 3pm CT Wednesday. While the new CBA will allow the Pats to spread Brady’s $13.5MM cap hit out through 2021, the future Hall of Famer not re-signing by Wednesday afternoon will make matters tougher for the perennial power.
Both the Bucs and Bolts have the Pats outflanked in cap space, and each team has extensive skill-position weaponry under contract. The Chargers also took Hunter Henry, a potential Patriots target, off the market. Still, the exits of the 49ers and Titans figure to help the Patriots in their efforts to keep the all-time great. New England has also surfaced as a potential buyer in deals for wideouts or tight ends.