Tom Brady Could Join the Las Vegas Raiders Next Season

Posted on: January 18, 2023, 07:25h. 

Last updated on: January 18, 2023, 02:55h.

Pauly McGuire Read More
Expertise: Sports Betting, Sports.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Dallas Cowboys, and quarterback Tom Brady has yet to make a decision about next season. Brady could retire, re-sign with the Bucs, or join another team like the Las Vegas Raiders.

Tom Brady Tampa Bay Bucs Las Vegas Raiders Next Season
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady jogs off the field after a loss against the Dallas Cowboys, which could be his last game before he finally retires. (Image: AP)

Brady completed a three-season contract with the Bucs and the 45-year-old will become a free agent. He signed with the Bucs prior to the 2020 season. He retired at the end of last season before he un-retired and returned to the Bucs.

It’s just one day at a time, right now. Truly,” Brady told reports after a loss to the Cowboys.

Multiple teams need a starting quarterback next season, so Brady has options to play for the highest bidder. Or he could try to win one more Super Bowl with a potential contender.

The Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders, and Carolina Panthers are all potentially in the market for a new quarterback.

The San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots could also become possible landing spots for Brady next season. Brady has a sentimental connection to both teams, so he might want to end his career close to home.

Brady Finishes Three-Year Stint with the Bucs

Brady spent the first 20 seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the New England Patriots. He won the Super Bowl six times with the Patriots, but he believed he still had plenty of football left in him, so he joined the Bucs in 2020.

Brady and the Bucs went 11-5 in his first season. With the #5 seed as a wild-card team, the Bucs got hot in the postseason and defeated the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl LV.

During the 2021 season, the Bucs went 13-4 and secured the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs. They defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild card, but lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round.

The Bucs were decimated with injuries this season, particularly on the offensive line. Despite a losing record at 8-9, the Bucs still won the NFC South and secured an automatic berth to the playoffs. The Bucs failed to advance out of the wild card after a 31-14 loss against the Dallas Cowboys. The game wasn’t as close as the final score indicated, and there were times when an ineffective Brady looked his age.

The Bucs were a popular pick to win Super Bowl LVII by bettors and experts. At +700 odds, the Bucs were the second-highest team on DraftKings’ NFL futures board. Only the Buffalo Bills had better preseason odds.

Even though the Bucs struggled with injuries this season, bettors continued to back them. They figured the team always has a chance to win the Super Bowl so long as Brady is the quarterback. The Bucs were +2400 odds to win the Super Bowl at the end of the season.

Brady to Raiders and Reunion with Josh McDaniels?

Quarterback Derek Carr said goodbye to loyal Raiders fans via social media last week. The Raiders will try to trade him or cut him outright to save cap space.

The Raiders had a disappointing 6-11 season despite entering the season as a value pick at +4000 odds to win the Super Bowl. They need a quarterback next season, and head coach Josh McDaniels could tap into a previous relationship to find a starter for 2023. McDaniel, the former offensive coordinator of the Patriots, won six Super Bowls with his former team.

Jimmy “Jimmy G” Garoppolo from the San Francisco 49ers is a free agent next season. He’s been linked to the Giants, Jets, and Raiders. Garoppolo spent his first three seasons as Brady’s backup with the Patriots, and had a good working relationship with McDaniels.

McDaniels also has strong ties to Brady, which could entice Brady to join the Raiders next season. The Raiders have multiple offense weapons, including one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL in Davante Adams. Brady would also love playing with tight end Darren Waller, who emerged as one of the best playmaking tight ends in the league.

Going Home: New England Reprise or San Francisco

The Patriots haven’t been the same since Brady left three seasons ago. They went 25-25, with only one postseason berth last season. Head coach Bill Belichick had two losing seasons in New England without Brady, including a 7-9 record in 2020 and an 8-9 record in 2022.

Old-school fans in New England would love to see Brady finish out his career with the Patriots and win one more Super Bowl with Belichick. That notion of a second stint with Brady’s former team and head coach seems far-fetched, with so many other options on the table.

Brady grew up in the Bay Area and rooted for the San Francisco 49ers. He always wanted to play for the 49ers, and was heartbroken when they didn’t draft him out of college.

The 49ers have multiple options at quarterback next season. Rookie Brock Purdy proved his worth by winning all six of his starts, including a postseason game. The 49ers also have Trey Lance on the roster. They gave up multiple first-round draft picks to the Miami Dolphins in order to move up in the 2021 NFL Draft and select him with the third-overall pick. Lance fractured his ankle in the second game of this season, but he’s expected to return to full health next season.

If the 49ers can make a play for Brady, the team could trade either Lance and/or Purdy. Or, the 49ers could keep them and stockpile quarterbacks. The two younger quarterbacks would back up Brady for a season or two while they learn the intricacies of the game from one of the greatest all-time quarterbacks.

Other Brady Rumors: Dolphins, Panthers

There’s also a rumor swirling around South Beach in Miami that Brady will join the Dolphins as their quarterback next season. The future of Tua Tagovailoa is unknown, especially after he suffered multiple head and brain injuries this season.

The Dolphins attempted to lure New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and Brady to the team in 2020. The scheme never came to fruition,and the NFL punished the Dolphins for tampering.

The Carolina Panthers want to hire Payton as their new coach next season. Payton prefers to coach a team with an established veteran quarterback. If Payton and Brady want to link up and join forces, the two could both end up in Charlotte with the Panthers next season.