Has Tom Brady played his final snap with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? After the Bucs limped out of the playoffs with a 31-14 loss to Dallas in the NFC wild card round, speculation began that Brady could be headed elsewhere in 2023.
Tom Brady tips his cap to Bucs fans as he jogs off the field 👋 pic.twitter.com/pSqCW5xzUD
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 17, 2023
Despite rumors of a possible exit, Tampa Bay is listed on DraftKings as the betting favorite to retain Brady’s services. The Buccaneers are +200 at the popular mobile sportsbook to be the franchise for which Brady “takes his next regular season snap,” assuming he doesn’t retire.
Raiders, 49ers top options
Closely behind the Buccaneers are the Las Vegas Raiders at +250. The Raiders are moving on from Derek Carr, and Brady could team up with one of the NFL’s best wide receivers in Davante Adams. Brady could also pair up with Josh McDaniels, his former offensive coordinator in New England and the head coach for the Raiders.
Leaving the NFC South for the AFC West presents challenges, though, as Brady would go from one of the NFL’s worst divisions to one of the best.
“The Raiders are definitely a team to watch for Tom Brady and it makes a lot of sense for everybody” ~ @RapSheet#PMSOverreactionMonday pic.twitter.com/3KFOzoscw7
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 16, 2023
The San Francisco 49ers present an intriguing option for Brady, and they’re listed at +350 to earn Brady’s services. With Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey, the 49ers don’t lack weapons. Kyle Shanahan’s offensive scheme is revered by NFL experts, as seemingly every quarterback finds success in his system. Brady also grew up in California cheering on the 49ers.
But would San Francisco feel a need to add Brady? Brock Purdy is playing well currently, and Trey Lance will return from injury next season. Even Jimmy Garoppolo remains an option for them at quarterback.
What about a possible AFC East return? The Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots are each listed at +750. The Dolphins have the better offensive weapons (Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are dynamic receivers), but Brady has chemistry with Bill Belichick and could cap his career in the place it began.
From a storyline perspective, New England is an exciting landing spot. From a football standpoint, it’s hard to see the current Patriots roster becoming an offensive juggernaut because of Brady’s addition.
The New York Jets, who boast a stellar defense but lack quarterback talent, are listed at +900. The New York Giants are also +900, but Daniel Jones is starting to look like a long-term option for the franchise.
Long(er) shots include Tennessee
Brady’s former teammate and Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel makes the Titans an interesting possibility at +1200, but are the Titans a better landing spot for Brady than staying in Tampa Bay? The Seattle Seahawks (+1800), Washington Commanders (+2000), and Pittsburgh Steelers (+2000) are also possibilities.
Washington’s defense is among the better units in the NFL, but the Commanders play in a stacked division. Brady could probably provide better play than Carson Wentz, Taylor Heinicke, and Sam Howell, but does Brady at this stage in his career make Washington a Super Bowl contender?
The Indianapolis Colts (+2500), Carolina Panthers (+3000), and Baltimore Ravens (+4000) are other interesting potential landing spots. The Colts have searched for a few years to find a quality starting quarterback, and the Panthers are in a similar position. The Ravens currently have Lamar Jackson, but his future in Baltimore is in jeopardy.
Other teams fall longer down the odds board, with the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Cincinnati Bengals among the teams listed at +20000. Those franchises don’t exactly need Brady’s help at quarterback.
Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY
