With the free agency tampering period rapidly approaching, it will finally be clear whether the Las Vegas Raiders and quarterback Tom Brady strike a deal.
Honestly, I don’t even remember when the Brady to the Raiders chatter started. All I can recall is that it has taken all a big chunk of our time and energy. Also, it has sadly divided Raider Nation quite a bit as some want the Super Bowl winner to play in Las Vegas while others are claiming that the starting quarterback spot is Derek Carr’s and his only. At the end, we are as certain as we were the day it all began: Without a clue… yet. The NFL already said that they won’t be postponing free agency, so we are just hours away from the legal tampering window opening and Brady’s first free agency tour.
Adam Schefter of ESPN has said that it’s almost a given Brady won’t be returning to New England and Ryan Tannenhill just signed an extension that will make him the Titans quarterback for the next four years. That’s two less spots Brady will play at, which leaves the Bucs, the Chargers, maybe the Dolphins and of course, the Raiders as potential suitors.
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Are the Raiders and Tom Brady a good fit?
Let’s focus on the Silver and Black. General manager Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden have played this one very close to the chest. They have praised Carr but haven’t fully endorsed him in public. Because Raiders brass has been tight-lipped, and and have thrown so many mixed signals, it’s hard to know what they have in mind.
It’s common sense, but the Raiders have to have contingency plans in place in case their first option doesn’t materialize. Maybe they do want Brady, but because he might be out of reach at this point, Carr is the fall back and it would definitely be awkward to tell the Fresno product they wanted the Michigan alumnus but he was out of their league so they ended up with him. On the other hand, it can just be a smokescreen and they will keep Carr the way they have planned all along.
We are about to find out whether Brady becomes the Raiders quarterback in 2020 or Carr stays put. Either way, Las Vegas might draft a quarterback regardless of who starts in Week 1, but that’s a topic for another time.
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