After 23 seasons and the most successful NFL career of any player to ever lace up a pair of cleats, Tom Brady has announced his retirement from the NFL — and this time ‘for good’. Brady owns seven Super Bowl rings, more than any franchise in the league. This news puts an end to all the Raiders speculation.
For most of the past month, rumors of a Brady-Las Vegas Raiders pairing swirled at a breakneck pace. The front office and coaching staff connections led many (me included) to see how a potential partnership could come together.
By all accounts, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels had a great relationship with Brady during their time together in New England. General manager Dave Ziegler also spent nearly a decade with the two men. Linking up for a season or two with the Silver & Black made all the sense in the world on paper.
However, at the advanced age of 45, Brady decided it was time for retirement. Don’t feel too bad for the future Hall of Famer; Brady will assume an analyst role that nets him $375 million over the next decade. Not a bad side gig, huh?
Will Josh McDaniels Bring In A Familiar Face At QB With Jimmy Garoppolo or Jacoby Brissett?
So, with Brady off the board, where should the Raiders pivot to at quarterback? The first name that comes to mind is veteran Jimmy Garoppolo. Garoppolo is a former second-round pick via the Patriots, where both Ziegler and McDaniels had a say in drafting the young signal-caller.
Jimmy G served as the backup quarterback in 2014 and 2015 before he assumed the Week 1 starting role in 2016 following Brady’s four-game suspension. Garoppolo played well and led the team to victory in the opening contest. He was dealt an injury in the next game, suffering a shoulder injury that ended his short reign atop the depth chart.
To follow that up, Jacoby Brissett was taken two drafts later in the third round, again with the approval of Ziegler and McDaniels. Brissett started a couple of games as a rookie, filling in for Garoppolo after the aforementioned shoulder injury. The NC State product provided serviceable play as a third-string spot starter.
In the spring of 2017, the Patriots decided to beef the roster up around Brady. This decision led to the trade of Garoppolo to the Niners and Brissett to the Colts. In one offseason, McDaniels lost two of his guys at quarterback.
Where Do The Raiders Turn At QB Following The Retirement of Tom Brady?
As we enter the 2023 offseason, Garoppolo and Brissett will hit free agency in a month. With Brady out of the picture, it would be a surprise to me if the Raiders don’t pursue one of the ‘other’ former Patriots.
Derek Carr is on his way out the door. Maybe McDaniels and Co. draft a young quarterback, but “Jimmy G” or Brissett would be the ideal bridge to a rookie. Like it or not Raider Nation, you can now look for the front office to be active in reuniting McDaniels with one of his former protégés.
A potential pairing of Garoppolo and CJ Stroud or Brissett and Anthony Richardson is enticing. Trading up for Bryce Young is possible, especially with his Alabama roots, but it is less likely. Will Levis, Hendon Hooker, and Tanner McKee all have their strengths but would all benefit from learning under a veteran.
The Super Bowl is the only thing that stands in the way of free agency. And for the Raiders, the week following the Super Bowl is as crucial as it gets. The deadline for a Carr decision is Feb. 15. Buckle up; it should be a wild, roller-coaster ride in a couple of weeks.
*Top Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
NFL Mock Draft: Is C.J. Stroud The Right Choice For The Raiders?