Musket Fire
FanSided

Pros and cons behind Tom Brady’s most likely destinations

By Patrick Morgan

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 24: Running Back Josh Jacobs #28 of the Oakland Raiders has a long gain against the New York Jets in the first half in the rain at MetLife Stadium on November 24, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images).
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 24: Running Back Josh Jacobs #28 of the Oakland Raiders has a long gain against the New York Jets in the first half in the rain at MetLife Stadium on November 24, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images). /

3. Las Vegas Raiders

Of course, the Chargers aren’t the only ones moving into a brand new stadium this July. The former Oakland Raiders have officially said their goodbyes to the Bay Area, picked up their bags, and headed east to the desert, where they are now known as the Las Vegas Raiders.

Vegas still has Derek Carr under contract, but there are whisperings — really more chatterings than whisperings even — that should Brady become available, Jon Gruden, Mike Mayock, and Mark Davis would be fools not to scoop him up and jettison Carr like yesterday’s news.

Brady and Davis were caught cozying up to each other in Vegas not too long ago at a UFC event. While that doesn’t necessarily mean they were discussing linking up, it’s still worthy of making headlines considering their respective situations this spring.

PROS:

The Raiders have an exciting young running back named Josh Jacobs who they took with the No. 24 overall pick in last year’s draft out of Alabama. All Jacobs did as a rookie was run roughshod over opposing defenders, racking up 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns on 242 carries over 13 games (good enough for a 4.7 rushing yards per carry average).

Jacobs also plays behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, anchored on one end by a name familiar to Patriots fans: Trent Brown. The behemoth lineman already has familiarity protecting Brady, so it’d be nothing new for him to resume that job in 2020.

Las Vegas also has talented up-and-coming players at both WR and TE, though no one quite at the level of the Chargers’ pair (Allen and Henry). Quietly, the Raiders have also put together a pretty decent defense too.

CONS:

Just like the Chargers, the Raiders play in the AFC West — which belongs to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs now until further notice. It’s not as if Brady can’t beat Mahomes — he’s actually 2-1 all-time against the Super Bowl 54 MVP — but keep in mind, that record is as much Bill Belichick’s doing as it is Brady’s.

All things considered, the Raiders haven’t really shown the ability to keep up with the Chiefs since the arrival of Andy Reid and the ascension of Patrick Mahomes. Adding Brady to the mix would probably tilt the scales a bit, but it might not be enough. There are other destinations Brady could go to where he’d stand a better chance of winning his division each year outright without having to try and outperform the Chiefs.

Similar to the Buccaneers, the Raiders are also a bit of a young bunch. The team lacks a degree of discipline because of it — plus, let’s just be honest here: they’re the Raiders. They’re always going to be unruly.

Does that really appeal to Brady at this point in his career?

Home/Patriots News