News broke Sunday that the Tennessee Titans and a revitalized Ryan Tannehill have agreed to a four-year, $118 million dollar deal. The implications of the deal go far beyond the AFC South, creating a major shift in the Tom Brady free agency market.
NBC Sports NFL analyst Chris Simms reported Sunday that according to his inside sources, the San Francisco 49ers will similarly not be making any changes under center.
“My understanding is it was Tom Brady’s number one choice to go to San Francisco,” Simms said on Chris Simms Unbuttoned. “The 49ers are out on Tom Brady and they will be standing pat with Jimmy Garoppolo as their starting quarterback.”
And then there were two.
The New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have become the two most likely suitors to grab Brady during free agency. Simms argues that Brady’s estimated $30 million value he would land in Tampa Bay is too rich for Belichick to match. Not to mention the $13 million cap hit the Patriots will take on for Brady, regardless of what uniform he wears in 2020.
“From everything I’ve heard it’s down to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New England Patriots. I don’t think that the New England Patriots are going to be willing to give Tom Brady $30 million a year type of money.”
Tampa Bay, who I would bet is willing to spend bigger money on Tom Brady and maybe give him $30 million dollars a year as opposed to New England who is probably going to offer him something in the $20 million range.”
Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians has been open that they will take the best option available at quarterback
Appearing on NFL Now’s Combine coverage in late February, Arians was asked about the team’s future with the former No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston.
NFL Now host Andrew Siciliano asked Arians, “Jameis is coming back — unless there’s somebody out there that you might prefer, and you think you can get him. If you can get him, whomever that is, then that is your guy. Am I reading that the right way?
“Pretty much it,” Arians replied.
The 42-year-old Brady is the oldest active player in the NFL. Historically, Brady has taken team friendly contracts to allow the Patriots to sign players on free agency. If Brady stays in New England, he will most likely take a pay cut to for one last run at the Super Bowl
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