Insider: Tom Brady 'clearly a person of interest' for QB-needy Raiders
The Tom Brady-to-the-Raiders rumors are heating up.
Per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, pending free agents Brady of the Buccaneers and Jimmy Garoppolo of the 49ers are "attractive options" for the Raiders to replace Derek Carr.
"Brady, if he doesn’t retire and hits free agency, will clearly be a person of interest," Bonsignore wrote.
Carr, a nine-year veteran, fell out of favor with Las Vegas early this season, according to Bonsignore.
The Raiders could be an attractive landing spot for Brady and Garoppolo because head coach Josh McDaniels was their offensive coordinator in New England.
Bonsignore added Las Vegas is keen to maximize "the return on what amounts to a two-year window of core players — Davante Adams, Maxx Crosby, Darren Waller, Chandler Jones and Hunter Renfrow — and almost assuredly Josh Jacobs, whom the Raiders appear determined to keep on a new contract."
A quarterback such as Brady or Garoppolo could do that. The Raiders could be attractive to both QBs because of the aforementioned offensive weapons.
Six-time Pro Bowl wideout Adams is an exceptional player any top QB would love to play with. Through 16 games, he leads the league in receiving touchdowns (14).
The downside for either QB could be the Raiders defense. This season, Las Vegas (6-10) ranks 26th in total defense, has lost nine one-possession games and blew five double-digit leads in the second half — an NFL record.
Additionally, Las Vegas has struggled over the past 20 years, making the playoffs only twice since 2002. The lack of stability could push Brady elsewhere or to re-sign with Tampa Bay.
Former Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians told longtime NFL reporter Ira Kaufman of JoeBucsFan.com that he expects Brady to return to Tampa Bay if he decides to play in 2023.
Per Oddschecker, Las Vegas is tied for second-best odds with San Francisco and behind Tampa Bay to be Brady's next team.
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