Raiders eyed Jimmy Garoppolo, Tom Brady since midseason?

The Las Vegas Raiders ultimately replaced quarterback Derek Carr with former San Francisco 49ers veteran Jimmy Garoppolo. But they may have had a bigger name in mind. 

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated has reported that Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler realized "by midseason" of this past campaign that they could permanently move on from Carr as soon as February, in part "because there promised to be options out there for Vegas with institutional knowledge" of what the two former New England Patriots employees "are working to build." 

Specifically, Breer named recently retired star Tom Brady as a possibility and called Garoppolo Las Vegas' "other" option. 

Additionally, Breer wrote that "the Raiders, for better or worse, didn’t see Carr as a culture fit" after both McDaniels and Ziegler joined the organization last winter. Garoppolo and Brady had McDaniels as an offensive coordinator in New England, while Ziegler spent time working as a member of that club's personnel staff.

It is now believed that Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski both nearly joined the Raiders in the spring of 2020 before then-Las Vegas coach Jon Gruden allegedly scrapped that plan. Brady and Gronkowski were more recently linked with the Raiders shortly after McDaniels confirmed the benching of Carr in late December. 

Breer didn't elaborate on what he meant by "culture fit." Carr has never notched a single playoff win across a pro career that officially began during the 2014 NFL Draft, while Garoppolo helped the Niners play in three NFC Championship Games and Super Bowl LIV from January 2020 through this year's postseason tournament. 

Brady, of course, is a seven-time Super Bowl champion and the greatest personal winner in the history of the sport. 

Interestingly, Breer offered his information less than a full week after it was reported that Brady "was able to bully" McDaniels in New England. Whatever happened between those two years ago, it seems McDaniels was at least open to the idea of a reunion with his former QB1 until TB12 retired "for good" on Feb. 1. 

It also appears some league personnel believe Brady is serious about staying retired this time around. The Raiders and Miami Dolphins are two teams previously seen as potential landing spots for Brady that have since gone in other directions regarding the position.