Raiders' Darren Waller seems to confirm Tom Brady rumor

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller seemingly confirmed Tom Brady nearly joined the team after he left the New England Patriots following the 2019 season. 

As Jaclyn Hendricks explained for the New York Post, Waller recently spoke with Forbes' Jeff Fedotin about the current quarterback situation in Vegas. The 30-year-old then addressed the well-known Brady rumor. 

"I’ve heard it from multiple sources that I respect and I’ve been close to," Waller said. "They’re like, 'Yeah, Brady to the Raiders was a lock.'" 

During the "UFC 278 with the Gronks" that aired this past August, UFC boss Dana White said he "worked to put that deal together for" both Brady and future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski to join the Raiders in the spring of 2020. However, then-Las Vegas coach Jon Gruden allegedly "blew the deal up" in the 11th hour. 

The Raiders ultimately kept Derek Carr as their starting quarterback until late in the 2022 season, but those two parted ways earlier this month. Meanwhile, Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March 2020, and the Buccaneers later traded with the Patriots for Gronkowski. Together, Brady and Gronkowski helped Tampa Bay win Super Bowl LV.

Waller suggested that he'd like to catch passes from Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers if the Raiders can complete a trade for the former teammate of Las Vegas All-Pro receiver Davante Adams.

"Anybody who’s ever played football would be on board with Aaron Rodgers coming to the team," Waller remarked. "If he comes to the team, I will not be disappointed." 

Carr reportedly impressed the Jets in a recent meeting, but it is widely believed that Gang Green is waiting to learn if Rodgers will force a trade to New York rather than to Las Vegas if he decides following his four-day "darkness retreat" that he wants to continue playing for a team other than the Packers.