Could Tom Brady have joined the New Orleans Saints in free agency? Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Tom Brady, Saints had mutual interest during offseason

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 6/5/20

It appears that Tom Brady didn't always want to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the 42-year-old quarterback is happy with his new home in Florida, it appears he could've signed with one of Tampa's NFC South division rivals.

According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora, Brady had "very serious interest in the Saints and vice versa."

Strange little quirk to this Drew Brees saga ... Had Brees retired, as he long opined about and strongly considered, I'm told Tom Brady had very serious interest in the Saints and vice versa. Brady was waiting and watching that closely. Would have been a very real possibility.
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) June 4, 2020

The signing didn't happen because Drew Brees announced in February he would be returning for the 2020 season and later signed a two-year, $50 million deal to remain in New Orleans.

Brady playing for the Saints, likely alongside Rob Gronkowski, could've been more potent than the Buccaneers offense he'll be running now. The six-time Super Bowl champion would be working alongside head coach Sean Payton, three-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara, three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Michael Thomas and Super Bowl champion Emmanuel Sanders -- no wonder why Brady had serious interest in New Orleans.

However, he'll still have similar talent in Tampa playing for Bruce Arians, and Brady has shown in the past he can work with a minimalistic offense and lead them to a Super Bowl championship. Tampa's offense is anything but limited, though, with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on board, so Brady may end up being much happier with the Buccaneers than he was with the New England Patriots, but that's yet to be seen.

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