Las Vegas Raiders 2020 NFL free agency: Top five targets

1. Tom Brady, QB

Now, for the big one. If I were the Las Vegas Raiders, I would be making legendary quarterback Tom Brady my number one priority this offseason. Brady is almost inarguably the best quarterback in the history of the NFL and he is on the open really for the first time in his career. It seems more likely than ever before that Brady will leave the New England Patriots and it represents an ideal opportunity for a team like the Raiders to make a big move.

Derek Carr is a solid NFL quarterback, but he is not a guy who can lead this team to the promised land. Brady will be a 43-year-old quarterback next year and is clearly not as good as he once was, but he is still Tom Brady. He is still a capable quarterback who can lead a good team to the Super Bowl. Brady’s production was mediocre last season, but he was simply not surrounded by enough talent with the Patriots in 2019. Brady needs more to work with in this stage of his career.

Now, let’s take a moment and think through this scenario a bit. If the Raiders can sign Brady, it opens up a trade for Carr. Carr is not an elite quarterback, but he is a solid one who could stabilize a quarterback-needy team. The Raiders would have to eat $7.9 million in dead cap if they trade Carr, but moving him would still open up nearly $13.6 in functional cap space. That would undoubtedly help pay the bill for Brady.

If the Raiders can go out and sign a low-cost, but effective free agent receiver like Perriman and also draft a receiver in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Brady would then have much more to work with in Las Vegas than he did with the Patriots last season.

Think about the weapons the Raiders would have for Brady in this offense for a moment. Stud young running back Josh Jacobs and dynamic tight end Darren Waller are great pass catchers at their positions.

Hunter Renfrow is a fantastic option out of the slot and we know that Brady has dominated with guys like that in the past. On the outside, a combination of Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman is solid and then they could add a rookie like Henry Ruggs III at No. 12 overall in the draft.

If Brady is seriously considering moving on from New England, the Las Vegas Raiders can put together a strong situation for him to consider. Would it be enough to pry him from the Pats? Only time will tell. Regardless, Brady should be their number one priority in free agency this offseason.