Three Teams That Make Sense for Tom Brady & Three That Don’t
By Hunter Haas
Should NOT Sign Tom Brady
Team #1: Indianapolis Colts
From one AFC South team to another. If the 2022 season proved anything in Indianapolis, the roster is more than a “quarterback away” from contending. At 4-12-1 and with noticeable holes, the Colts need more top-end talent.
Slotting Brady in at quarterback and using all the 2023 draft picks to build a roster around him is enticing, but considering how the past couple of seasons have gone… a different approach is needed. General manager Chris Ballard already tried to execute this path with Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan.
Brady is a different caliber of quarterback from those names, but at his advanced age, he suffers from the same limitations. Brady is not mobile, so wherever he lands needs to have a steady offensive line in place. The Colts have above-average talent on the line but left tackle and right guard still bring uncertainty.
It is time for the franchise to draft a signal-caller. A veteran starting in 2023 isn’t out of question, but Tom Brady shouldn’t be the one. Any team that adds Brady adds Super Bowl aspirations. The Colts are not ready for those in 2023.
Team #2: New York Giants
The Giants had the most success of any team mentioned in this article. Not only did Brian Daboll lead his crew to the postseason in year one, but they also won a road playoff game vs. the Vikings.
Quarterback Daniel Jones performed admirably down the stretch of the regular season and carried that momentum to Minnesota last weekend. Jones is still not the type of player to carry a squad, but 2022 has shown that you can win football games with him behind center.
Daboll is at his best with a mobile quarterback. His playbook is as creative as they come, and it would have to be cut down significantly if a statue in the pocket is signed. On paper, Brady to the Giants makes a lot of sense. In actuality, it doesn’t.
Team #3: Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are the team most linked to Tom Brady at this point. The obvious connection between head coach Josh McDaniels and the veteran quarterback makes it a hand-in-glove fit. The roster makes it less ideal of a fit, however.
Not only do the Raiders boast an underwhelming offensive line group, but they also have holes littered across the defensive side of the ball. I know what the PFF grade says about the Vegas offensive line, but there is no way Brady would feel safe dropping back as it is currently constructed.
The main selling point aside from McDaniels is the arsenal of weapons Brady would have. Davante Adams, Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow, and (hopefully) Josh Jacobs form an impressive quartet. Still, the proposition of bringing Brady into the fold — and adding enough talent to compete — feel like a near-impossible task.
Instead, a lower-profile veteran makes more sense. Someone like Jimmy Garoppolo or Jacoby Brissett has experience with McDaniels, brings fewer expectations, and comes way cheaper than Brady. This decision would give the front office a chance to actually build a roster around Garoppolo/Brissett.