There’s no way Tom Brady comes out of retirement again, right? The greatest of all time has officially called it quits, capping off an impossibly accomplished career in the National Football League. Brady never played a snap in which his team was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. He has led the league in every major passing statistic. Throwing for over 89,000 yards and 649 touchdowns may never be touched.
Now, for the second time in as many years, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are left looking at the ever uncertain life after Brady. They’re not alone. The league will never be the same, and the implications of Brady’s official retirement are immediate.
Who will be the Buccaneers quarterback next season?
Obviously, there’s a hole in the Tampa Bay depth chart that must be addressed. Some poor soul will have the task of filling some really big shoes. I don’t envy them.
If their eyes are on the 2024 NFL draft, we can see a rebuild take place. The Buccaneers are strapped for cash with one of the older rosters in the league, so we shouldn’t rule out a total tear down. If the Tampa tank is on, the perfect quarterback is already in house. Backup youngster Kyle Trask already has plenty of experience being a bad quarterback in the state of Florida.
However, wasting a year of everyone’s time and job security has never been popular. A coach with a rapidly warming seat and a team with enough talent to win might look different, but will likely hold similar expectations. There will be some heartfelt goodbyes and contract restructures, but we should anticipate Tampa Bay surveying both the trade and free agent markets.
Jimmy Garoppolo and Derek Carr seem to be the upper tier of likely targets. Perhaps they settle for Jacoby Brissett, Jameis Winston, cheaper options that are still viable to compete with a strong roster.
What does Brady’s retirement mean for the NFC South?
What a day to root for the remaining teams in the NFC South. Sure, the quarterback of the future probably isn’t on your roster, but the biggest threat to claim the division’s lone playoff spot has joined the fray of disarray.
The Carolina Panthers have brought in head coach Frank Reich to man the ship, and in all likelihood he’ll have his very own rookie quarterback come April. The New Orleans Saints now have a first-round pick, too, after trading to the Denver Broncos. In Atlanta, the Falcons are still figuring out if Desmond Ridder is their guy, but legitimate development can land them in the January tournament.
If Brady were to return, the Buccaneers would again be easy favorites to win the South. They’d be healthier, better-coached, and ultimately superior to the team that got waxed during the Wildcard Round a few weeks ago. Instead, the four-team race is a real one, and we may see teams act accordingly. If some of free agency’s biggest splashes head down south, you’ll know why.
Personally, I like Carolina’s chances the best. You won’t find any betting odds for a few months, but I tagged them as the best landing spot of this year’s cycle. The talent over there is criminally underrated, and they may very well be a quarterback away. They got reasonable play out of Sam Darnold for a stretch. Now, the Panthers have a guru leading the way and a potential franchise quarterback waiting for them in the green room. No team in that division has an easier path to an improved roster and quarterback room, with the coaching in place to make it all work.
What about Aaron Rodgers?
If there was any doubt about Aaron Rodgers playing next year, Brady packed them in his walk into the sunset.
Rodgers was the second-best quarterback prospect in his draft class. He was the second-best quarterback on the Green Bay Packers for much of his rookie contract. He was the second-best quarterback at the end of too many playoff games. He won’t be the second-best quarterback at his own Hall of Fame ceremony.
Rodgers will play next season, whether it’s in Wisconsin, New Jersey, or Las Vegas. Whichever team lands him has Brady to thank. It will likely cost at least a first-round pick, possibly two, with some other talent/ammo thrown in. Will it be worth it? Probably not. Will it be fun? Of course.
Expect the trade interest to be palpable with one less star off the market, but don’t get out of your seat just yet. There’s a good chance the staring match between the Packers and their MVP quarterback lasts way longer than it has to.
However the quarterback carousel spins, a few things remain certain. We’ll fixate ourselves on the drama, debates, and discourse of the NFL season, and someone will come away with a ring. Soon after, we’ll reflect on the lucky breaks and incredible perseverance it took to win.
And we’ll remember how untouchable seven rings really is.