Jeff Darlington: “At this point I would be stunned if he returns to New England to be very blunt about it. I understand that people don’t necessarily want to accept it. Even those close to Brady still say ‘Yea, but… He will walk into Bill Belichick’s office, he will play out this master plan, and all will be well again.’ I gotta tell you, I get so sense that Brady is thinking that way, and instead, very much looking towards free agency. It’s not like he’s flirting with the possibility of free agency so he can ultimately come back to the Patriots, he is absolutely looking forward to free agency.”
Vic Tafur: “Tom Brady is currently operating under the belief that he will enter free agency to play somewhere other than New England next season, a sentiment the quarterback has shared with others ... While Brady has his eyes very clearly on free agency, there is still a belief in his circles that the Patriots will have their opportunity to convince Brady to stay. But at this point, Brady is evaluating the NFL landscape with the intention of departing, sources said.”
NFL insiders are beginning to circle the wagons in the belief that six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady will be leaving the Patriots franchise that he has spent 20 immaculate seasons with.
The 42-year-old Brady is arguably the most fascinating free agent in sports history, and could potentially be hopping onto a free agent quarterback market that is the deepest the league has ever seen with names the likes of Teddy Bridgewater, Ryan Tannehill, Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton, Marcus Mariota, and Philip Rivers available.
ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, and NFL Network’s Michael Giardi were the most prominent insiders calling for the likelihood of Brady’s exodus on Thursday.
NFL free agency will officially begin March 18th at 4 pm ET.