With the combine already underway, free agency looming and the draft just two months away, the NFL off-season is about to ramp up in a big way.
As the heat is turned up on the decision makers of each of the 32 teams, most of who are in Indianapolis, there’s plenty of speculation emerging around what could be a wild few weeks in the NFL.
The last 24 hours, in particular, have produced a few eyebrow-raising rumours. Let’s take a look at what’s transpiring around the NFL, starting with the biggest potential free agent on the market.
TOM BRADY “OPEN TO A NEW HOME”?
Undoubtedly the biggest name that could hit free agency on March 18 is the GOAT, Tom Brady. And according to a couple of reports on Thursday morning, there’s a real possibility the six-time Super Bowl champion moves on from the New England Patriots in the coming weeks.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, the 42-year-old Brady “is currently operating under the belief that he will enter free agency to play somewhere other than New England next season.”
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.– ESPN
Darlington went a step further on ESPN’s Get Up:
“We need to wrap our minds around the fact that it is far more likely than not that Tom Brady will not be back with the Patriots. I am now at the point where I would be stunned if Tom Brady returns to the Patriots.”
And it wasn’t just Darlington who weighed in on the Brady situation, as the Boston Herald’s Karen Guregian tweeted that the Patriots had yet to reach out to Brady, and a source of Guregian’s added: “it’s not looking good.”
Boston Globe reporter Ben Volin provided some context for the Patriots’ reported silence on the Brady front, saying Bill Belichick sees no point in talking contract with Brady until a new CBA is passed – something that could happen in the near future.
As with all rumours floated this time of year, it’s important to approach everything with a veil of skepticism as all information leaked is leaked for a reason, and whichever side is providing that information has motivations for doing so.
It’s also, despite the reports detailed above, entirely likely Brady is in a Patriots uniform next season and for the rest of his career. But Thursday’s swell of chatter is significant as it’s the first time we’ve heard of his potential departure from New England spoken about so strongly.
COLTS HAVE INTEREST IN PHILIP RIVERS
Brady isn’t the only veteran quarterback on the market who may have a new home for the first time next season.
Philip Rivers and the L.A. Chargers have already agreed to part ways and, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Wednesday, the Indianapolis Colts have interest in the 38-year-old quarterback.
“There are many, many people who think Philip Rivers is going to ultimately end up as a member of the Colts.”
The Colts were considered Super Bowl contenders last summer before the shocking retirement of superstar quarterback Andrew Luck, forcing Indianapolis to turn to backup Jacoby Brissett for the 2019 season. Brissett performed reasonably well considering the circumstances, but the Colts have a contender-type roster and the right quarterback could put them over the top.
Rapoport also mentioned the Raiders as a possible destination for Rivers (*eyeball emoji*), as rumours surrounding Derek Carr’s future on Jon Gruden’s team continue to linger.
TITANS PRIORITIZING TANNEHILL
Sticking with Rapoport and free-agent quarterbacks, the NFL Network news-breaker also reported on Wednesday the Tennessee Titans will try to sign quarterback Ryan Tannehill to a new contract before the franchise tag window closes on March 12 (it opens Thursday at 4 p.m. ET).
Tannehill transformed the Titans’ season when he usurped Marcus Mariota as starting quarterback in Week 7, leading Tennessee all the way to the AFC championship game and shocking the Patriots and Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs along the way.
The 31-year-old Tannehill didn’t just play the role of game manager as the Titans’ passing game was dynamic and he ranked high in significant QB categories, including a league-leading 9.6 yards per attempt, on the way to a comeback-player-of-the-year nod.
It’s hard to see Tannehill replicating what he did in 2019 next season, but bringing him back is the only option for the Titans at the position. The alternative is entering quarterback limbo, which can cripple a franchise.
COLTS, GIANTS AMONG POTENTIAL CLOWNEY SUITORS
Jadeveon Clowney will be one of the most high-profile defensive free agents once the market opens on March 18, but it’s possible he doesn’t change addresses.
According to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, Clowney says he “would definitely like to return” to the Seattle Seahawks after being dealt to the Pacific Northwest from the Houston Texans last off-season.
Clowney also said he’s “open to new opportunities if it comes down to that,” and Anderson reports both the Colts and New York Giants could be among the teams interested should Clowney look to sign somewhere other than Seattle.
The 27-year-old defensive end said last month he would focus on signing with a Super Bowl contender, and whether the Colts and Giants fit that mould is yet to be seen.
As pointed out above, Indy could be a QB upgrade away from contention, while the Giants are in what many would call a rebuild and just hired a rookie head coach in Joe Judge. But Big Blue also boast some very talented players and could be a surprise team should Daniel Jones make a jump in his sophomore season.
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CHIEFS COULD MAKE TRADES
The Super Bowl champions are reportedly expected to put the franchise tag on star defensive lineman Chris Jones on Thursday, locking in one of the game’s best for at least one more season.
But there could be changes on the horizon for the Chiefs roster, as NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports K.C. is looking to dump salary in the trade market and have started those conversations at the combine.
BROWNS IN THE BACKUP MARKET
While the Cleveland Browns have their starting quarterback set heading into 2020, the team is reportedly expected to be active in the backup market in order to “provide Baker Mayfield with a solid veteran leader who can help him grow and develop,” according to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.
The Browns are looking to change the dynamics of their quarterback room and provide Baker Mayfield with a solid veteran leader who can help him grow and develop. He had that in Drew Stanton the past two seasons, but Stanton, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, is set to become a free agent and the Browns are apparently leaning towards another direction.– Mary Kay Cabot, Cleveland.com
Two quarterbacks the Browns are said to be exploring are Chase Daniel and Case Keenum.
Daniel spent the last two seasons backing up Mitchell Trubisky in Chicago, and is a well-regarded backup who has also spent time in New Orleans, Kansas City and Philadelphia.
Keenum started eight games in Washington last season before being benched for rookie Dwayne Haskins. He also had a history with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski: Keenum had his best-ever pro season in Minnesota in 2017 when Stefanski was Vikings quarterbacks coach.
