The Raiders look ready to bet high.
With the move to Las Vegas afoot, the Raiders are reportedly expected to pursue legendary New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady should Brady choose not to re-sign with the Patriots and become a free agent, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
However, that seems like a rather tall task. According to Schefter, Patriots owner Robert Kraft has expressed interest in bringing Brady back, and both parties will have contract conversations before free agency even begins.
Earlier on Sunday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Patriots would be willing to offer Brady a salary of $30 million per year to stay in New England.
A six-time Super Bowl champion and three-time MVP, Brady is reported to have a good relationship with Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. The 42-year-old Brady said he is “open-minded” about free agency.
Gruden inherited the Raiders’ current starting quarterback, Derek Carr, who is under contract until 2022. But the team would only take a $5-million hit of dead money should it choose to cut Carr in the off-season.
New England is expected to want a decision by its Hall of Fame quarterback before the start of the free-agent starting period, slated for March 18.
Brady was a sixth-round pick with the Patriots in 2000 and has played all of his 20 seasons with the team.
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