Raiders are ready to pursue Tom Brady if he’s available

If Tom Brady actually looks into his options via free agency, the Raiders are ready to pursue him.

Tom Brady is slated to become a free agent for the first time in his career, which has brought plenty of natural speculation about where he might go if not back to the New England Patriots. Brady, for his part, has not declared anything publicly and surely won’t until the news of his signing comes out.

The Los Angeles Chargers have been a prominent rumored suitor for Brady, as they look to garner buzz off the field as much as on the field. But another AFC West team is set to enter the mix too. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders are poised to pursue Brady if he doesn’t re-sign with the Patriots before free agency starts.

The Raiders are, of course, moving to Las Vegas, so Brady would give them marketing buzz as well as at least a theoretical upgrade over Derek Carr. The talent around Brady in New England fell off this past season, and the Raiders can offer a good offensive line, a productive running game led by Josh Jacobs and a solid set of pass-catching weapons (Tyrell Williams, Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow).

Any idea of Brady landing elsewhere comes with the caveat he will not re-sign with the Patriots before free agency opens on March 18. But he has said he’s open-minded about the free agency process, and that opens the door to any team who would want to pursue him until further notice. Of course, Brady wouldn’t just go anywhere, and it’s hard to fully know just what he’ll see as the right situation outside of New England.

A team with a chance to win at a high level seems obvious for Brady, as his career winds down. But the location also stands to be an important factor if he were to consider relocating, as Mrs. Brady’s wishes potentially enter the equation. The Raiders can offer warm weather, proximity to Brady’s family in California and a team that could be ready to make a dent in the AFC next year.