Tom Brady rumors: 5 best fits in NFL free agency

1. New England Patriots

The rest of the AFC East may not want to hear it, but the best fit for Brady is staying with the only NFL franchise he has ever known. There is something to be said for familiarity and scheme fit, which Brady has absolutely developed over two decades with the Patriots.

Even though the division stinks, losing Tom Brady would put the Patriots’ chances of making the playoffs in severe peril. The Patriots haven’t had a succession plan for Brady since trading Jimmy Garoppolo away in the middle of the 2017 season, and there aren’t great options available right now.

If Brady did go to another team, the Patriots would either have to sign a veteran on the decline (like Philip Rivers or Andy Dalton), draft a quarterback, or acquire a young player looking to improve with a change of scenery (think Marcus Mariota). None of those options is particularly inspiring, especially after we saw how much the Patriots struggled to score points in the second half with Brady under center.

Brady also has a tremendous relationship with owner Robert Kraft, who has made it clear he wants to see TB12 finish his career with the Patriots. That relationship could enable Brady to finally cash in on a massive payday, garnering him around $30 million a year.

A contract that big would make it difficult for New England to fix all of their holes, and it is a deal Bill Belichick probably wouldn’t want to sign off on, but Kraft may overrule him on this matter. It simply makes too much sense for all parties involved to give Brady one more massive payday in New England, so don’t be shocked if this free agency period wraps with Brady signing another contract with the Patriots.