Tom Brady is officially on the 2020 NFL free-agent market. The New England Patriots were upset by the Tennessee Titans in the wild-card round of the playoffs, which means the 42-year-old quarterback's contract is up, and for the first time in his career he can choose his next team.
There has been mystery around the future of Brady, who had a down 2019 by his standards, for the past few months, with sources telling ESPN's Adam Schefter in October that all options are on the table, including returning to New England, moving on to another organization or retiring. After Saturday's loss, Brady said it was "pretty unlikely" that he would retire this offseason, and coach Bill Belichick said now isn't the time to address Brady's future.
But we can address Brady's future. We asked our panel of ESPN NFL experts to weigh in on what's next for the future Hall of Famer, and how the Patriots could help him -- or replace him:
Let's give Tom Brady some advice: What should he do this offseason?
Jeremy Fowler, national NFL writer: Take the family on a lengthy beach vacation, then do what six Super Bowls over 20 years earns you -- the right to do whatever you want. Brady can opt for a new environment or a familiar one and can't go wrong either way.
Dan Graziano, national NFL writer: Re-sign with the Patriots. Money is great, and so are new challenges. But a legacy like the one Brady has built in New England is priceless. I wouldn't go anywhere else if I were him.
Jason Reid, The Undefeated, senior writer: Brady has earned the right to do whatever he wants to do. With those six Super Bowl titles, his legacy is set. Regardless of whether he stays or leaves, the decision will be correct.
Mike Reiss, Patriots reporter: One of the things that stands out from talking with Brady is the importance of family. So it starts with having a huddle with wife Gisele Bundchen and children Jack, Benjamin and Vivian to see what is best for not only Brady's football career, but the family, too. If all things are equal in that area, I view returning to New England as the best option.
Kevin Seifert, national NFL writer: I prefer to lecture the greatest player in NFL history on what not to do. Don't listen to any external voices. (They all have agendas.) Don't worry about your legacy. (It's unalterable.) Don't give in to pride. (You've played at a high level in your 40s. Nothing left to prove.) Don't worry about upsetting people. (You've done enough to make them happy.)
Field Yates, NFL analyst: Whatever he chooses. He has earned that right. My own opinion is that returning to New England is the most sensible option for another run with the only team for which he has ever played.
Assuming the Patriots want Brady back, how should they structure their contract offer to him?
Fowler: New Orleans' approach with Drew Brees has been effective -- go two years for $50 million and reassess every other year. The Patriots could guarantee more than half of it (at least $15 million in signing bonus money) and can restructure after a year as they focus on getting younger at several positions.
Graziano: I'm with Fowler on this one. Brees has set the template and gone year-to-year for a while now. No reason for either side not to continue to keep options open.
Reid: As much as I hate to agree with Graziano on, well, anything, Fowler is correct. With Brees, the Saints established a sound model for contracts for late-career quarterbacks. It just makes sense to structure the deal this way for a transcendent but aging quarterback.
Reiss: Why not three years? Brady says he wants to play until he's 45, and that would put an end to any speculation about his future, allowing him to retire a Patriot. He has earned that.
Seifert: One (real) year at market value for a veteran who finished the previous season No. 17 in Total QBR. So, around $25 million. There are ways the Patriots can manage his cap number, but they have little leverage in terms of cash.
Yates: My expectation is that any deal he signs with New England would be for one year and will once again include multiple void years beyond 2020 so that the signing bonus can prorate over them.
If Brady stays, what does the Patriots' offense need, and how could the team get it?
Fowler: A capable tight end and more weapons on the outside. The draft is deep at wide receiver, so Belichick can ask buddy Nick Saban which prolific wideout he should take with the 23rd overall pick, and in March he can throw a cost-effective three-year deal at Eric Ebron in free agency.
Graziano: A.J. Green is a free agent. Amari Cooper might be. Is it worth calling the Browns, once they hire some people, to see where they are on Odell Beckham Jr.? Brady needs receivers, and it would help to have a great one on the outside.
Reid: The Patriots need playmakers on the outside. They need at least one guy who can stretch the defense, a real burner, and several guys capable of running better routes than the current crew did this season. They need wideouts who can win consistently against single coverage. They need to hit on college wideouts in the 2020 draft.
Reiss: More speed. The Patriots had one of the least-threatening offenses this season, as reflected by a top-two-receiver set with Julian Edelman and Mohamed Sanu. The draft, where they have a solid haul of picks, can help.
Seifert: A lot. We can start by the return to health by multiple injured players, including center David Andrews and fullback James Develin. Every team wants more speed at receiver, but the Pats could also compensate as they always have -- by stockpiling pass-catching tight ends.
Yates: A more dynamic option at tight end. The middle-of-the-field passing game was not nearly as lethal this season as it has been in years past, and finding a player who can occupy that space is essential. The draft will present some options.
If Brady leaves, what's the quarterback move they should make this offseason?
Fowler: Jarrett Stidham, a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft, is intriguing, but he needs competition. Free agent Teddy Bridgewater is a viable option. He's smart, experienced, affordable and gives New England time to develop Stidham as it reinvents itself.
Graziano: Talk Andrew Luck out of retirement? Sign Bridgewater? Or how about this one: Call the Falcons and see if their cap situation makes them open to at least talking about Matt Ryan? Makes sense to invest in someone with some years still to give, so as not to be in this position again anytime soon.
Tim Hasselbeck and Ryan Clark discuss what Tom Brady's future with the Patriots looks like now that he's a free agent.
Reid: This totally depends on Belichick's long-term thinking. Does he want the challenge of developing a young quarterback as he continues his pursuit of Don Shula's record for victories? Stidham is on the roster, but he has thrown just four regular-season passes.
Reiss: Pair Stidham with a veteran such as Philip Rivers. The hope would be that Stidham wins the job after not missing a practice in his rookie season and showing promise behind the scenes.
Seifert: This is why it's difficult to imagine the Patriots moving on. Assuming they don't think Brady has passed the point of no return from a physical standpoint, is there really anyone they can acquire who gives them a better chance to win? Brady looked better this season than Rivers. If they can't keep Brady from leaving, I'd vote to acquire Josh Rosen and spend a season experimenting with options.
Yates: Develop Stidham. He has a full year of understanding of the system and rather than tapping into the free-agent quarterback market -- which would come with a hefty price tag -- the team should work to develop Stidham and commit financial resources to their other pending free agents, such as safety Devin McCourty and guard Joe Thuney.