The quarterback who many consider to be the greatest of all time, Tom Brady, is expected to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The move has big implications for both the Atlanta Falcons and the NFC South.
The 42-year-old quarterback and six-time NFL champion posted a message on Instagram Tuesday declaring that he would not return to the New England Patriots, where he has played for the past 20 seasons. Tampa Bay was long named as one of the primary contenders for Brady this offseason, and they apparently had an enticing enough offer both on and off the field.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Buccaneers have an agreement in principle with Brady that would pay the future Hall of Famer roughly $30 million per year, although his report does not mention any details about the length of the contract.
This move likely indicates that Tampa Bay is moving on from former No. 1 overall draft pick Jameis Winston, who became the first NFL quarterback to throw 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in the same season last year, a stat that indicates the type of volatility he had while leading the franchise. During the 2019 season, Brady completed just over 60 percent of his passes for 4,057 yards and 24 touchdowns with eight interceptions.
Brady joins an offense that ranked first in the NFL in passing yards per game and boasts an elite wide receiver duo in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The NFC South now features what is arguably the best collection of starting quarterbacks in the NFL with Matt Ryan, Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater - who has reportedly signed with the Carolina Panthers - and Brady.
