Brady’s era in New England came to an end after two decades punctuated by unprecedented success after he revealed on social media that he had decided to continues his “football journey elsewhere” and NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported he agreed terms with the Bucs on a deal worth approximately $30 million a year.
The six-time Super Bowl champion was not the only quarterback to find a new home on Tuesday. Philip Rivers, who last month ended a 16-year spell with the Los Angeles Chargers, will line up under center in Indianapolis next season after signing a one-year, $25 million deal with the Colts. Teddy Bridgewater, meanwhile, swapped New Orleans for Charlotte, after signing a three-year deal with the Carolina Panthers worth $63 million, with $40 million guaranteed.
The Tennessee Titans also made moves, re-signing starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill to a four-year deal worth on Sunday and allowing Marcus Mariota to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders.
With Drew Brees returning to New Orleans for one final tilt at the Super Bowl with the Saints and the Dallas Cowboys franchise-tagging Dak Prescott, the quarterback picture is almost complete. There are, however, a number of teams and players still looking to finalize their plans before the music stops on the quarterback carousel.
Here are the signal callers who are still available and the NFL teams who could still be looking for a quarterback.
Cam Newton
Shortly after Brady revealed he would not be returning to New England, the Panthers made the 2015 MVP available for a trade, before signing Bridgewater to a three-year deal.
Rumors over Newton’s future had lingered on for months as the Panthers looked to be in rebuilding mode, despite the fact general manager Marty Hurney insisted the team was aiming for a more moderate “mixed reboot” instead.
While Newton has been hampered by serious fitness issues over the last two seasons—he missed the last two games of the 2018 season with a shoulder injury and was shut down after two weeks last season after suffering a Lisfranc fracture—he remains one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the league when fully fit.
According to CBS Sports, the Chicago Bears have sounded out the Panthers over a potential trade for Newton, after discussing a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for Nick Foles and speaking to Bridgewater.
Jameis Winston
Brady’s arrival in Tampa Bay means Winston will leave Florida five years after being selected with the first overall pick. Winston appeared to be on borrowed time with the Bucs since head coach Bruce Arians was non committal over his quarterback plans last month, suggesting Tampa Bay could be a winning team with Winston under center as well as with a different quarterback.
In Winston’s case, statistics are simultaneously a glowing reference and likely to put off some of the potential suitors.
New England Patriots
For the first time in two decades the Patriots are in uncharted territory when it comes to their quarterback. Replacing a player that has held the position for 20 years is hard enough, let alone when the player in question is Tom Brady.
It would be a major surprise to see Bill Belichick go into next season with second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham as his starter. With Brady gone, Belichick will be hell-bent on keeping the Patriots in contention for the Super Bowl to prove he is the man who makes a difference in New England and not his now ex-quarterback.
Of the players available either via free agency or trade, Winston and Newton are intriguing and challenging options for different reasons. The Patriots could also look elsewhere, perhaps to Andy Dalton, who looks set to be relegated to a back-up role in Cincinnati if as expected the Bengals draft Joe Burrow with the first overall pick or Nick Foles, who lost his starting job in Jacksonville to Gardner Minshew last season.
Los Angeles Chargers
Bringing Brady back to his home state and making him the face of the franchise would have made a lot of sense for the Chargers as they prepare to move into their shiny new stadium next season. Unfortunately for Chargers fans that scenario will never materialize as Brady chose Tampa Bay, but that doesn’t change the equation for the franchise.
With Philip Rivers gone, Los Angeles needs a new quarterback, unless it expects to begin a new era with Tyrod Taylor under center. As for the Patriots, Newton and Winston are both interesting options and the Chargers can offer a strong supporting cast featuring Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Hunter Henry and Austin Ekeler.
Chicago Bears
The reports suggesting the Bears held trade talks with the Panthers and spoke to Teddy Bridgewater suggest Mitchell Trubisky may be running out of time in the Windy City. Dalton and Foles could also be viable options, as they would both be competent back-ups and have the talent and experience necessary to replace Trubisky as starter if needed. Foles, in particular, is an intriguing name as he has worked before with Bears coach Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo.
