Schultz: Evaluating 5 options for Tom Brady's next chapter

Tom Brady enters the offseason as a free agent at age 45 after setting NFL single-season records for pass attempts and completions in the last two campaigns with the Buccaneers. I'm told he plans to take a month or two to evaluate all his options to not make an emotional decision following Monday night's season-ending loss to Dallas. In the meantime, here are his best and most realistic options.

Raiders

Brady would instantly vault the Silver and Black into contention status. He'd have an arsenal of top-tier receiving threats with perennial All-Pro Davante Adams and former Pro Bowlers Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow. You could add 2022 rushing champion Josh Jacobs if the Raiders sign him to an extension rather than let him walk as a free agent.

Perhaps just as importantly, Brady could finally reunite with coach Josh McDaniels. They spent roughly two decades together in New England and maintained a good friendship predicated on mutual respect and trust. Las Vegas currently has more than $22 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap, which slots as ninth most in the NFL. Money shouldn't be an issue.

Traditionally, Brady has excelled playing with a dominant tight end. Waller isn't Rob Gronkowski - who is? - but he's a true vertical seam threat capable of dominating in the red zone. Renfrow is a slot assassin whose short area quickness rivals Julian Edelman, Wes Welker, or Deion Branch. Add Adams, a first-ballot Hall of Famer smack-dab in his prime, and Jacobs, a true bell-cow back, and the Raiders are very appetizing.

Panthers Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

The Panthers are a sneaky team for a couple of reasons, none more significant than the potential to join forces with head coach Sean Payton. As great as Brady is, has he ever had anyone as good as Payton in his corner? With due respect to McDaniels, Bill O'Brien, and Bill Belichick, Payton is one of our generation's truly great offensive minds. Remember, he took Drew Brees - cast off by the Chargers in 2005 - and helped transform him into one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.

Granted, Carolina is a long shot to land Brady, but it's far from a crazy idea. Brady would get to stay in the NFC South, a weak division he's familiar with. Payton and Brady would also have the luxury of a talented repertoire of receiver D.J. Moore and running backs Chuba Hubbard and D'Onta Foreman - should he sign an extension. The Panthers also have one of the NFL's better offensive lines.

Here's the real key, though. Owner David Tepper is hell-bent on making a splash with a sexy head-coaching hire and is willing to pay top dollar. As I've reported, Payton is seeking a multi-year deal worth at least $20 million per season. It's my understanding that Tepper would be willing to pony up the big bucks for Payton but also wants a true franchise quarterback - the team hasn't had one since Cam Newton's heyday - to complement the uber-creative coach. Despite Brady being in the back half of his 40s, that won't tame Tapper's excitement if he can secure the two as a package for 2023.

Dolphins

Miami's a bit murky given the unknown status regarding quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. When he was healthy this season, Tagovailoa played like a franchise quarterback: decisive, accurate, and well on his way to his first Pro Bowl. We also know the Dolphins were very close to getting Brady a couple of years ago. Its efforts were torpedoed after the NFL disciplined the franchise in August 2022 for making impermissible contact with Brady in 2019 and 2020 while he was still under contract with the Pats. Brady and owner Stephen Ross are both Michigan alumni, which helped lead to an onslaught of rumors that Brady wanted to buy a stake in the team.

However, from a football perspective, the bottom line is Miami has the right personnel to accommodate the GOAT. The club has two of the game's fastest - and best - receivers (Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle) and an offensive guru in head coach Mike McDaniel, who helped elevate Tagovailoa's game in their first year together.

One key component we need to consider is Bruce Beal, Stephen Ross' longtime business partner, who previously helped orchestrate the Brady-to-South-Beach efforts. But Beal no longer seems to have the juice inside the organization to pull off such a maneuver after getting the Dolphins docked for tampering. While that doesn't necessarily put the kibosh on getting Brady, it certainly doesn't help, particularly when Brady has several other enticing options. He also has two children residing in Miami.

Jets Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Before you scoff at Brady going to the Jets, consider the veteran quarterback returning to the AFC East and being supported by an excellent young roster on both sides of the ball. The organization was on the verge this season of earning its first playoff appearance since the 2011 campaign, missing out because its quarterback play fell apart.

Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Garrett Wilson (83 catches, 1,103 yards, four TDs) is already one of the premier young wideouts in football and has the tremendously talented Elijah Moore flanking him. Don't sleep on what promises to be a devastating one-two punch of Breece Hall and Michael Carter in the backfield. The Jets just fired offensive coordinator Mike Lafleur, and finding a capable replacement will be crucial with a new QB - whether it's Brady, Lamar Jackson, or anyone else.

What better way to add to Brady's already unparalleled legacy than to bring a winner back to Gang Green - a once proud franchise whose lone Super Bowl victory came in 1968? It's also worth noting that Brady has a son living in New York.

Broadcasting

The elephant in the room is the 10-year, $375-million contract with FOX Sports waiting to be activated when he retires. As good as Tony Romo has been at CBS, who says Brady can't achieve similar success? Nobody knows the game better. And, like Romo, he'll have the added benefit of knowing all the players, trends, and tendencies of each team and coordinator.

The competitive juices might coerce Brady into playing a 24th season, but broadcasting is an awesome avenue for guys who love the game and want to remain connected. Just ask Romo, Greg Olsen, and Troy Aikman.

Naturally, I'm biased. But it's not a bad alternative when considering the drastic difference in stress and time commitment compared to playing. You get to perch up on the 50-yard line inside a toasty broadcast booth with nothing but a microphone and your hair gel to worry about.

Jordan Schultz is theScore's NFL insider and senior NBA reporter. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

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