3. Bill Belichick will have every contingency plan ready

Not only will Brady’s free agency make for a wild story, but Belichick’s simultaneous pursuits of other quarterbacks (in the draft, in free agency and through trades) will be fascinating, too.

The Patriots coach will likely talk to the Bengals about Andy Dalton and to the Panthers about Cam Newton. Heck, Belichick could talk to the Cowboys about Dak Prescott, the Bears about Mitchell Trubisky and the Raiders about Derek Carr. Belichick has shown an affinity for Ryan Tannehill — although he has been complimentary of every quarterback the Patriots have faced over the last decade. The draft boasts a number of options for Belichick, whether he wants to draft a quarterback in the first round or the seventh. And last but not least, the Patriots have Stidham and Cody Kessler on contract for 2020. There’s no ruling them out to start.

Surely, Belichick will walk down every possible avenue for improvement.