Quarterback Tom Brady potentially not playing for the Patriots next season took a step forward on Monday.
Reports via Patriots Wire said that Brady and the Bills’ AFC East rivals are mutually agreeing to let him test the free agent waters in March.
The outlet also references the Patriots’ lack of salary cap perhaps as a reason why he might leave. New England is set to have roughly $40 million in cap space for the 2020 offseason. The Bills have approximately double that amount, for comparison.
In addition, if the Patriots do end up not bringing Brady back, the team will have a $13 million dead cap hit against their cap.
Some reported suitors for Brady could be the Raiders, who recently officially moved to Las Vegas, and the Chargers, who officially decided to move on from Phillip Rivers.
On Brady potentially leaving, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said he expects the two sides to touch base before Brady were to sign with another team.
“From what I understand, (Patriots owner Robert) Kraft’s thinking on this is, if the sides come together, if Brady decided the Patriots were his best option after testing free agency and if Bill Belichick, who of course is making the decisions for New England, if he decides that Brady is his best option at this price, that … it will mean that it’s meant to be and it’s best for both sides,” Rapoport said.
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