Against: Potential decline
Brady is coming off one of his worst seasons as a pro in 2019.
He needed 613 attempts to break the 4,000-yard mark, and he averaged just 6.6 yards per attempt, the second-lowest mark of his career as a starter. That’s a big drop off from Tannehill, whose 9.6 yards per attempt led the league.
Brady’s completion percentage and passer rating also left a lot to be desired at 60.8 percent and 88.0, respectively, both the lowest marks he has totaled since 2013. To compare, Tannehill completed 70.3 percent of his passes and finished with a passer rating of 117.5, ranking No. 3 and No. 1 in the NFL, respectively.
It’s fair to point out that Brady’s supporting cast wasn’t good, from his receivers to the offensive line, and he really didn’t have much support from the run game, as evidenced by the Pats’ No. 18 rushing attack.
But it’s also fair to wonder if Brady, who will be 43 when the 2020 season begins, is in the midst of a decline at his advanced age — and that decline could lead to him actually being a downgrade from Tannehill.