The case for and against Tom Brady with the Titans

Would Brady really sign with the team that just beat him?

As we near the 2020 offseason of the NFL, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are in a situation they have never delved in before. Brady is a free agent come March 18. And although there is a strong chance he returns, other teams will be vying for his services. Here is a look at one of the teams that could be interested in Brady. The Titans have long been seen as one of Brady’s top options, and a FaceTime call during a college basketball game at Syracuse between Titans head coach Mike Vrabel (Brady’s former teammate), Julian Edelman and Brady has only added fuel to the fire.

Should Brady consider signing with the Tennessee Titans?

The case for Brady signing with the Titans

The Titans are a fun match for Brady for a variety reasons, which obviously begin with Brady’s friendship with Vrabel.

But beyond that, the Titans field an offense with one of the more talented trios of receivers in the league. With the talented Corey Davis and A.J. Brown on the outside, and Adam Humphries manning the slot, Brady has a bevy of unique pass catchers with different skill sets.

Then, there’s monster back Derrick Henry. Any chance of Brady coming to Tennessee should revolve around the Titans also retaining the NFL’s reigning rushing champion. Henry has the ability to rush 30-plus times a game to control the clock and take the pressure off the quarterback. Once upon a time there were several running backs who could relate, but the league has since changed, and Henry is now a unicorn worthy of attention from defenses.

The Titans currently have approximately $50 million in cap space (before their release of Dion Lewis), according to Over The Cap. That may be enough to sign Brady, sign or franchise tag Henry and perhaps add another offensive piece or pass rush help — the latter is their Achilles heel on defense.

Would Vrabel be willing to trade Corey Davis for, say, a third-round draft pick, only to pick up Brady’s friend Antonio Brown to pair with Davis, Humphries, Henry, and tight end Jonnut Smith? What an offense that could be.

Added incentives for Brady to sign in Tennessee would be possibly reuniting with former teammates Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler, two cornerbacks who were heroic in helping Brady earn two of his three rings won over the past six years. Butler is still under contract but the Titans would have to re-sign Ryan, who with Henry, is one of their most prized upcoming free agents.

Of course, for any of this to happen, the Titans would have to make the decision to move on from Ryan Tannehill.

The case against Brady signing with the Titans

When dissecting this side of the coin, the first blemish would be Brady spending his time in Nashville, Tennessee for the next two or so seasons. Nothing against Nashville, it’s a beautiful city many love to visit that’s home of country music and fun bars. But does the city really feel like a place that vibes with Brady? Not really.

Additionally, the Titans are coming off a trip to the AFC Championship Game with Ryan Tannehill. Now Tannehill, who is 32 himself, is not a sure-fire option for the foreseeable future, and he’s certainly no Tom Brady, but the GOAT will enter his age-43 season in 2020. Would the Titans take the risk? Possibly.

But again, Tennessee has shown signs of a contender with a a few more wrinkles. They need help in the front seven, specifically with their pass rush.

And if the Titans do sign Brady at around $25 million per year, that leaves them with about $25-to-$30 million of cap space left with Henry, Ryan and others hitting free agency, and the need for help on defense and maybe along the offensive line.

The Titans had a fantastic 2019 season, but are they that close to competing for a trip to the Super Bowl with the likes of the Chiefs, Ravens and possibly the Steelers?

How good is the fit?

Although there are real questions that chip away at the glamorous pairing, the Titans look to be one of the better true rumored fits for Brady. In terms of Brady’s interest, the Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Titans seem to be the few teams that should make sense for him, but again, do any of us really know what’s going to happen? That’s what makes this situation so enticing.

Fit: 7.5 out of 10