3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians has always had a “no risk-it, no biscuit” philosophy regarding his quarterbacks. In other words, he doesn’t mind his quarterbacks taking chances, especially with the deep ball. But Jameis Winston did his best to test Arians’ patience in 2019, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history with 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in the same season, as well as setting the league’s single-season record for pick-sixes with seven. The Buccaneers have a decision to make with Winston, who’s played through his rookie contract and fifth-year option. What if that decision was altered by the possibility of Arians working with Brady?
Arians’ offense would actually be ideal for Brady’s existing skill set, with its front-side floods and levels concepts, and its back-side escape routes. Brady would be throwing the ball to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Breshad Perriman, as well as tight ends Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard. If Arians could get over his tendency to ignore tight ends in the passing game, Brady would have the best two-tight end combo of his career since Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez were on the field together — without any of the obvious nightmarish scenarios that ended that particular pairing. Plus, the Bucs saw their defensive DVOA rise from dead last in 2018 to fifth in 2019 under Todd Bowles, so there’s a lot going on with this team if it has a reasonably consistent quarterback.
Raiders | Bears | Buccaneers | Chargers | Colts