What figures to be one of the most fascinating NFL offseasons in years is off to an earlier than usual start in New England.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is again a hot commodity on the head coaching market. The unit he tried to hold together with masking tape, smoke and mirrors in 2019 is due for some serious upgrades.
And, of course, the primary question in the upper Atlantic quadrant of America is whether quarterback is an area the Patriots will look to reset.
Tom Brady — by this point, pretty much inarguably the best to ever play the position and the man who almost single-handedly raised the profile of a franchise that had previously struggled to keep pace with the Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins — is going to be a free agent when his contract voids in March. His expiring deal has a stipulation that he cannot be franchised, so expect speculation to steadily build that TB12 will explore the marketplace for the first time since he committed to the University of Michigan.
And the expectation is that Brady will look around and assess his value, saying after Saturday's wild-card loss to the Titans that retirement seems a "pretty unlikely" option.
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That naturally raises the question, if Brady isn't back in a Patriots uniform in 2020, then where would he play?
These six teams shape up as sensible options:
Carolina Panthers: They're apparently interested in McDaniels, which might ultimately make Brady interested in coming to Charlotte. There's no deep threat here right now, but that's almost incidental. An offense designed by McDaniels that would allow Brady to distribute the ball to Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore, Curtis Samuel and maybe even Greg Olsen — all players who do the bulk of their damage after the catch — would theoretically be quite formidable.
Cleveland Browns: Yes, Baker Mayfield is there and projects as salvageable at minimum. But who better to bring this decades-long shipwreck into port than Brady ... especially if Jimmy Haslam is the one to recruit McDaniels into the fold. You couldn't ask for a much better nucleus of young talent, plus a rabid fan base ... and a prime opportunity to win a championship without Belichick — and in a place where he (and everyone else) previously failed to succeed.
Los Angeles Chargers: My personal favorite. A highly talented roster with an exceptional group of intermediate passing targets (WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, RB Austin Ekeler and TE Hunter Henry, assuming he's re-signed). The Chargers also need more than their new building to energize a fan base that never really got behind a group led by free agent Philip Rivers, so the team might theoretically be willing to pay Brady more than a fading 42-year-old is typically worth. And if he gets to live in glitzy L.A. full-time and be so much nearer to his Bay Area roots? Win-win ... assuming he could finally help the Bolts win big.
Miami Dolphins: If Brady wants to follow the Brett Favre blueprint, this might be the best opportunity to stick it to New England on a frequent basis — if that does indeed emerge as a motivating factor. Brady knows head coach Brian Flores and what he's about. He's personally witnessed how far a division rival he's always struggled to beat has come in one year under Flores' watch. Oh, and the Fins should have a draft-best 13 picks in April, including three first-rounders and two seconds (not to mention and extra one and two in 2021). Miami has the ability to reload fast, and Brady could have a big hand in shaping it — which would hold even if Tua Tagovailoa arrives as the eventual successor this spring.
New Orleans Saints: A long shot perhaps but ... Drew Brees is unsigned and might retire. Teddy Bridgewater could also hit free agency. Sean Payton loves Taysom Hill's potential, but is he ready to move atop the depth chart? And just imagine Brady throwing to Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara and Jared Cook while playing under ideal conditions most of the year rather than in the New England wind and chill. Just sayin'. If Brees packs it in, this might potentially be a pretty sweet lateral move for all parties.
Tennessee Titans: Brady and coach Mike Vrabel go back a long way. Tennessee is another up-and-coming squad — as Brady and the country saw Saturday night — but one that could have a quarterback quandary if, for instance, NFL rushing champ Derrick Henry receives the franchise tag and consequently paves a path to free agency for Ryan Tannehill. But if you're Brady, pretty attractive supporting cast developing under a coach he already respects ... though there would have to be adjustments schematically — maybe more two-back sets — since TB12 isn't nearly the athlete Tannehill (or Marcus Mariota) is.
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Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis
