Brady adds to intrigue in NFC title chase
Tom Brady’s mega-move to Tampa Bay means many things, and to the 49ers, it illuminates the stable of NFC quarterbacks capable of dethroning the conference champs.
This goes beyond Brady’s twodecade dominance with the New England Patriots, all of which made the AFC playoffs his perennial playground en route to nine Super Bowls.
The NFC’s new quarterback landscape will make the 49ers’ Super Bowl encore even tougher to attain.
The NFC is decorated with playoff-proven quarterbacks. The 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo is now one of them, of course, having won his playoff openers against Minnesota and Green Bay before a Super Bowl stumble against the Kansas City Chiefs.
There isn’t much intrigue left as to who will start for the NFC’s 16 teams, not after Wednesday’s moves with the new league year starting.
That said, most deals won’t become formalized or announced until physicals can be done, which is an unknown timeline because of the coronavirus outbreak and lockdowns at NFL facilities.
The 49ers did confirm that DeForest Buckner passed his Indianapolis Colts physical and thus made Monday’s trade for the 13th overall draft pick. Wednesday’s only other news was that offensive lineman Ben Garland confirmed he’s re-signing on a one-year deal.
The 49ers have not been linked to free agents from other teams, instead focused on retaining their own, including deals earlier this week with defensive linemen Arik Armstead and Ronald Blair and free safety Jimmie Ward.
Keeping Garoppolo instead of bringing in Brady was a foregone conclusion, yet one that will be analyzed intensely in the coming year or two (or forever).
Aside from Brady to the Bucs, other reported moves:
• Nick Foles got dealt to Chicago from Jacksonville for a fourth-round draft pick. Foles is two years removed from winning the Super Bowl as Philadelphia’s stand-in quarterback, and he’s poised to take Mitchell Trubisky’s job.
• Teddy Bridgewater’s career revival led to a sweet deal (three years, $63 million) from Carolina, whose new coaching staff and ownership are willing to
move past Cam Newton, the NFL’s 2015 MVP. Bridgewater lost his playoff debut with Minnesota in that 2015 season while Newton guided the Panthers to Super Bowl 50.
• Dak Prescott drew Dallas’ franchise tag and more financial wrangling will ensue before that talentloaded offense tries ending a 25-year Super Bowl drought.
• Perhaps the only NFC team with a tentative quarterback situation is Washington, where Dwayne Haskins’ rookie jitters hasn’t assured him the job under new coach Ron Rivera. The No. 2 overall draft pick gives them options, but financial commitments to Haskins and the rehabbing Alex Smith are too steep to overlook.
Meanwhile, Brady inherits a playoff-caliber supporting cast. No, the Buccaneers are not on the 49ers schedule. At least not until a potential playoff meeting in January. Imagine that.
Brady owns six Super Bowl rings and has gone to nine Super Bowls. Other NFC quarterbacks with Super Bowl experience: the Saints’ Drew Brees (1-0), the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers (10), the now-Bears’ Foles (1-0), the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson (1-1), the Rams’ Jared Goff (0-1) and the Falcons’ Matt Ryan (0-1).
In Brady’s old conference, the AFC is littered with quarterback questions awaiting answers in free agency, trades or the draft. The Colts solved their concerns by agreeing to hire Philip Rivers on a one-year deal.
Unstable situations exist with the projected quarterbacks at the Patriots (Jarrett Stidham), the Dolphins (Ryan Fitzpatrick), the Bengals (Joe Burrow), the Steelers (Ben Roethlisberger), the Jaguars (Gardner Minshew), the Raiders (Derek Carr or Marcus Mariota) and the Chargers (Tyrod Taylor).
QBs in perceived limbo: Newton (Panthers), Trubisky (Bears), Jameis Winston (Bucs), Jacoby Brissett (Colts), Andy Dalton (Bengals), Josh Rosen (Dolphins) and Joe Flacco (Broncos).
Top quarterbacks in next month’s draft: Burrow (LSU), Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama), Justin Herbert (Oregon) and Jordan Love (Utah State).
GARLAND BACK >> Garland, the 49ers’ starting center in Super Bowl LIV, has agreed to return on a oneyear, $2.25 million deal, according to a league source. Garland replaced an injured Weston Richburg at center for the final three regular season games and the 49ers’ three playoff games.
All seven 49ers offensive linemen who suited up for the Super Bowl are now under contract for this season.