TB THE TUTOR

                 WILL THE L.A. CHARGERS DRAFT A QB AND SIGN THE GOAT?

           The idea of the Los Angeles Chargers using the 6^th overall pick on a franchise QB and picking up veteran Tom Brady in free agency isn’t as crazy as it first sounds. Whilst the Chargers did just let go of another ageing QB (and franchise legend) Philip Rivers, the statistics, and Super Bowl rings, speak for themselves. New blood in the NFL would benefit more under the ‘goat’s’ wing than a play-off flop like Philip Rivers. Rivers, went 5-6 in the postseason, including an 0-3 showing against TB12 and the New England Patriots.

            Brady’s pocket passing, static play is very different to the new era of mobile, air-raid, gun-slinging QB’s who continue to light up the league, but his success and hunger are something that will never die out. Of course, this isn’t to say that the old school, pass first, run never, type of quarterback is done in the NFL. Heisman winner and projected first overall pick Joe Burrow has drawn comparisons to the Patriots star and in a perfect world (for the Chargers organisation anyway) Burrow falls to #6 in the draft and swaps the Bayou for the Hills. For those of you who watched but a single snap of LSU football last year, you know as well as the rest of us that Joe Burrow will be a few pages deep into a Zoopla search of Cincinnati property by the time the Redskins have submitted the second overall pick. So, let’s get real!

            As we speak Tom Brady has recently announced his departure with the Patriots organisation, yet his future is still hazy. Reporters and tabloids had Tennessee as a potential landing spot for Brady, a move which would see him reunited with his former teammate, and now Titans’ Head Coach, Mike Vrabel. After footage of Brady and Julian Edelman facetiming Vrabel at a college basketball game emerged on social media last month, rumours of a Nashville move began heating up. This weekend however, Ryan Tannehill put pen to paper with the Titans, agreeing to a 4-year $118 million deal, making Tannehill the 7^th highest paid QB in the league and narrowing Brady’s options. The Raiders were also monitoring Tom Brady’s situation, having recently relocated from Oakland to Las Vegas reeling in a football legend and national icon would have gone a long way to establishing some credibility. Brady’s tender age of 42 presumably played a part in their decision to search elsewhere. Yesterday they announced the signing of former Titans’ QB and Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota to compete with Derek Carr for the starting job. Tampa Bay still seem to be on the radar according to numerous sources but with his West Coast history, knowledge of the AFC and the L.A Chargers in dire need of a household name and of course a Quarterback, Brady to the bolts makes sense. Multiple reports have indicated that Tom Brady’s wage request would be in the $30 million per year region. The L.A Chargers currently have around $50 million in cap space, meaning should they pull the trigger on Tom Brady, they would have just a mere $20/25 million remaining.

Owner Dean Spanos was quick to extend running-back Austin Ekeler’s contract, offering the undrafted superstar a 4-year deal worth $24.5 million. Ekeler’s new contract signals the end of Melvin Gordon’s time in the city of angels but the wide-receiver core remains strong enough to make a serious run at the play-offs. Keenan Allen (one of the best in his field) and Mike Williams along with their now ‘franchise tagged’ tight-end Hunter Henry may be enough to draw Brady back ‘home’. The Chargers could add more firepower to their offense to support Brady as the free agency saga commences but for now, they’ve made moves to protect whoever takes the reigns at the quarterback position. Tomorrow the trade which will see Russell Okung head to Carolina and Trai Turner go west to Los Angeles in return will be made official by the league. Turner, a former 3^rd round pick out of LSU, has been to the Pro Bowl five times during his short six-year pro career. Veteran centre Mike Pouncey has another year left on his contract with the Chargers, an important figure in an offensive line which limited Philip Rivers to just 34 sacks last season, 18^th in the NFL (Brady suffered 27 sacks in New England during last years campaign). L.A’s offensive line still needs some sprucing up heading into the 2020 season, many believe the 6^th overall pick will be used on bolstering this aspect but there are still plenty of options available in free agency which would save the Chargers using a valuable draft pick. ‘Around the NFL podcast’s Gregg Rosenthal and Chris Wesseling have former Green Bay Packer, Bryan Bulaga as the top-rated OT remaining on their list of available free-agents. Bulaga comes with injury concerns having managed just three 16 game seasons since entering the league. Looking for around $12 million per year, signing Bulaga would bring the cap balance down to around $10-$15 million. The 6^th overall pick is expected to occupy around $5 million per year. Dean Spanos along with Head Coach Anthony Lynn might have their eyes set on a specific draft prospect. Whether it’s the versatile Line-backer/Safety Isaiah Simmons out of Clemson or any of the projected first-round offensive linemen, but this year’s draft class contains a handful of QB’s with the potential to be franchise leaders moving forward.

 Adjusting to NFL life isn’t easy. Not only the physical side of the league and standard of the opponents but the transition from big man on campus to multi-millionaire. Juggling the task of maintaining peak physicality and being an idolised professional with the mentality of a college kid is hard enough. Throw into the mix a million-dollar deal and no wonder hot prospects crumble under the pressure of the bright lights of the NFL. Under Tom Brady’s exemplary guidance both on and off the field the Los Angeles Chargers wouldn’t have to fear another Johnny Manziel type of self-destruction. Whilst all the potential first round quarterbacks already seem to be quite astute individuals, none of them would oppose to a couple of years of tutoring under the greatest to ever do it. Brady’s style of play doesn’t match that of Tagovailoa, Herbert or Jordan Love but his understanding of reading defences, decision making, and overall knowledge of the game can upgrade any offense.  

            The logistics all add up. Tom Brady is looking for a two-year contract, roughly $30 million per year, two years in which their young QB taken 6^th overall is playing under his far inferior rookie contract. One year behind the goat, watching and learning a serial champion ply his trade followed by a second year of perhaps more sporadic appearances. By the time Brady’s two-year $60/65 million contract is finished, the fresh face of the franchise heads into his third and final year of the rookie contract. Two years after the rookie contract is signed players may begin to negotiate extensions. Tom Brady, who by now is presumably earning even more money through Hollywood, is no longer on the pay role, freeing up cap space to lure in your young franchise QB for years to come.

Tom Brady is from San Mateo, CA. He has friends there, family there, spends his offseason there. Brady has also recently created ‘199 productions’, a company dedicated to developing premium content such as documentaries, television programmes and short films. Tom Brady is no stranger to the camera, his cameo in the Seth MacFarlane picture ‘Ted 2’ showed that the six-time Super Bowl champion isn’t just a one trick pony. Along with various commercials and the face of Under Armour, a move to Los Angeles sets up Brady for life beyond the pigskin.