Quarterback Brady Considering "All Options" for 2023

NFL fans may not have to part with quarterback Tom Brady anytime soon. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the league's all-time leading passer could return in 2023 and might even test free agency.

“Up in the air.”#Bucs QB Tom Brady is considering all options as a would-be free agent in 2023.

Story from me and @TomPelissero on another offseason of uncertainty: https://t.co/mWCxMuGKxv
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 11, 2022

Brady is set to hit unrestricted free agency following this season and is ineligible for the franchise tag due to a clause he negotiated into his last contract extension. Brady's exit from the New England Patriots was preceded by a similar situation.

As recently as this summer, the 2022 season felt certain to be Brady's last. He retired in the spring, after all. But despite the struggles of the Buccaneers offense (27th in points scored), Brady has yet to show obvious signs of physical decline this year. He ranks fifth in passing yards and first in interception percentage through 12 games. He also sports a solid 79.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

If Brady believes he isn't the problem on the Bucs' offense, he should have a handful of suitors in March. The San Francisco 49ers previously considered adding Brady in 2020, and their quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is set to hit free agency. Josh McDaniels, Brady's long-time offensive coordinator with the Patriots, may need to do something dramatic to hold onto his head coaching job with the Las Vegas Raiders next season.

Amazingly, it's beginning to feel like an inevitability that Brady comes back for an age-46 season. It's just a question of where.