After 22 seasons, The GOAT has finally called it a career. 7-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady officially announced his retirement Monday, two days after reported suggested he was ready to hang up his cleats.
Before the applause dies down on an unparalleled career, the question comes out: who will succeed Brady as Buccaneers QB?
The names have already begun to fly around in speculation, and one name certainly jumps out to Eagles fans.
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Carson Wentz.
The obvious need in Tampa is there. The free agent market for quarterbacks, at least currently, is uber-thin; Jameis Winston is the biggest name available. The jury seems to be out on Wentz in Indianapolis, even after just one season with the Colts. GM Chris Ballard was noncommittal when asked to endorse Wentz as the 2022 Week 1 starter.
Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians has spoken very highly of Wentz in the past.
When Arians – then with the Arizona Cardinals – was getting ready to play against the Eagles back in 2017, Arians gushed when asked about Wentz.
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“I loved him coming out,” Arians said back then. “He reminded me a lot of Andrew Luck. He’s big, strong, and physical. He played in a pro offense. He had that linebacker mentality playing quarterback. It shows up, his toughness.”
“He can really hurt you out of the pocket and in the pocket. He’s such a good athlete. He reminds me a lot of Ben [Roethlisberger] in a lot of ways, how he can just throw guys off him in the pocket and then makes big plays down the field.”
The attraction is there, but it’s fair to ask if Wentz is the same quarterback he was when Arians said what he said four-plus years ago, especially when Wentz still has three years and more than $81 million left on his contract.
However, if the Colts are, in fact, ready to move on from the former Eagle, Tampa could have him without giving up very much in the way of assets, considering Wentz price tag heading forward.
But if Wentz found Nick Foles as a tough act to follow, how is he going to fare stepping in after the best to ever do it?