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The Los Angeles Chargers know that Tom Brady is one of the most interesting NFL free agents of all-time. Brady is considered by many to be the greatest quarterback in NFL history. And he's done so, spending his entire career with the New England Patriots.
However, Tom Brady has been considering retirement for the last few years. It seems like 2020 isn't that year though, as he's returning for at least one more year. That being said, there's zero guarantee Brady returns to the Patriots. Which means a lot of teams are interested in getting his services. Enter the Chargers.
Brady will be 43 to start next season though, so that could actual give a few teams some pause. Only teams with a legitimate Super Bowl window should consider him. Does that include the Los Angeles Chargers? If it does, here is the best possible sales pitch they should make to Tom Brady.
The Chargers are a tough one. They went 12-4 and won a playoff game (before falling to Tom Brady's Patriots) in 2018. 2019 was really disappointing though. Los Angeles was considered a Super Bowl contender but ended up as one of the worst teams in the NFL, going 5-11.
So how do the Chargers convince one of the best players in NFL history to spend possibly his final season with them?
Two things. First, you hype up the potential. The Chargers went 12-4 and won a playoff game in 2018. They should show Tom Brady they still have the talent to boast a great record and make a run at a Super Bowl.
Joey Bosa and the defense of the Chargers can be elite, while Tom Brady will have one of the best receivers in football in Keenan Allen.
Then there's the one I'm not a fan of. However, it's probably necessary for them to do it. Play the blame game. You can point your fingers at two players. A cowardly move, but one that might be extremely effective in luring Tom Brady.
Melvin Gordon, who likely isn't returning to the Chargers, started the year on a holdout. Upon his return, he struggled mightily. The team can point to Austin Ekeler and tell Brady how he's a much better fit and will be a perfect weapon for the quarterback.
Then you blame Philip Rivers. Yes, he completed 66% of his passes for the Chargers, totaling 4,615 yards and 23 touchdowns. But he also threw 20 interceptions. Those definitely didn't help the team.
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Even though the season can't be solely blamed on Rivers or Gordon, point to the guys that won't be there anymore for the Chargers, especially Rivers.
“The team would jump right back into Super Bowl contention with you replacing him” is an argument the Chargers could easily make. Especially considering Brady's last two seasons (32 games) have seen him throw just 19 interceptions combined.
Hype up that fact. Brady does not turn the ball over. If Los Angeles had a quarterback keeping the ball protected last season, maybe things could've gone much different.
In reality, it's hard to assume that would've made a 5-11 team into a Super Bowl team, but just make the argument. I mean there is some merit to it.
Los Angeles had a -17 turnover differential in 2019. That was the absolute worst in the NFL.
Take away the QB that had 20 interceptions and eight fumbles and the running back that had three fumbles (in their defense the team likely recovered some of the fumbles) and things might have been a little different.
Yes, it would've helped if the defense had more than 14 takeaways, but probably best to keep that out of the pitch.
If the Chargers stick with this though, they could convince Brady. It would be easy to show him 2018 and 2019 and convince him that Rivers was a large part of the problem. Replace him with Brady and you might have some magic on your hands.
