While the general consensus is still that Tom Brady will end up back with the New England Patriots next season, the quarterback is testing free agency next month, and the Patriots are allowing it to happen.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Patriots owner Robert Kraft is letting Brady hit the market in order to permit time for both sides to evaluate their best option for 2020.

If Brady feels his best scenario is to return to New England and if Pats head coach Bill Belichick feels that his best option under center is Brady, then the two sides will likely agree to a new deal.

Rapoport adds that in the end, the hope is that everyone will be happy that they went through the process.

Brady has spent his entire 20-year career with the Patriots after being drafted by the club in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.

Since then, the 42-year-old has become arguably the best quarterback in league history, leading New England to six Super Bowl championships and nine Super Bowl appearances.

However, over the last couple of years, there is no doubt that Brady's play has dropped off.

This past season, the future Hall-of-Famer threw for 4,057 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 60.8 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 88, marking the first time he missed the Pro Bowl since 2008, when he played in just one game due to a torn ACL.

The Pats won 12 games and captured their 11th straight AFC East division title, but ultimately fell to the Tennessee Titans in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.