For the past 19 years, Tom Brady has proven himself as perhaps the greatest quarterback in NFL history. He's made his teammates better every season, and has played with some very talented players.
Let's create an all-time offense from the players that Brady has shared locker rooms with on the New England Patriots, and we will not be including the current Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster, as Brady has yet to take a snap for his new team. If we were, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin would be two of the three wide receivers.
With that out of the way, let's start with the running game.
Running back: Kevin Faulk
Faulk was never as good as Corey Dillon, but he spent 11 years with the Patriots as a solid option both on the ground and through the air. He totaled 3,607 rushing yards throughout his career, which ranks fifth in team history and is by far the most in the Tom Brady era. He also added 431 catches for 3,701 yards as a reliable target for Brady out of the backfield.
Faulk won three Super Bowls with New England and even though he may not have put up great numbers, is fondly remembered by the fanbase.
Wide receiver: Randy Moss, Julian Edelman, Wes Welker
One of the greatest receivers in the history of the game, Moss looked like he was done in 2007. He had spent the past two seasons with the Oakland Raiders, putting up two forgettable performances. The Patriots sent a fourth-round pick to Oakland for Moss, one of the best trades the team has ever made.
In his first season with New England, Moss helped the Pats reach the Super Bowl by setting the single-season touchdown reception record with 23. He spent two more good seasons in New England before bouncing around the league, retiring for good after the 2012 campaign.
A dual-threat QB at Kent State, Edelman made the switch to wide receiver, following in the footsteps of former Golden Flash Josh Cribbs, the greatest kick returner in the league's history. Edelman was a seventh-round pick, 232nd overall, and has drastically outplayed his draft slot.
He's been Tom Brady's most trusted target for the past six years, and has caught a total of 599 passes for 6.507 yards and 36 touchdowns, and has also run back four punts for scores. He's won three Super Bowls, and was the MVP of Super Bowl LIII, and two years earlier in Super Bowl LI, made one of greatest catches of all time during New England's incredible comeback.
The story of Super Bowl LI is the tale of an unforgettable comeback.
Julian Edelman recounts his impossible catch that helped the Patriots make “28-3” part of sports history. pic.twitter.com/enqYpP2gqM
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) February 3, 2019
Before Edelman was heavily targeted by Brady, it was Welker. Injuries forced him into early retirement, but from 2007-2012, Welker was the league's premier slot receiver. He went undrafted in 2004 and spent time with the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins before breaking out with the Patriots. In a five-year span, he caught 672 passes for 7,459 yards and 37 TDs. Welker did not win a Super Bowl with the Patriots and retired in 2015 after a string of concussions.
Tight end: Rob Gronkowski
There may not be a more dominant tight end in history than Gronkowski. His 6-6 270-pound frame is just too big for any defender to match, and Gronkowski's excellent ball skills and 33.5″ vertical make him an unstoppable red zone threat. In nine seasons, he caught 521 passes for 7,861 yards and 79 scores.
He won three Super Bowls, made five Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams, and fought through multiple knee and back injuries that ultimately forced him to retire after 2018 at the age of 29. He's back now, having been traded to Tampa Bay to join Tom Brady for (at least) one more Super Bowl push.
Left tackle: Matt Light
For 11 seasons, Light protected Brady's blindside, winning three Super Bowls and making three Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team.
Left guard: Logan Mankins
In nine years with New England, Mankins made six Pro Bowls and an All-Pro team, but joined the team one year too late and left one year too early to win a Super Bowl.
Center: Dan Koppen
Koppen was a stalwart in the middle for nine seasons, winning two Super Bowls and making one Pro Bowl.
Right guard: Shaq Mason
Mason has been one of the league's best guards over the past five seasons, and the two-time Super Bowl champion is under contract through the 2023 campaign.
Right tackle: Sebastian Vollmer
Drafted at the age of 25, Vollmer spent only seven seasons in the NFL, but started 80 of 88 games, providing a solid presence on the right side.
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