Tom Brady Rumors: Patriots Willing to Give QB Contract Worth $30M Per Season

The New England Patriots are reportedly willing to cut a big check this offseason in an effort to retain quarterback Tom Brady.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Pats are open to paying Brady $30 million or more per year if that is what it takes to re-sign him.

Rapoport added that the Patriots may also have to commit to spending significant money on offensive weapons in order to convince Brady to stay.

Given his high-level production, Brady has been a bargain for the Patriots over the course of his career. Brady made $23 million this season, which was just 13th among NFL quarterbacks, per Spotrac.

A raise to $30 million would move Brady inside the top 10 and to the brink of the top five depending on what other quarterback contracts are signed this offseason.

Brady led the Patriots to a 12-4 record and their 11th consecutive AFC East title this season, but a Week 17 loss to the Miami Dolphins cost them a bye, and they fell 20-13 to the Tennessee Titans in a home AFC Wild Card Round playoff game.

Following the retirement of Rob Gronkowski and release of wide receiver Josh Gordon, Brady was left with few reliable options in the passing game in 2019 aside from slot receiver Julian Edelman and running back James White.

By most measures, the 42-year-old Brady had his worst statistical season since 2013, as he completed just 60.8 percent of his passes for 4,057 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Even so, there is reason to believe the Pats could be Super Bowl contenders if Brady returns.

New England won the Super Bowl as recently as last season, and Brady is just two years removed from winning his third NFL MVP award.

The Patriots also had the NFL's No. 1 ranked defense this season, so the return of Brady and the addition of some offensive weapons could put New England back over the top.

In terms of free agents, the Patriots could look to sign some combination of wide receivers Amari Cooper, A.J. Green, Breshad Perriman, Robby Anderson and Emmanuel Sanders, and tight ends Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper and Eric Ebron.

Failing that, Rapoport noted that the Los Angeles Chargers are considered a major suitor for Brady's services, especially on the heels of Fox Sports' Jay Glazer (h/t SI.com's Jason B. Hirschhorn) reporting that the Chargers have moved on from longtime quarterback Philip Rivers.

If the Chargers re-sign Henry at tight end, they can offer Brady an allotment of weapons that includes Henry, running back Austin Ekeler and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, which trumps what he currently has in New England.

Rapoport also named the Titans as a potential Brady landing spot depending on whether they retain reigning NFL Comeback Player of the Year Ryan Tannehill.

If the Patriots lose Brady in free agency after a 20-year partnership, they will likely have to dip into the free-agent waters as well in hopes of landing someone like Tannehill, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota or Teddy Bridgewater.