Tom Brady Rumors: Chargers Expected to Be Interested After Philip Rivers' Exit

Now that the Los Angeles Chargers are moving on from quarterback Philip Rivers, the team has set its sights on replacing the longtime face of the franchise.

The guy L.A. wants to succeed him? How about the face of the entire league?  

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Chargers expect to make a push for Tom Brady should the quarterback hit free agency. 

"The Patriots quarterback is likely to hit free agency, and the Chargers are in fact expected to be among the teams that makes a push for him," Rapoport said on NFL Total Access. "He would want a team that's championship-ready, with a lot of talent, and of course L.A. is a place his family has lived. There's a lot that makes sense here, and you cannot talk about this Chargers situation without bringing up Brady's roll in it." 

Though Brady sent NFL pundits into a tizzy after he liked a post on Instagram noting Rivers was done in Los Angeles, Chargers fans may want to slow down before rushing to purchase a new team jersey.

Los Angeles general manager Tom Telesco told AM570 sports radio the team wants to evaluate its current roster before spending in free agency. 

“I like our internal options,” Telesco said. 

That means Tyrod Taylor or Easton Stick probably have a better chance of leading the Chargers out of the tunnel than Brady does. Taylor, 30, is 23-21-1 as a starter throughout his career while Stick, Los Angeles' fifth-round pick last year, has yet to appear in an NFL game. 

Either would certainly be a cheaper option than Brady, who Spotrac.com's Market Value tool predicts will command at least $33.8 million per year on the open market. 

For his part, Brady is set on playing next season. The Patriots, and owner Robert Kraft, have made it clear they would like that to be in New England. If not, Kraft would prefer Brady retire. It's all setting up for a strange spring in an NFL that's on the brink of closing the book on one of the most extraordinary careers the game has seen. 

Rivers' departure from the Chargers may just be one part of that story.