Tom Brady Rumors: Many at NFL Combine Expect QB to Leave Patriots in Free Agency

Most of the conversation at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine reportedly suggested superstar quarterback Tom Brady will leave the New England Patriots in free agency, which begins March 18.

ESPN's Matthew Berry reported on Tuesday that "almost everyone" he spoke with at the combine last week expects Brady to join a new team during the offseason, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders viewed as the leading contenders in that order.

The six-time Super Bowl champion attended Saturday's college basketball game between Syracuse and North Carolina with longtime Patriots teammate Julian Edelman and talk show host Jimmy Fallon.

A video clip showed Edelman repeating "he's coming back" before Brady concludes it by shaking his head no and apparently saying "he's not":

Neither the legendary quarterback nor the Patriots provided much clarity about the future after the team's season ended with a playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans in January.

"I love the Patriots. It's the greatest organization," Brady told reporters. "Playing for Mr. [Robert] Kraft all these years, and for coach [Bill] Belichick, there's nobody who's had a better career, I would say, than me -- just being with them. So I'm very blessed. I don't know what the future looks like, so I'm not going to predict it."

Belichick explained that "nobody respects Tom more than I do" but added, "I'm sure there are a lot of questions about the future. Nobody has thought about the future."

Brady's numbers lagged a bit in 2019 as he completed 60.8 percent of his throws for 4,057 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He ranked 23rd in passer rating (88.0) and 16th in ESPN's Total QBR (53.7).

That dip in performance can be at least in part attributed to a lack of weapons outside of Edelman, though.

All told, all signs point toward Brady and the Patriots heading for a split after a highly successful 20-year run since the franchise selected him in the sixth round of the 2000 draft.

He'll be one of the most coveted players on the open market for teams that believe an upgrade at the league's most important position will make them title contenders.