With Tom Brady back, can the Tampa Bay Buccaneers make a run at another Super Bowl?

TAMPA, FLORIDA — Tom Brady announced his return to the NFL for a 23rd season, almost six weeks after announcing his retirement from the league, and on the eve of an NFL free agency that threatens to dismantle a Tampa Bay Buccaneers' roster that was almost completely intact last season from their 2020 Super Bowl championship, on the eve of an NFL free agency that threatens to dismantle a Tampa Bay Buccaneers' roster that was almost completely intact last season from their 2020 Super Bowl championship

After leading the NFL in nearly every major statistical category at the age of 44 last season, and coming within a whisker of defeating the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams in the NFC divisional round before the Rams kicked a last-second field goal, that business would include making another run at a championship.While several NFL teams are facing a quarterback shortage this offseason, Bucs general manager Jason Licht said they'll "move forward with their offseason plans to reload this roster for another championship run," despite saying two weeks ago at the NFL combine that they'd "leave a light on" for Brady just in case he decided to return.

The Buccaneers were up against it with their squad without Brady, and they had no clear starter at quarterback. While Licht and coach Bruce Arians stated at the combine that Kyle Trask, the team's second-round pick last year, would compete for the starting job, members of the coaching staff privately stated that Trask, who spent the 2021 season leading the scout team and focusing on mechanics and improving his body composition, was not unprepared to take over for a seven-time Super Bowl champion.

He doesn't have to be right now, and the Bucs don't have to try to land Deshaun Watson. The Buccaneers had been keeping an eye on the Houston Texans quarterback since he was exonerated of all charges by a grand jury a few days ago, but they weren't optimistic about the situation.

It would have been uncharacteristic of them to make a trade involving a high number of draft picks, something they haven't done since getting Jon Gruden before to winning Super Bowl XXXVII in 2002.

On Sunday night, the first domino fell when center Ryan Jensen agreed to a three-year deal worth $39 million, with $23 million guaranteed. Jensen will earn an average of $13 million a year, but on the open market, he could have gotten $14 or $15 million. Brady called Jensen on Sunday afternoon to inform him of his impending return, which set the wheels in motion.

Before Tuesday's deadline, the Buccaneers had already affixed the franchise tag to wide receiver Chris Godwin, assuring that one of Brady's favorite targets will be back for at least another season.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski, cornerback Carlton Davis, right guard Alex Cappa, safety Jordan Whitehead, running back Leonard Fournette, defensive linemen William Gholston and Ndamukong Suh, and outside linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul are all set to become unrestricted free agents when legal tampering opens at noon ET on Monday, and they face tough odds to keep some of their talent.

However, the allure of competing for a championship and doing so with arguably the greatest quarterback of all time is what led the Buccaneers to return all 22 starters from their Super Bowl roster last offseason, and it could lead some players to take less this season, as Brady has done in the past. However, as Licht and Arians have stated on several occasions, they will not be able to bring everyone back.

In recent days, the Buccaneers have been able to create significantly more salary cap space by placing left guard Ali Marpet on the retirement list and restructuring Vita Vea's deal. They're still in the negative, but only marginally, with a $3 million deficit, and they have till Wednesday to make up the difference.

Brady's return means he'll have to go on the retirement tour he said he didn't want, and he'll have to do it against one of the league's hardest schedules. The Buccaneers will face the Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens in addition to their NFC South opponents next season, with one of their games taking place in Germany.

Brady may now complete his goal of playing until he is 45 years old, which he previously stated was a personal goal. That was the age at which Nolan Ryan, a major league baseball pitcher who has been likened to Brady due to his longevity, chose to call it a career after 27 years.

It's also worth noting that Brady wouldn't be able to do this without his family's help. They were a big part of why Brady retired in the first place, and he shared a photo of them when he announced his comeback on Instagram, writing, "I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family." None of this would be possible without them."

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