Imagine Tom Brady throwing passes to Justin Jefferson.
That’s an idea that Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd floated on his TV show on Friday after Brady’s recent comments on the “DeepCut with VicBlends” podcast indicating he’d potentially be open to an NFL return if a team gave him a call.
“Let’s just say the Minnesota Vikings call,” Cowherd said on his show. “Sam Darnold, slight injury, and whoever they draft at quarterback is not ready to play in that division with the Packers offense, the Bears with Caleb Williams. Look at what they would have — Kevin O’Connell, the tall Sean McVay head coach, Brady, top-five running back Aaron Jones, best receiver probably in the league Justin Jefferson, an excellent two Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, tight end, and maybe the best young left tackle probably in the sport, Christian Darrisaw.
“Who’s more gifted in the NFL offensively — maybe San Fransisco, certainly not at quarterback — than that? Nobody.”
That’s certainly a fun thought experiment. The thought of Brady walking through the doors at TCO Performance Center would bring the most excitement to Vikings fans since the franchise signed Brett Favre back ahead of the 2009 season.
While it’s a pretty unlikely scenario — Brady even mentioned on the podcast that he wasn’t sure if he’d be allowed to play if he becomes an owner of a team; Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis told ESPN last year that he’s reached a deal with Brady to become a part of the team’s ownership group that’s pending NFL approval — it’s fun to dream. And the Vikings certainly need a quarterback after Kirk Cousins’ departure.
It’s not the first time the Vikings have been linked with Brady either.
In November former Patriots QB turned radio broadcaster Scott Zolak said Minnesota “reached out” to Brady after Cousins’ season-ending injury. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was Brady’s backup in New England during his rookie season, so the connection is there.
The Vikings are widely expected to find their quarterback of the future in this year’s NFL draft, which begins on April 25. They acquired an additional first-round pick — No. 23 overall — from the Houston Texans, signaling they’re likely to move into the top 5 of the draft for a potential replacement to Cousins.
Several reports have indicated the Vikings are interested in Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. Both are expected to be selected within the top five picks. There’s been no shortage of speculation what the Vikings might do when the draft officially kicks off.
But if things don’t go according to plan, or God forbid, the Vikings end up with another injury at quarterback, Brady might take a call. And like Cowherd said, can you imagine a better NFL offense the Vikings roster with Brady at the helm?
