DETROIT, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 26: Antonio Brown #81 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers smiles while warming up before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on December 26, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Keeping Tom Brady happy is a huge priority for the Buccaneers. That’s a big reason why Antonio Brown is returning to Tampa Bay on a one-year deal.
The Buccaneers finally gave Tom Brady his wish. The Hall of Fame quarterback wanted all of his weapons to return for the 2021 season and Tampa Bay achieved that goal by bringing Antonio Brown back on a one-year deal.
It might have taken the two sides some time to come to a final agreement, but the end result is a healthy compromise between the player and the franchise.
Brown’s deal contains $3.1 million in guaranteed money and could rise to $6.25 million, according to Tom Pelissero, if he hits certain incentives. That’s a solid deal in the context of what other wide receivers have received in free agency this offseason.
Buccaneers re-signing Antonio Brown is a win-win for both parties involved
Brown only played eight regular-season games for the Buccaneers in 2020, but he was hugely effective in Bruce Arians’ offensive system. Opposing defenses find it nearly impossible to contain Brown, Chris Godwin, and Mike Evans when Tampa Bay employs them in three-wide receiver sets. Brown might not be quite as dynamic as he was during his prime, but he still has the speed required to make big plays for Tampa Bay’s offense.
The Buccaneers could afford to exercise patience when it came to re-signing Brown because of his history of off-the-field issues. The presence of Brady in Tampa Bay’s locker room seemed to keep the enigmatic wideout in check last year. Arians and his coaching staff will hope Brady continues to manage Brown’s ego during the 2021 campaign.
It’s still hard to classify this signing as anything other than a win for everyone involved. Brown didn’t want to leave Tampa Because he likes the system and they are Super Bowl contenders. Staying there on a reasonably lucrative deal represents a success for him.
The Buccaneers get to make their star quarterback happy on a one-year deal that doesn’t hamstring them in future seasons if it doesn’t work. Making a one-year bet on a player of Brown’s ability is a savvy personnel decision for a team looking to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
Brady might be the biggest winner of all here. Now the Buccaneers return almost every player of significance off of last year’s championship team. He’ll be energized to run things back in Tampa.