Bucs GM Reveals He Was Completely Wrong About Tom Brady

After spending his first 20 NFL seasons with the New England Patriots, quarterback legend Tom Brady made the move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason. Brady was famously taken in the sixth round of the 200 NFL Draft, serving as backup to Drew Bledsoe before becoming the starter and leading his team to record-breaking success.
Current Buccaneers GM Jason Licht was a scout with the Patriots at the time they selected the future three-time MVP, and he revealed how differently Brady was viewed within the organization.
Bucs GM Jason Licht was a Patriots college scout in 2000 when Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round. "We didn't need a quarterback. ... (Belichick) and Scott Pioli had him way higher on their board. Way higher." pic.twitter.com/XzSSBhQUAG
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) January 27, 2021
It seems that Licht and most of the Patriots' staff wasn't focused on selecting Bledsoe's backup, even in the sixth round on a flier pick. Only storied head coach Bill Belichick and executive Scott Pioli were keen on Brady, putting higher on their draft board than most would've placed the Michigan QB prospect at the time.
As it turns out, Belichick and Pioli were right, and the rest was history.
It's an interesting piece of Brady lore, compounded by the fact that Licht ended up signing Brady 20 years later to be the Buccaneers' starting quarterback, a reality that the two would've likely laughed at in 2000.
That move has worked out pretty well for both sides, with the Buccaneers now hoping to win the Super bowl and give Brady his seventh championship ring.
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