Perhaps nobody has higher expectations for Tom Brady as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer more than Maurice Jones-Drew.
The former NFL running back was on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” show on Friday and the discussion turned to Brady and whether or not he is capable of having the best season of his career in 2020.
Jones-Drew was quick to say that he believed Brady would be lights out, and as he began talking about the Bucs offense he decided to take it up a notch.
“You know what, I’m gonna go out on a limb: He’s gonna thrash 2007,” Jones-Drew said, referring to Brady’s best season of his career. “I think he’s gonna throw 55 touchdowns, 4,500 yards passing, close to 5,000. The Bucs are gonna be one of the toughest teams to stop, and that’s because the defense causes turnovers and will get him more opportunities.”
Brady, who turns 43 on Aug. 3, has only thrown more than 40 touchdowns just once in his career – which came in the aforementioned 2007 season when he tossed a career-high 50 touchdowns and threw for 4,806 yards with a 68.9 completion percentage to lead the Patriots to a 16-0 regular season record.
Only Peyton Manning has thrown for more touchdowns in a season, when he threw for 55 in 2013 at age 37.
The rest of the panel scoffed at Jones-Drew, although the Bucs do have an offense built to put up gaudy numbers.
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are both coming off 1,000-yard receiving seasons, while the addition of Rob Gronkowski gives the Bucs one of the best tight ends in the history of the league.
Of course, Gronkowski is a year removed from the game and head coach Bruce Arians traditionally does not utilize tight ends as much, but you also have to figure Brady will have a large say in the playbook.
Jones-Drew’s prediction is certainly a bold one, but Brady should be able to have some success in Tampa, even if it is not quite 2007-esque.
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