New England Patriots Still Heavy Favorites To Win 2020 AFC East Amid Rumors Tom Brady Might Leave

NFL free agency is getting closer, and rumors are heating up that Tom Brady is leaning towards signing with a new team. Despite the questions that surround the quarterback’s future, the New England Patriots are the heavy favorites to repeat as division champions.

DraftKings Sportsbook gives New England -335 odds to win the AFC East in the 2020 season. They are well ahead of the Buffalo Bills (+400), who reached the playoffs as the conference’s top wild-card team. The New York Jets (+1200) and Miami Dolphins (+1600) are long shots.

Only the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (-500) have better odds to win their division than New England.

Brady is set to officially become a free agent on March 18. He’s expected to consider the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers as possible landing spots.

The Patriots might have won the 2019 AFC East title with several other starting quarterbacks. New England went 12-4 with the NFL’s No.1 ranked defense.

New England allowed the fewest points, yards and yards per play. The Patriots surrendered 14.1 points per game for the best scoring defense in 11 years.

The Patriots finished 15th in total offense and seventh in points scored. Brady was seventh in passing yards and 19th in passer rating. Brady was tied for 13th with 24 touchdown passes.

If Brady heads elsewhere, New England could have plenty of viable options in free agency. Teddy Bridgewater and Philip Rivers will hit the open market on March 18. Ryan Tannehill and Jameis Winston could become free agents if they aren’t franchised by their respective teams.

The Patriots have won 11 straight AFC East titles. New England has won the division in 16 of the last 17 years, only failing to do so in 2008 when Brady suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1.

With Matt Cassel starting 15 games at quarterback in 2008, the Patriots still went 11-5.