The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers finished at the bottom of the NFC South in the 2019 NFL season. Both teams are looking to change that in 2020, acquiring two of the best quarterbacks in free agency.

Tampa Bay made the biggest splash of the offseason, giving Tom Brady $50 million guaranteed over two seasons. Carolina gave Teddy Bridgewater a three-year contract, landing the signal caller that had a perfect record in five starts for the NFC South champion New Orleans Saints.

Brady replaces Jameis Winston, who was the Buccaneers’ starter since the team made him the No.1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. The Panthers are ready to move on from Cam Newton, who has been Carolina’s signal caller for nine years.

What kind of an impact will each move make?

Brady’s decision to leave the Patriots for the Bucs could be a franchise-altering one. Tampa Bay has missed the playoffs in 12 straight seasons. Following a 7-9 campaign, the Buccaneers are one of the betting favorites in the NFC.

Brady isn’t the MVP-caliber quarterback that he was in his prime. Winston topped Brady in several statistical categories last year, throwing for 5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns. The mistake-prone quarterback also led the league with 30 interceptions and had a mediocre 84.3 passer rating.

Winston put up those numbers with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, arguably the NFL’s best receiving duo. With a poor cast of playmakers, Brady threw for 4,057 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions in New England. Brady had an 88.0 passer rating following five straight seasons with a passer rating of 97.4 or better.

Perhaps Brady’s decision making will get the Buccaneers back to the postseason. Winston set a record with seven pick-sixes.

Carolina’s new quarterback excelled at protecting the football in 2019. Bridgewater had a 1.0% interceptor rate, throwing for 1,384 yards, nine touchdowns, two interceptions and a 99.1 passer rating.

Bridgewater played when Drew Brees was recovering from thumb surgery. He got more playing time than Newton, who didn’t make it past Week 2 because of a foot injury.

Newton has had each of his last two seasons cut short by injuries. The 2015 NFL MVP threw for 3,395 yards, 24 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a 94.2 passer rating in 14 starts in 2018.

Kyle Allen led the Panthers with 12 starts in 2019. The quarterback had a 5-7 record with 17 touchdown passes, 16 interceptions and an 80.0 passer rating.

Brees will return as the Saints starting quarterback. Matt Ryan will be back under center for the Atlanta Falcons.

Quarterback Tom Brady is leaving the New England Patriots after 20 years with the NFL giants
Quarterback Tom Brady is leaving the New England Patriots after 20 years with the NFL giants GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Maddie Meyer
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