Brady, Gronk Have Bucs' 3-Year Forecast Among NFL's Best

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Tom Brady in free agency earlier this offseason, they instantly went from middling expectations to Super Bowl hype for the 2020 season.

But how well are the Bucs set up to maximize their title chances over the next few years, compared to the rest of the league?

ESPN recently ranked every team in terms of how well they're built to compete over the next three seasons, and the Bucs landed among the top 10, thanks in large part to Brady's arrival.

Tampa Bay ranks No. 9 on the list, and ESPN's Field Yates admits that Brady has a lot to do with their top-10 billing:

When you the land the GOAT, your outlook changes immediately. This is a bet that the Bucs can be that potent on offense with Tom Brady under center and a barrage of pass-catchers, plus a defense that improved mightily to conclude 2019. The pieces are in place for Tampa to be a playoff team sooner than later.

The expectations are huge now with Brady and Rob Gronkowski in the mix, but things could just as easily backfire for the Bucs if that pair can't live up to the hype, says Louis Riddick:

How much do Brady and Rob Gronkowski have left in the tank? Can Bruce Arians get the embarrassment of riches that they have at the skill positions on offense to all play as a cohesive unit with their new QB? If it comes together, they will be in the Super Bowl. If not, they will be starting over again.

One way the Bucs could extend that window and take advantage of the rest of an impressive roster? Looking for Brady's eventual successor sooner than later, Jeremy Fowler says:

Drafting a quarterback high in 2021 is a good way to get ahead of the game. If Brady is playing two years with the Bucs, don't wait until he's out the door to get his replacement. The roster health over the next two years is strong enough to handle that investment, though one more veteran pass-rusher would help offset the likely loss of Shaquil Barrett next year coming off the franchise tag.

The Bucs certainly made themselves more relevant over the next couple of seasons by signing Brady to a two-year deal and luring Gronk out of retirement to reunite with him in Tampa Bay. But the Bucs should have a solid window to win a championship with them in town because of their balanced, talented roster on both sides of the ball.

Tampa Bay would do well to plan for life after Brady with a young quarterback at some point, but for now, the team is clearly going "all in" for the next two years with the GOAT leading the way.