The Patriots needed to address the long term future of the Quarterback position and today's move goes a long way towards addressing that. Brady was under control through 2017 on his former deal. Tom Brady last offseason said he planned on playing 7-8 more years and this deal hypothetically would make it up to 5. More details to come later.
Tom Brady and Patriots reached agreement on 2-year contract extension, tying him to NE through 2019, league sources told @diannaESPN and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 29, 2016
Tom Brady turns 39 in August, so his new, agreed-to, 2-year extension gives him chance to play in New England until he's 42 years old.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 29, 2016
Brady is now one of three players signed through the 2019 season, joining tight end Rob Gronkowski and free safety Devin McCourty.
It's very possible that the new contract will free up some additional cap space this offseason so that the Patriots can better handle the players that will be pending free agents after the 2016 season. Teams typically treat quarterbacks as the offseason priority for contracts, so deals could be in the works for cornerstone players like linebackers Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins, cornerbacks Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan, and edge defenders Chandler Jones and Jabaal Sheard.