CBS Sports Projects Buccaneers to trade up for Tom Brady's replacement in 2023 NFL Draft
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are at a crossroads with the 2023 offseason still in its early stages. The franchise has a major decision to make at quarterback with Tom Brady officially retiring and there are multiple avenues on the table.
READ MORE: Tom Brady Officially Announces Retirement from the NFL
The Buccaneers still have former second-round pick Kyle Trask on his rookie deal but he hasn't inspired a ton of confidence thus far in his career. During his first two years in the league, Trask has spent the majority of his time as a third-string quarterback, appearing in one game and completing 3/9 passes for 23 yards.
Outside of that, it's possible that Tampa Bay utilizes the trade market, free agency, or the upcoming NFL Draft to find a suitable replacement for Brady.
According to one publication, the Buccaneers might try to make a splash in April to replace the future Hall of Fame signal-caller. Over the weekend, Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports released a mock draft following the Senior Bowl. Wilson projected two major trades that would shake up the top of the order. He has the Indianapolis Colts trading up to the No. 1 spot with the Chicago Bears while also predicting Tampa Bay to get a deal done with the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 3 pick.
In the trade, Wilson projects the Buccaneers to surrender their own first-round selection (No. 19) and second-round selection (No. 51) as well as their first-round pick and fourth-round pick in 2024.
"We've tried to make these trades as realistic as possible but the bigger takeaway is that both Indianapolis and Tampa Bay could be looking to move up for a quarterback, in part because there may be few free agent options (and, at this point, the Colts may be tired of going the veteran route after back-to-back campaigns with Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan)," wrote Wilson.
With the move near the top of the draft, Tampa Bay ends up selecting former Kentucky star Will Levis in Wilson's mock with CJ Stroud (Indianapolis) and Bryce Young (Houston) coming off the board ahead of him. Shortly after, former Gators standout Anthony Richardson is projected to land inside the top 10 with the Carolina Panthers at No. 9 overall.
Levis has prototypical size (6-foot-3, 222-pounds) and proven production in the top conference in college football. He completed 418/636 passes (65.7%) for 5,232 yards with 43 touchdowns to 23 interceptions over the past two seasons. Levis added 269 yards and 11 more scores on the ground.
With Tampa Bay still in 'win-now' mode under Todd Bowles, it will be interesting to see how the franchise shifts its approach this offseason with Brady moving on. If there are no moves to be made through trades, climbing in the draft may be the most attractive path to landing a quarterback that can replace Brady both in the present and in the future for the Buccaneers.
Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 offseason.
