ESPN Insider Projects Buccaneers to select High Ceiling Quarterback in 2023 NFL Draft

There's expected to be a lot of quarterback movement during the 2023 offseason as teams gauge the trade market, free agency, and the upcoming NFL Draft. There are players available at all three levels that could be a fit for Tampa Bay, who is in the market for a new signal-caller following Tom Brady's decision to retire at the beginning of February.

The Buccaneers have multiple paths that the team could take to find its quarterback of the future. So, which avenue makes the most sense without breaking the bank as the franchise looks to reload under second-year head coach Todd Bowles?

At the beginning of the month, ESPN began to explore how the offseason could unfold regarding quarterbacks around the league. NFL Nation Bucs Reporter Jenna Laine projected the team to retain veteran Blaine Gabbert while spending its first-round pick on another promising signal-caller with a high ceiling out of Gainesville in Anthony Richardson.

"Bucs coach Todd Bowles said, "You never want to rebuild; you're always reloading." But Tom Brady not returning, it certainly feels like a rebuild and will warrant some patience," Laine wrote. "Drafting Richardson and having Blaine Gabbert serve as a bridge makes sense. Richardson is still a raw prospect but won't be asked to start right away. The interceptions are concerning (nine), but he has a big arm and plenty of mobility, and his ability to improvise when plays break down brings another dimension to the offense."

It will likely be too costly for Tampa Bay to trade up for CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, or Will Levis. With that being said, Richardson is a low-floor, high-ceiling prospect that could grow into a star in the right situation. He's an intriguing physical specimen at 6-foot-4, 232-pounds that possesses freak athleticism and a strong arm to boot.

Last season, he completed 176/327 passes (53.8%) for 2,549 yards with 17 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Richardson also added 103 carries for 654 yards and nine more scores on the ground. He guided the Gators to a 6-7 record under first-year head coach Billy Napier. Richardson is still an extremely raw prospect who is growing his consistency as a passer. If he can put it all together in the NFL, there's the potential to develop into a star.

A possible drawback could be that the last quarterback that Tampa Bay invested in out of Florida, Kyle Trask, has been less than impressive during his first two years in the league. Trask has spent the majority of his time on the inactive list with the Buccaneers while sitting as the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart behind Tom Brady and Blaine Gabbert.

Trask finally appeared in a regular-season game at the end of 2022, completing 3/9 passes for 23 yards in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. It's do or die for Trask this offseason. If he can't prove to be a potential asset for the future over the next couple of months, he might find himself on a different team in 2023.

Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 offseason.

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