© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
CBS Sports Tabs Buccaneers As 'Mystery Team' To Select a QB in 2024
Could the Buccaneers try to secure their future in the first or second round?
The NFL has become a quarterback league. So much so that franchises around the league are willing to give up whatever is necessary to move higher up in the NFL Draft for a guy that they believe to be a franchise guy to help lead them to the promised land and a Lombardi Trophy.
This year is no different as the quarterback class seems somewhat promising, and with teams like the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, and New England Patriots absolutely needing someone to come in and immediately lead their team. Outside of some of the obvious organizations that are in need of a play-caller behind center, there are always a couple franchises that make a surprising pick at the QB position.
Those teams mentioned above are exactly the reason behind CBS Sports’ Cody Johnson putting together a list of his “mystery teams” that could draft a quarterback in the first or second round of the NFL Draft later this April. One of the teams mentioned was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite the re-signing of Baker Mayfield this offseason.
“The Bucs just re-signed Baker Mayfield to a $150 extension, but the deal is structured in a way Tampa Bay can actually save up to $20 million by cutting the redeemed journeyman after 2024, should the extended marriage not pan out. In other words, Mayfield is the guy here, but like Geno Smith in Seattle after his breakout, the bond isn't irrevocable. Only Kyle Trask and John Wolford sit behind him on the depth chart, meanwhile.”
The move by the Buccaneers to have a way out if the Mayfield experience fails in its’ second year was smart on the part of GM Jason Licht and the top brass. Baker played perhaps the best season of his career in 2023 as he looked to prove everyone wrong about him fading away and not being a starting NFL QB. With that, he got rewarded, but as we all know, nothing is a guarantee.
Outside of Baker, the Bucs don’t have much behind him as both Trask and Wolford have minimal to almost no starting experience in the NFL and the organization would likely want to improve that area.
Taking a QB with their 26th overall pick seems less likely to happen than using their 57th overall pick on the position. I fully expect that the Bucs are comfortable with their current QB room and will not take a QB that early in the first two rounds as the majority of the top guys likely will already be off the board.
If they do decide to take a QB in this draft I, would imagine it will occur later, but never rule out a shocking move especially if one of their guys they have circled starts gaining steam for going earlier than expected.
Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2024 offseason.
