The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the market for a quarterback, or two. The task of having to replace Tom Brady is one that comes with an enormous amount of pressure. Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht is the man tasked with that job.
But as the guys at JoeBucsFan.com point out, don’t think head coach Bruce Arians isn’t going to have a say in the decision. I’d argue, like JBF did that he may have the final say. Let’s look at it more like Arians will pick the player and Licht has to figure out how to sign or trade for them.
Rumors Here, Rumors There
The rumors attached to who the Buccaneers will replace Brady with started almost immediately. We’ve heard the Bucs are interested in trading for Aaron Rodgers, for Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson and so on. We’ve even heard Arians himself say he’d be comfortable with 2nd year quarterback Kyle Trask or journeyman Blaine Gabbert. So obviously everything, anything is on the table.
One name that has come up recently is Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz. The 29 year old 2nd overall pick on the 2016 NFL draft could definitely be plucked from the Colts. I don’t think it would require a haul of first and second round draft picks to get him. He has a 90.1 QBR and nearly a three to one touchdown to interception ratio. But would the Buccaneers have any interest?
Back In The Day
Back in 2017 Arians spoke with NJ.com and said this about Wentz. “I loved him coming out,” Arians stated. “He really reminded me a lot of Andrew Luck. He’s big, strong, physical, and played in a pro-offense [in college]. He has that linebacker-mentality playing quarterback, it shows up in his toughness. He can really hurt you, out of the pocket and in the pocket…. He’s such a good athlete, he reminds me of Ben [Roethlisberger] in a lot of ways, how he just throws guys off of him in the pocket and makes big plays downfield.” Arians went on to say, “I would have been ecstatic” if Wentz had been available when Arians and the Cardinals picked in the 2016 draft.
I know what some of you are thinking, “Wentz? Really?” and to an extent I agree. I also think we have to be realistic here. The Buccaneers have upwards of two dozen pending free agents and limited cap room. Of those nearly two dozen players roughly half were starters last season. The Bucs from office has done some wizardry with the cap space recently, but how long do you continue kicking the can down the road?
I’m definitely not saying Wentz is THE answer, buy he may just be AN answer. Especially if Arians is still as high on him as he was in 2016.
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