Power Ranking The Buccaneers Quarterback Options

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the quarterback market. This is a place the franchise has found themselves a lot over the course of their history, but it’s a position that never gets any easier. The Bucs must now find a trigger man to lead their offense from a pool of players that other teams were comfortable moving on from.

Most of the names on the market are fringe starters in the league. So this process will be about finding the best fit available. I came up with my top five options that make the most sense for the Buccaneers.

Honorable mentions

Aaron Rodgers – Too costly in terms of the draft picks required to trade for him.

Kyle Trask – Under contract, but hasn’t shown NFL talent to this point.

Baker Mayfield – Average physical tools and has gone from first overall pick to NFL backup.

5. Jacoby Brissett

Jacoby Brissett is a quarterback that I believe will resonate with Todd Bowles. He has been around the league for several years now and he bounced between starting and being a highly respected back up. He’s not a guy who will win you many games, but he won’t lose you games either.

To call him a safe option would be accurate. He is fairly conservative with the ball and doesn’t make costly turnovers. Bowles will likely be drawn to him as a game manager which will allow the game to be won or lost on the shoulders of his defense.

4. Taylor Heinicke

Taylor Heinicke has led a team to the playoffs, which is more than most of this list can say. He certainly isn’t a preferred starting option for many teams around the league, but he’s a realistic option for the Bucs. In terms of passing, the best I can say about him is “good enough”.

What is most intriguing about Heinicke is his ability to run. We saw the damage he can do first hand in the playoffs. In a group of middling quarterback options, this specific skill set makes him a strong candidate.

3. Pick Your Rookie

There are four projected first round quarterbacks that are going to be drafted this year. Those guys are CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis and Anthony Richardson. Any one of these four would be a good long term answer for the Bucs.

Keep in mind that Stroud and Young are probably ready to step into the NFL and start next season. However, Levis and Richardson might need a year of development. Richardson, the quarterback from Florida, is the most likely one to fall to the Buccaneers, so if he starts expect a lot of growing pains next year.

2. Jameis Winston

Yes, you read that correctly. Despite still being on the Saints roster, Jameis Winston is still one of the best options that will likely be available for the Buccaneers this offseason. It seems like only a matter of time until he is a cap casualty in New Orleans.

Winston sat on the bench most of last season, but we are well aware of what he can do. He has a big arm and decent mobility. As we all saw in his five years as a starter for the Buccaneers in the past, Winston will take chances with the ball down field and is a high risk and high reward passer.

1. Derek Carr

Derek Carr is the big quarterback name on the market this cycle. He has led the Raiders to the playoffs in the past and has looked very good at different points in his career. He is accurate and has good arm strength to put the ball down field.

At this point, Carr is still under contract in Las Vegas. However, after being sent home for the last few weeks of the season last year, it is very clear that the Raiders will be moving on from him. His cap number is very big, so if no team is willing to take on his contract he will likely be cut sooner rather than later.

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