Jerod Evans – Quarterback, Virginia Tech
News broke recently Buccaneers backup quarterback Mike Glennon turned down an offer which would have made him the highest paid second-string passer in the league.
This shows two things. First, the Bucs are aware of how valuable a solid understudy is for your gunslinger. Secondly, that Glennon is looking for a chance to start and/or more money, and who can blame him?
So now Tampa will be looking for a new guy to come in and play behind Jameis Winston with limited options in the veteran market and a down year in the draft where quarterbacks are concerned.
One name which could be on their board however is Jerod Evans out of Virginia Tech.
The junior has a decent enough arm and has shown good touch to deep and bigger receivers who can go up and grab the ball out of the air.
He also has a more athletic repertoire than Winston does, making him a match-up issue for a defense which spent all week preparing for a conventional passer if the former Heisman winner were to leave the game.
This switch in styles could help stave off total panic in the case the Bucs were to lose their leader, albeit temporarily.
The big thing here is his projected draft .position. As a second half draft prospect Evans will likely cost no more than a fifth-round selection and might even last until the sixth depending on his performance at the combine.
He’s a project, sure, but unless the Buccaneers are ready to hand the spare keys to Ryan Griffith outright then its value added to bring a rookie in who can compete without burning an upper level draft pick.