The Pewter Plank
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Buccaneers’ Five Biggest Draft Busts

By James Yarcho

Sep 22, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman (5) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo (51) during the first quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman (5) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo (51) during the first quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Number Two: QB Josh Freeman, Number 17 Overall – 2009

He was the future. He was the one that was finally going to bring the Buccaneers a franchise quarterback. His dominant 2010 performance with 3,451 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions gave Bucs fans hope that there was a true quarterback in Tampa Bay.

Then, the wheels fell off.

After finishing 2012 with 27 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, Freeman fell into then coach Greg Schiano’s dog house leading him to be benched after only three games. Mike Glennon would take over for the remainder of the season and Freeman was off to Minnesota where he played in one Monday night game. Freeman would then join the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants, only to be cut before the seasons actually started. Freeman’s final NFL game came as a member of the Indianapolis Colts in 2015.

There are plenty of rumors and theories as to why Freeman fell off the way he did. Whether it was Schiano that messed him up mentally or the rumored drug abuse, Freeman never finished developing into the franchise quarterback we all thought he was set to become.

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