Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Where do backup quarterbacks rank?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a solid unit of backups behind quarterback Jameis Winston, and they were recently ranked 15th in the league.

Bleacher Report has done a ton of rankings this offseason, and here they do another one, ranking each team’s backup quarterback situation entering the 2019 season. Brad Gagnon slated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at about the middle of the pack at 15th overall of 32 teams in the league.

Behind starting quarterback Jameis Winston is former first round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars Blaine Gabbert and Bucs’ vet Ryan Griffin. While the two will dual it out for the backup job this training camp, Winston is no longer in danger of losing his job as he was a year ago when Ryan Fitzpatrick and his magical beard were in town.

"“Winston is no longer threatened by the streaky Ryan Fitzpatrick on the Buccaneers quarterback depth chart, but the Tampa Bay offense can still take solace in the fact two veteran backups are there to provide insurance under center” (Gagnon via Bleacher Report)."

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Gabbert may win the job due to his familiarity with new head coach Bruce Arians’ offensive system from being the backup quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals in 2017. Griffin, however, is a Tampa Bay mainstay and will compete for the job; the Buccaneers usually roster three quarterbacks, so unless they keep gadget player Nick Fitzgerald on the 53-man roster, then Griffin should be safe as well.

Throughout his roller coaster of a career, Gabbert has thrown for over 9,000 yards, 48 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions; he never lived up to the hype of the top-ten pick he was back in the 2011 draft. As a backup quarterback, however, Gabbert has been efficient when called upon.

Last year with the Tennessee Titans, Gabbert had to fill in for the often-injured Marcus Mariota and finished 2-1 in three starts, throwing for over 600 yards with four touchdowns and interceptions apiece; he completed 60 percent of his passes in Nashville last year. Griffin has yet to appear in an NFL game with both the Bucs and New Orleans Saints.

Right in the middle of the league feels like a good place for the Buccaneers to be. Besides, being closer to the top means there may be a quarterback competition on hand, and for once the Buccaneers do not have one.