Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5 free agents who won’t be back 2021
By Rob Leeds
Ryan Griffin, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers currently field one of the most-mismanaged quarterback rooms in the entire NFL. Tom Brady is playing on a reasonable contract, and Blaine Gabbert is an unexciting yet consistent backup, but Ryan Griffin causes some confusion.
More from The Pewter Plank
- Devin White posts cryptic message to Lavonte David on Twitter
- ESPN predicts surprising outcome to Devin White trade saga
- Updated Buccaneers depth chart after signing two players from rookie minicamp
- Todd Bowles sends clear message about Baker Mayfield’s role with Bucs
- The Athletic is wrong about Bucs one ‘must-watch’ game in 2023
As the third quarterback on the roster, Griffin plays less than anyone else in a typical year, yet he is paid more than Gabbert. The Bucs can’t afford questionable contracts like this during a time where a Super Bowl is on the line, so cutting bait looks like the only logical course moving forward.
There are very few reasons to keep three quarterbacks on a roster in the NFL. The roster space is too limited as it is, so keeping two players on the roster that will hardly ever play makes no sense. The Bucs can always protect a player on their practice squad, so this would be the far better place to keep the third option.
Some fans may take issue with this, but Ryan Griffin has no place on the Buccaneers moving forward. His performances (other than during the preseason against painfully mediocre competition) have been lacking and suggest that this position is easily replaced with a cheaper option.
On top of the price, the Bucs would also be better off taking a chance on a more multi-dimensional quarterback with their limited space, as Griffin, Gabbert, and Brady are practically clones in their strengths and weaknesses.
The Buccaneers wouldn’t free up a ton of space with this move, but swapping Josh Rosen for Blaine Gabbert and parting ways with Griffin would set the Bucs up better for their future rather than maintaining the current course.