NFL Draft Rumors: Are the Buccaneers trying to trade up to No. 3?

As many as six teams have reportedly called the Arizona Cardinals inquiring about the No. 3 pick, so what are the chances one of those teams is the Buccaneers? 

We’ve been all over the spectrum with Tampa Bay Buccaneers rumors, but as the NFL Draft approaches there will undoubtedly be more.

One thing that seems to have dominated the attention of the national media is how the Bucs need a quarterback to replace Tom Brady. For about three minutes that guy was Kyle Trask — a byproduct of being the only quarterback under contract — and has since become Baker Mayfield.

That combo makes the Bucs an attractive candidate to peg for trading up in the draft to grab one of the quarterbacks in this year’s class.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, as many as six teams have called the Cardinals about possibly trading up and grabbing the No. 3 pick.

“At least six teams have inquired with the Arizona Cardinals about trading up for the third overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, per league sources,” Schefter reported. “Cardinals still are mulling whether to move pick or make it.”

We’ve said here time and time again that it would be foolish for the Buccaneers to mortgage the future to trade up to grab the third-best quarterback, but six is a pretty big number. Folks have been mocking trade-up scenarios for the Bucs for months now and word that the No. 3 pick is for sale will inevitably involve Tampa Bay at some point in someone’s conversation.

So let’s break it down.

Are the Buccaneers among teams trying to trade up to the No. 3 pick?

It’s a simple process of elimination to see how likely it is the Bucs are among the six teams trying to trade up — or what their competition would be to do so.

As many as 15 teams can be eliminated from the jump. Teams picking No. 21 through No. 31 are out because they have quarterbacks and/or can’t afford a trade that high. The Panthers, Texans, and Bears are all out as are the Cardinals (obviously).

Miami is unlikely to have the capital to trade up to No. 3, especially without a first-round pick this year, which already takes half the league out of the running.

Chances are the Colts aren’t moving up one spot unless they get wind that a team is trying to jump them. The Steelers and Packers are likely out as well with Kenny Pickett and Jordan Love locked in for the next few years. Philadelphia has two first-rounders but it doesn’t make sense for the Eagles to trade them rather than use both to land top talent to keep building around Jalen Hurts.

Let’s also take the Jets out of the running since they’ll likely end up with Aaron Rodgers.

Four teams that remain leap out as obvious trade-up candidates. Seattle and Detroit have multiple first-round picks this year, while the Raiders and Falcons have been rumored to be taking quarterbacks.

That leaves two open slots for four potential suitors for Arizona’s pick.

• Tennessee
• Washington
• New England
• Tampa Bay

New England almost never trades up, especially that high without a slam dunk quarterback prospect. Tennesee needs a quarterback unless it believes in Malik Willis, but it’s possible to see them wanting to move up and grab a better prospect.

Washington has been adamant that it won’t trade for Lamar Jackson because it’s happy with Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett competing for the starting job. It’s also a perfect situation for a team to trade up and add a franchise quarterback of the future to sit behind them.

It doesn’t make any logical sense, but based on the process of elimination there’s an argument to make that the Bucs are one of the teams trying to trade up.

Logically, though, it makes little sense for the Bucs to trade up. At best they’d land the third quarterback and no one seems to be sure who that is. Will Levis leaves a lot to be desired, while Anthony Richardson and Hendon Hooker are interchangeable depending on who you ask.

What it would cost the Bucs to trade up hardly seems worth the upside of anyone outside of C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young. Waiting to see next year’s class and making a trade then seems like a much safer option, rather than trading this year’s pick, likely next year’s pick, and more to get gambling on getting the third-best guy.

Thankfully for anxious Bucs fans, it makes far more sense — and is much easier — for the Raiders, Falcons, Lions, and Seahawks to trade up.