Should the Buccaneers draft a quarterback this year?

Happy Draft Week, Bucs fans!

The NFL Draft is fast approaching, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers management is finalizing their draft day strategy. Every position group can be improved upon, and depth can be added with new players taken in the NFL draft. GM Jason Licht has done an exceptional job building the roster under the difficult salary cap situation.

The Bucs have nine draft picks heading into next week’s NFL draft. I hope the GM, and coach will take a QB in the later rounds. The reason is to get a third quarterback on the active roster, heading into the season, on a rookie contract deal.

That may be a salary cap-friendly move, that can improve the QB competition, and provide depth just in case a 2022 San Francisco situation occurs (I really, really hope not) where the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart are unable to play due to injury.

I fully expect Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield to have a fair and merit-based competition heading into week one. Both QBs will be learning a new system under new offensive coordinator Dave Canales. Mayfield has played in multiple offensive systems, won a playoff game, and led an NFL team to the postseason during his career.

Trask has huge upside potential and has consistently improved as an NFL QB each season. Trask has learned from the great Tom Brady for two full seasons, but was also unable to get a lot of real game reps due to the chances of winning increased with Brady at QB.

Why not add another QB through the draft? Practice squad QBs, and veteran QBs with experience, could be added to the team in free agency. Overall, the Bucs have a great QB situation heading into the 2023 regular season. Mayfield is a proven winner in the NFL. Trask has the tools, talent, and potential to be an elite NFL QB.

While most NFL teams have two active QBs on the game day roster. It’s important to have depth and a capable third-string QB in case the unthinkable happens. Just ask San Francisco.