Buccaneers can’t escape Anthony Richardson trade rumors

The long-term future of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback position is in jeopardy as Baker Mayfield prepares to play out the final year of his contract. 

The Buccaneers still hold all of the cards, as they can simply franchise tag him after the season if a deal can’t be reached. But what if they want to move on? What if the Bucs have another disappointing season, or Mayfield regresses, and the organization balks at paying him market value? They’ll have to have an insurance plan in place, but the only other quarterback on the roster that’s started an NFL game is Jake Browning, and it’s safe to say the Bucs will never turn to him as a starting quarterback. 

Their long-term uncertainty at the QB spot has made them a common projected landing spot for Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson. The Colts have given up on Richardson as a franchise quarterback, and he requested a trade this offseason. Could Tampa Bay pull the trigger on a low-risk, high-reward trade?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers emerging as a potential Anthony Richardson landing spot

FanSided’s Zachary Rotman compiled a list of 20 players on the trade block, as well as their ideal landing spots. For Richardson, he views Tampa Bay as the best suitor. 

“A team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could make sense for Richardson. The Bucs are set for now with Baker Mayfield under center, but it's not as if Jake Browning should give them much confidence for 2026 or beyond as the backup. Richardson is still incredibly raw, but has upside. A change of scenery and a year of sitting behind Mayfield could help unlock him. It's a longshot, but he'd come cheap anyway,” wrote Rotman.

Richardson is tempting, and there’s a reason he was drafted with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. He stands at a massive 6-foot-4, 244 pounds — comparable to the size of Cam Newton. He has a rocket arm and runs a blazing 4.43 40-yard dash. 

The traits are certainly there, but Richardson’s weaknesses in accuracy and reading defenses haven’t shown much growth through three seasons. 

Through 15 starts, he’s completed just 50.6% of his passes and thrown more interceptions than touchdown passes.

It’s unlikely that Jason Licht would part with draft capital to trade for a project like that, especially when his long-term goal remains to extend Mayfield. If the Buccaneers are going to push their chips in a longshot developmental quarterback, they’ve already got Jalon Daniels in the building. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers already have their long-term quarterback project in Jalon Daniels

Tampa Bay signed Daniels as an undrafted free agent this offseason, and he’s quickly made an impression within the building. 

GM Jason Licht, head coach Todd Bowles, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, and QB coach Chandler Whitmer have all had nothing but good things to say about the rookie. 

Daniels made his NFL debut in the preseason opener Friday night against the Jets, and he stole the show. Daniels went 10-of-15 for 111 yards, while adding a rushing touchdown. 

His mobility and arm strength were on full display, and he looked the part of a quarterback that could have a future in Tampa Bay. 

Rather than trading for Richardson, the Bucs should go all-in on the development of Daniels. If they can get him comfortable in the system and hone his physical talent, the sky is the limit. Even if Daniels never becomes more than a long-term QB2, that would be a gem of a find in undrafted free agency, and would help resolve the Bucs’ recent woes at the backup quarterback spot. 

So while it makes sense to connect Tampa Bay to Richardson given their ongoing situation with Mayfield, it’s a move that is highly unlikely to come to fruition.

In all likelihood, Baker Mayfield will be the quarterback in Tampa Bay for 2027 and beyond, and Daniels, not Richardson, will be developing behind him as the QB2.

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