NFL Draft 2024: Quarterbacks the Bucs could be tempted to draft

Let's just get this out of the way right now: Baker Mayfield is -- and should be -- the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback of the immediate future. The Bucs didn't give him $100 million to hand the keys to a rookie, but that doesn't mean the future should be ignored at the expense of the present.

Think of the Bucs taking a quarterback in the NFL Draft as two things: a hypothetical and a potential do-over.

Drafting Kyle Trask to sit behind Tom Brady didn't really work out, and its likely that he's spending his final season in Tampa Bay this year. Maybe the Bucs give him a shot on a cheap deal in 2025 but he's firmly the backup and a rather unproven one at that.

If the Bucs take a quarterback in this draft it will allow the team a chance to do what it should have done with Trask back in 2021. There's an arguement to be made for Tampa Bay taking a guy and stashing him behind Baker to both learn from a guy who has been through a lot in his career while also assimilating himself in the system.

There's not an immediate need to draft a quarterback, but there is some high upside to doing so especially if the Bucs can land the right guy with the right pick.

If the Bucs draft a quarterback they'll need to follow some criteria:

• Don't reach for a quarterback
• Wait until the middle rounds
• Only use a pick if other areas of need are addressed or there isn't a better option

With that in mind, a few quarterbacks could be intriguing options if they're on the board at the right time.

NFL Draft 2024: Quarterbacks the Bucs could be tempted to draft

Jordan Travis, QB/Florida State

PFF QB Rank: 9th
Projected Pick: Round 5-6

If Jordan Travis didn't suffer a brutal leg injury near the end of Florida State's season, he might be getting talked about the way everyone is praising Michael Penix. The Noles were robbed of a spot in the College Football Playoff and the injury to Travis denied us the chance to see him on a stage that would have surely boosted his draft stock.

That all could be a blessing in disguise for Travis and the Bucs.

When he was healthy Travis was a game changing quarterback, throwing for 20 touchdowns and two interceptions last season. He's a mobile threat and made plays inside and outside of the pocket, and found ways to utilize his biggest target in Keon Coleman.

In Tampa Bay, Travis would be under no pressure to rush back from his leg injury and would have the maximum amount of time to get healthy. Think of it like what the Packers did with Jordan Love, and what the Bucs might have missed out on with Jalen Hurts had the team taken him back in 2020.