Pros and Cons of the Bucs drafting another quarterback

The quarterback position for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has rarely been a surefire thing. There have been moments of splendor like Brad Johnson, Jeff Garcia, Shaun King, and Tom Brady.

However, there have been far more examples of brutal quarterback play that has left the organization mired in mediocrity for far too long.

Following a career year in 2023, and fresh off a brand new $100 million contract, Baker Mayfield appears to be ushering in a new age for Bucs quarterbacks. He made the transition from Tom Brady look easy and the whole team benefitted from it.

Despite that, there can be no time for complacency in that department. It might seem odd to talk about drafting a quarterback after giving a player that much money, but good teams stay a step ahead. The Bucs failed to have a succession plan in place for Brady and can avoid a similar situation with Baker, even if nobody is expecting him to get pushed out anytime soon.

Pros and Cons of the Buccaneers drafting another quarterback

Pros of taking a QB in 2024 NFL Draft

While Tampa Bay will not be trading up for the services of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels and others, that does not mean they won't snag someone in the middle or late rounds.

And that is absolutely okay. Kyle Trask was a second round pick a few years ago and it was hoped he would learn from Brady and become a true starting caliber player. That so far has not come to fruition.

Were Mayfield to get injured, what would the confidence level be in Trask to keep the ship afloat? My guess is at this current time, not very high. With the bevy of injuries to the position last year, the backup quarterback has become a vital weapon once again.

Tampa dipping into the draft to get a player that has big upside without the pressure of starting right away is not a bad thing at all.

Championship teams are always two or three steps ahead and never get caught out. Drafting a quarterback to grow with Baker would be a sign of a mature franchise not resting on its laurels.

Cons to Bucs drafting a QB in 2024 NFL Draft

On the flip side of things, there are some that would argue that drafting a quarterback shows little faith in your current starter.

It's almost as if they are publicly shaming their incumbent at the position because they find this new weapon to be worth an investment. Mayfield, while immensely popular and coming off a Pro Bowl season, is not an established star at the position.

Yes, he was just given a long-term deal but at the same time, if he were to struggle in the first month of next season, there would inevitably be a crowd calling for the young talent with a big arm to come on and salvage the season.

That kind of heat and pressure is not ideal for a lot of teams. While the Bucs have proven their championship mettle as an organization, that does not mean the players are immune to the noise.

Say the Bucs were to draft the exciting and uber athletic Joe Milton out of Tennessee and he had a great camp. The people calling for his "new era" play style to start would be quite loud. Everyone wants their own version of Cam Newton, Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson.

Mayfield is very good, but he does have limitations. There will always be a pocket of fans and media that think there could always be someone better.

That toxicity is something a team with playoff aspirations might want to avoid at all costs.

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