5 quarterbacks the Bucs could trade for in 2024

The Bucs could have yet another starting quarterback for a third-straight season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield | Mike Ehrmann/GettyImages
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4. Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons

Back down to a lesser-optimal candidate, let's talk about the Atlanta Falcons' Desmond Ridder. Atlanta also has a quarterback problem and should be moving on from both Ridder and Taylor Heinicke during the offseason. Their offense has far-too talented of core players to be suffering from poor quarterback play.

Now, if the Bucs went after a guy like Ridder, it would have to be under one assumption, and that is that the Bucs were going to also draft a quarterback. Ridder could come in as a cheap bridge quarterback while the Falcons move on to their true franchise quarterback in 2024. Ridder would be given the opportunity to compete with a rookie for the starting job, and if anything, would be a capable option to allow that rookie a few games to sit and learn.

Ridder has shown some things over his first season and a half, but Arthur Smith also hasn't done him any favors. Smith hasn't done any of his top offensive players many favors this season, though, to be fair.

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