Sniffing A QB In The Draft
April 14th, 2020
Draft intel.
Here’s another piece of information that suggests the Bucs are checking out quarterbacks for next week’s draft.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated is one of the most plugged-in columnists in the republic. The guy does tons of research.
In a story published late last night, Breer shared he’s heard enough rumblings through league sources that he thinks the Bucs are serious about selecting a quarterback next week.
Who and when? Breer isn’t sure.
I’d keep an eye on the Buccaneers potentially drafting a quarterback in April, which would not be unlike when the Broncos signed Peyton Manning in March 2012 and drafted Brock Osweiler a month later. Obviously, Tampa Bay will eventually need an heir to Tom Brady, and it’d make sense to get one in-house who’ll get the benefit of learning from him. And there are a couple raw, big-armed prospects out there in Utah State’s Jordan Love and Washington’s Jacob Eason, who could slip a little in the draft, and also could use a redshirt year or two to develop.
Osweiler was a second-round pick by Denver in 2012, and after a teaser of a 2015 season when he briefly replaced totally shot Peyton Manning, midnight struck and Osweiler looked like a rotten pumpkin that had been used as a soccer ball. He is out of football but not before he swindled Houston emperor Bill O’Brien out of $20 million.
Recently, Yahoo! Sports linked the Bucs to serious interest with FIU quarterback, third-day draft project James Morgan.
Joe has written several times already that this is just smart. The Bucs have two of the best quarterback coaches in the game. They have a quarterback who will be 43 this summer.
This is a perfect time to draft a quarterback, let him sit for (hopefully) two years, be molded by Bucco Bruce Arians and Tom Moore, and learn first-hand how Tom Brady does things the right way. So when Brady likely leaves after the 2021 season, the new quarterback is ready hit the ground running.
It worked for Aaron Rodgers.
Last week in a Zoom conference call, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht sure didn’t throw any cold water on possibly drafting a quarterback to develop.
“We can afford to do it, I think,” Licht said. “It is definitely something we would look at.”
And Joe believes this would be a smart look.
April 14th, 2020 at 8:17 am
Eason or Morgan sound like a good plan to me.
April 14th, 2020 at 8:20 am
LOL, you point to Aaron Rodgers yet ignore the fact that Denver wasted a 2nd round pick on a scrub QB. This is how it typically works out when draft a QB in the second round. Any QB that falls that far has lots of warts and more often than not they fail. As for the learning from Brady idea, Osweiler sat behind one of the smartest QBs in the history of the NFL but it didn’t help him succeed. Next year may be the time to draft a QB but certainly not now.
April 14th, 2020 at 8:20 am
“Lol! Tom Moore
Does he even know how to turn on his surface laptop yet?
Tom Moore, he has forgotten more about football than he will ever know”
Kobe Faker
April 14th, 2020 at 8:26 am
If Morgan, Stanley or Luton fall to round six then draft one if not there is always next year.
April 14th, 2020 at 8:33 am
I wouldn’t have a problem with a later round QB……but we need RT, RB, S…..and we need starters……we’ve got 2 4th round picks this year so that will help.
We could also use capital from next year’s draft, if necessary.
I don’t like the idea of trading up……better to trade down & use the extra pick for a QB….
April 14th, 2020 at 8:39 am
Agree with Allbuccedup.
April 14th, 2020 at 8:45 am
We are checking out QBs. In fact we are checking out every position.
Not Earth shattering news, is it?
April 14th, 2020 at 8:58 am
Doesn´t make any sense…..We should draft a QB next year, nnow is all about trenches and RB and try to get an experienced safty on the market…..QB in 2021!!!
April 14th, 2020 at 8:58 am
NO sense it picking a QB unless you/they believe he will eventually become the long term starter, which means we could/should take one in the 1st round…
April 14th, 2020 at 9:01 am
Could the Bucs QB of the future, be the former QB that started for the last 5 years?? Has anyone asked Licht or BA if they would resign Jameis to sit and learn from TB12 for a year or two? If you look at the Bucs roster with TB12 on it, guess who’s still listed on the roster too?? Famous Jameis is still listed as a Bucs QB. Could this be an oversight?? Sure. However, the other players that were on last year’s roster have been removed. You better check your sheet!
April 14th, 2020 at 9:02 am
LOL why even consider drafting a scrub qb in the late rounds? The only “not first round grade” by these so called experts that should be drafted is Jalen Hurts. That guy is gonna be a star in this league.
April 14th, 2020 at 9:12 am
Joe keeps saying: “It worked for Aaron Rodgers.”
That’s like saying: Draft a QB in the 6th round….”It worked for Tom Brady”.
Knock it off.
April 14th, 2020 at 9:14 am
Easy…I agree about Hurts as a potential pick…don’t know about being a “star”…he is talented ,high character and THE perfect candidate to sit behind TB watch and learn…I am in the trade down camp ! and not a panic sucker for trading up for a RT…my ideal would be swap with the Dolphins..drop to #18, get the Dolphins 2nd -2nd round pick and swapping 3rd round picks….
April 14th, 2020 at 9:19 am
Brady was a sixth pick I believe. I wouldn’t call him a scrub.
April 14th, 2020 at 9:29 am
There’s too many holes to fix. OL, RB, and S need to be a higher priority than a QB.
April 14th, 2020 at 9:34 am
My money is on Eason
April 14th, 2020 at 9:41 am
The quiet value of Brock Osweiler was him going 5-3 down the stretch in place for a hurt Manning, not totally crapping the season away, and they ended up winning the SB in what could have been a lost season with a bad 2nd QB.
I remember it pretty well. People in Denver for a stretch were ready to go all in on Brock over Manning, but I think it all worked out pretty damn well for them that year either way lol.
It’s good to have more than a Gabbert backup plan.
April 14th, 2020 at 9:50 am
Much more pressing needs in this draft than QB. I’m not sold on Eason. If we are in win now mode, surely the keeping Brady upright and having a polished all round offense is the mandate of this draft
I’m more sold on the QB prospects from next years draft.
2x O-lineman
Safety
RB
WR
DT
April 14th, 2020 at 9:53 am
See what happened to Gabbert last year. If your not going to give Griffin a shot as backup, why pay him 1.5 mil cut him draft someone else in the late round. If you have no faith in his ability let him try elsewhere.
April 14th, 2020 at 9:59 am
BritishBuc Says:
April 14th, 2020 at 9:50 am
Much more pressing needs in this draft than QB.
.
I so disagree …TB will be 43 and is one drop back or freak injury from never taking a snap again….we NEED to be prepared with a QG of the future, not just someone to send out on the field. TB is a gift, lets not waste it by short sighted thinking…if there is a QB ranked at 14 on their board and before their 2nd pick….do what you have to to ensure you get your guy….a quality RT either before or after but certainly part of the plan
April 14th, 2020 at 10:07 am
If we do draft a QB this year it’s going to be impossible to keep him on the active roster and carry 3 QBs. He will have to go on the practice squad since we already have 2 CBs in Ryan Smith and MJ Stewart who are very limited in their roles. Ryan Smith is an excellent special teams player but he’s just not a capable defender at any secondary position. MJ Stewart can make some plays around the line of scrimmage but his lack of speed really makes him a liability. We’re probably going to just have to cut Stewart and admit we were wrong and draft another DB or preferably pick up a vet in free agency.
If we address the DB in free agency then we can afford a QB otherwise we’re an injury or 2 away from collapse. I sure hope Justin Evans Is healthy this year we really need him to play at a high level. I’m optimistic but in reality it’s going to be difficult to come back and play at a high level after missing this much time.
We also have to pay Godwin soon so we need some strong cheap depth across the board. Hopefully the players we lost in free agency will perform well with their new teams and we’ll get decent compensatory picks so we can continue to build solid depth.
I think Anthony Nelson will pick right up where Nassib left off but there is no doubt a big hole to fill with Beau Allen’s departure.
Its almost mandatory that we draft 2 offensive linemen this year and there’s no point in even going into a lengthy discussion. So 2 OL a RB a DT another Edge Rusher/LB and WR. I just don’t see any extra picks, we’re in win now mode.
Please please please don’t trade up! We can not afford it right now with Brady and Evans making big $ and Godwin due soon. We need lots of cheap depth to build depth and competition.
April 14th, 2020 at 10:19 am
Altered – If Brady goes down the season is lost unless the were somehow to bring back JW as a backup for a couple years.
AKickInTheBucNuts – you are so spot on with your comment. It is so silly to use that Aaron Rodgers example. We can give 100s of examples where it failed miserably. Hell Joe was using the Denver example which goes against everything he said. The dude was a 2nd round pick, failed miserably as a starter and is now out of the league. I don’t want the bust wasting a 2nd rounder on a QB that they will need two years down the road that will probably be a bust when he does get his shot.
April 14th, 2020 at 10:24 am
No, no, no. Wait until next year. Still will have a year to sit and learn and not waste an extra year of having a cheap QB on salary cap
April 14th, 2020 at 10:29 am
TheBradyBunch Says:
April 14th, 2020 at 10:19 am
Altered – If Brady goes down the season is lost .
.
only lost if the QB of the future is not on the roster and taking the field if TB goes down, sure the rookie QB of the future is going to struggle but will be getting valuable reps….rather than a ham and egger back up burning snaps with the roster playing out the year for nothing, if the QB of the future is on the roster well then we will be moving forward rather than idling waiting for a QB next year…
April 14th, 2020 at 10:34 am
Our first 3 picks need to be OL, RB, WR. After that, we can use S and QB. If we really like a mid-late round QB, that’s great. If not, wait until next season. We need to spend our top 3 picks on players who can produce this season and next. All in on BRADY.
April 14th, 2020 at 10:40 am
Late round pick plz we need other areas
April 14th, 2020 at 10:49 am
The draft will go
OT, QB, RB, DT, S, WR
April 14th, 2020 at 10:50 am
Agree with Altered Ego above.
Posted previously, so please ignore.
tickrdr Says:
April 10th, 2020 at 8:35 pm
To me, the question every year at draft time is this:
Does your team have a “franchise QB”?
If the answer is yes, then those teams are definitely NOT looking for a QB.
So I doubt the Chiefs, Ravens, Packers, Seahawks, Texans, etc. are looking to draft a QB.
But if you already have the “Greatest of all Time”, the question changes to:
For how long? What then?
So, for me, the question again becomes the same as it was for Jameis Winston.
If Winston is NOT your “franchise QB”, then it does not matter one bit how much or how little you may have to pay him; any amount is NOT worth it.
So again, my question becomes:
Is there a “franchise QB” in this draft, and if so what would you give to get him?
If your analysis suggested that the guy you like is the next Patrick Mahomes, shouldn’t your team explore every possibility to try to get him?
tickrdr
April 14th, 2020 at 11:00 am
Round 6??? Brady aside, the days of finding a QB that late are slim to none.
April 14th, 2020 at 11:08 am
Yes altered and none of the QBs that the Bucs could draft this year are capable of being the QB of the future. You do realize that the top 3 QBs in this draft will be gone before the Bucs pick at 14 and only one, maybe two if Tua can stay healthy, are legit franchise QB prospects. Herbert was inconsistent last year at Oregon and even he will be gone. If you think Love who struggled at Utah State or Eason are long term answers you are going to be disappointed.
April 14th, 2020 at 11:09 am
Whatever name we’re hearing is the 2nd or 3rd preference. I think Hurts is the target the other guys are options
April 14th, 2020 at 11:17 am
IIRC, the BUCS drafted a TE in the first round, not too far from 14th, when we already had a decent TE. There must not have been any holes on the team back then.
tickrdr
April 14th, 2020 at 11:33 am
Some fans:!”You’ll never, ever find a QB in any round but the 1st. All others would be horribly bad scrubs!”. Look at Gardner Minshew’s stats last year, a 6th Round ROOKIE.
April 14th, 2020 at 11:55 am
Love and Eason will make Osweiler look like Johnny Unitas.
Morgan would be a good pick on day 3.
April 14th, 2020 at 12:14 pm
If not Fromm, then Morgan.
April 14th, 2020 at 12:24 pm
I live in WA state so my subconscious biased opinion on Eason says this would be an awesome pick.
Although.. having a QB on a Buccaneers roster named James Morgan sounds like destiny.. Captain.. James Morgan. 😂
All joking aside, I believe we’ve read here many times that Arians doesn’t draft OL because “you would be developing him for the next coach”. I feel we may get a lineman through trade which would allow us more freedom to go 1st round QB and suprise everyone.
Trent William’s still possible?
April 14th, 2020 at 12:55 pm
This is the wierdest position for this team. From our perspective there is no telling what they are thinking.
And no matter what they do I don’t see how anybody could second guess it.
Seems like almost every pick this year we’ll all be wondering if a QB gets the call.
April 14th, 2020 at 1:00 pm
Caleb I would love Joe to do another piece on that Arians quote before this draft. The few times I’ve heard it lately I’m wondering what the context was.
Was he talking purely in general is was he talking about later round OL. That comment just seems off cause we see 1st round OL get selected and be big contributors right away almost every year……..Lots of times even making probowls.
April 14th, 2020 at 1:23 pm
You’re right Jimmy Jack no one would be able to second guess that move at this point. The problem is the move they already made is the one that’ll be second guested.
April 14th, 2020 at 1:24 pm
Gardner Minshew??? Ok. If you’re happy with mediocre.
April 14th, 2020 at 1:30 pm
Not me Jimmy. I am sure they won’t take a QB before the 4th round. If they do Arians and Licht should be escorted out of the building immediately.
LMAO at the Gardner Minshew post. My god did you watch the Jags this year. He sucks. I remember watching the Bucs/Jags game thinking my god I am glad we don’t have two sh$% QBs like Minshew and Foles.
April 14th, 2020 at 2:12 pm
Moronic nonsense. You don’t get Brady to worry about the future, you get Brady to win now. The Bucs have complete garbage at WR behind Evans and Godwin – to waste a top pick on a QB for 3 years from now, when if Evans or Godwin gets hurt the entire offense falls apart, is just stupid.
They need a starting RT and a solid top flight #3 WR.
No, they don’t need a RB, they can get one of the many many veterans out there for the vet minimum.
April 14th, 2020 at 2:14 pm
Gardner Minshew had a QB rating of 91.2, 21 TD’s 6 INT’s. This is mediocre for a 6th Round pick in his ROOKIE year? Okay. Hahahaha
April 14th, 2020 at 2:36 pm
Winston went #1, Brady went in 6th. These are 2 perfect examples of ” Ya just never know”. Draft day is a crap shoot. Pure & Simple.
April 14th, 2020 at 2:51 pm
@Joe in Michigan and Brady Bunch:
Minshew and Foles combined had 4023 yards, with 24 TDs and only 8 INTs, with 3 game-winning drives and three 4th quarter comebacks, for a combined QB rating of 90.0 (brought down by Foles).
But our Mr. 5000, America’s QB, ProBowler, #1 pick in the draft threw for 33 TDs and only 30 INTs, had 2 game-winning drives and two 4th quarter comebacks, for a QB rating of 84.3! Only seven of his INTs were returned for TDs however, so there’s that.
We should do a poll of NFL coaches to see who would rather have 9 more TD passes, but also 22 more INTs, including 7 of those INTs as “pick6’s”.
Wait, they already did that poll informally……….. it’s called NFL free agency.
tickrdr
BTW: JW3 has only had ONE year in FIVE tries, where his QB rating was better than Minshew’s ROOKIE rating of 91.2!
Joe in Michigan doesn’t think Minshew sucks…………. yeah, me neither.
April 14th, 2020 at 3:45 pm
Not saying Minshew is great, reminds me of the “Magic Man” who was Green Bay’s QB before Favre got there. To say “HE SUCKS!!!!” when he played well as a rookie who was a 6th Round pick doesn’t seem logical. Oh well.
April 14th, 2020 at 4:34 pm
@Joe in Michigan:
Absolutely right!
tickrdr
April 14th, 2020 at 4:47 pm
You losers looking at Gardner Minshew and being excited, show you how pitiful you guys are when it comes to knowledge of football.
Please for all of our sake stop posting your lack of knowledge is hurting all of our brains.
April 14th, 2020 at 5:16 pm
Would love to see Trent Williams in the new uni’s!
April 14th, 2020 at 5:26 pm
Mike….Trent Williams WAS the best at his position…generational…but he’s worn out with durability issues and a price tag that’s far out of our budget. No I do not believe he’s going to get his 18 million but I don’t even want to give him half of that in his present shape.
What is with this dying hope that JW could be signed as a backup here. Yeah when monkeys fly out of my butt!
I’m all on board with a Morgan type pick after the third round. The first three need to be impact players…OL…RB…and perhaps another DL or OL…build the trenches.
A “project” QB may or may not work out. A #1 pick in the entire draft may or may not work out! Do I have to list the MANY examples beyond our own miserable experience.
IF our project doesn’t show promise we’ll have to spend too much draft capital next year to get better odds for our GUESS.
April 14th, 2020 at 6:17 pm
NTurd: This redraft has Gardner Minshew going in the 1st Round (and SMB & Jamel Dean in the 1st, as well). Nice try, though.
https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2885613-re-drafting-the-2019-nfl-draft.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true
April 14th, 2020 at 6:28 pm
Better look at Minshew’s sheet. Had a better record as a starter, too (6-6).
There’s a redraft on Bleacher Report that has Minshew going in the 1st Round (along with Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean). That’s a sign he did alright for a 6th Round pick.
April 14th, 2020 at 8:28 pm
Anthony Gordon QB, WSU
4th Round Pick
April 14th, 2020 at 9:09 pm
Is Jamoist still unemployed?
April 14th, 2020 at 9:22 pm
Are there really people excited by Gardner Minshew? Something tells me they’re the same people that loved Mike Glennon and his 15 points a game.
Anywho Minshew had a couple of good games that highly inflated his stats, otherwise he was pretty mediocre. There’s a reason he lost his job to someone as bad as Nick Foles.
With that said Minshew was a rookie and showed some promise — not enough promise for me to get excited about him, but enough for me to say he should get a chance to compete in camp.
But talking about him like he’s the next Matt Ryan? LOL!
April 14th, 2020 at 9:24 pm
I’d be okay with Gordon, or any day 3 QB who has nice potential.
tickrdr: Thanks!
April 14th, 2020 at 9:24 pm
After watching tons of highlights and games of Eason and Love I’ve come to a conclusion. I’d take Eason if we go QB. The biggest difference to me is that Eason has a quicker release of the ball than Love. Love has to long of a wind up. Both need a lot of work with footwork. Not saying I’d draft a QB in rd 1. My preference is OL or DL in the 1st. No desire to draft a safety early. OL, RB, DL in first three picks.
April 14th, 2020 at 9:26 pm
Rod Munch: Look at his stats. He played great FOR A ROOKIE 6th ROUND PICK. That’s all I’m saying. Can you deny this?
April 14th, 2020 at 9:33 pm
Day 3 QB pick is a waste. Name one that became a productive starter over the past 20 years — other than Tom Brady. I couldn’t name one either.
April 14th, 2020 at 10:00 pm
Tony Romo, Kurt Cousins, Tyrod Taylor, Garner Minshew. Those are some, off the top of my head. I know what you’re going to say, all of them are terrible. They all started in the NFL.
April 14th, 2020 at 10:34 pm
Dak Prescott, Warren Moon, Kurt Warner, Matt Hasselbeck, and Ryan Fitzpatrick are a few others.
April 14th, 2020 at 11:29 pm
5th or 6th on Gordon/Perkins/Morgan….please no QB before those unless hurts is there in the 4th.
We have to protect TB12 and get him a better run game. Also need that Safety in the backfield since its not looking so good for Evans.
OT
RB
S
WR
DT
RB/FB/QB
April 15th, 2020 at 9:12 pm
Joe in Michigan – As I said, his stats were highly inflated by a couple of games, his stats outside of those games was what you’d expect from a rookie (regardless of round). I mean if you can get a rookie QB in the 6th who can even make the team, that is a big deal. He’s someone who I’d keep around certainly and see what happens, but he’s not someone I’d build my team around — not at this point. If the Jags draft a QB in the 1st, then you know what they think as well.
However, as I also said, I’d give him a legitimate chance to compete. He’s a young guy, obviously, and even if I was the Jags and drafted someone in the 1st, I’d still let him beat him out. I don’t understand why more teams don’t try stuff like that — look at the Cowboys in 1990 (I think), they had Aikman and yet they drafted Steve Walsh in the 1st in the supplemental draft. They let them fight for the job, then at the end of the season the Cowboys traded Steve Walsh for like a 1st and a 3rd I think. They choose the right guy and still got something out of the competition.
April 15th, 2020 at 10:34 pm
Get Tua