NFL ThinkTank: Bucs’ QB In 2024 Will Be Caleb Williams
May 2nd, 2023
Ex-NFL scouts predict.
It seems a bunch of ex-NFLers believe the Bucs won’t be worth a hill of beans this fall.
Regular readers know what Joe thinks about mock drafts. And last night, Joe was on a research expedition and happened upon The33rdTeam.com, which is a site run by former Jets and Dolphins general manager Mike Tannenbaum and former Eagles and Browns shot-caller Joe Banner.
There on the home page was “2024 Mock Draft.”
Hoo-boy.
But curiosity got the best of Joe. Wondering how that outfit thought the Bucs would do this year, Joe clicked: The Bucs, selecting first, picked USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
The article was pieced together by four men, ex-NFL types all, based on their evaluations and predictions of each team. The four men are all former NFL personnel men and scouts including T.J. McCreight, Kevin Cohn, Justin Casey and Evan Pritt.
They believe the Bucs will be so bad this fall they will pick first next spring.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask battling for the starting quarterback job. Caleb Williams put up rare numbers during the 2022 season for USC. The Oklahoma transfer and Heisman Trophy winner passed for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and only five interceptions while completing 66.6 percent of his throws. He also rushed for 382 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Now these four horsemen didn’t detail why the Bucs would stink so badly. Joe will guess they aren’t big fans of Baker Mayfield and aren’t moved or impressed by last year’s worst rushing attack, with almost the very same crew returning from that sorry backfield.
Joe has a difficult time thinking the Bucs’ running game won’t improve a little from last year, despite not adding any running back of note in the draft or free agency.
(Yes, Joe knows the Bucs signed an UDFA from Syracuse, Sean Tucker, and signed free agent Chase Edmonds. Not exactly Eric Dickerson and Jerome Bettis.)
May 2nd, 2023 at 12:13 am
It’s possible.
May 2nd, 2023 at 12:14 am
Okay, that would be cool although the Bucs would probably have to go 2-15 or 3-14 to pick 1st. I notice they have the Rams 2nd and picking Drake Maye. They have the Falcons 12th and selecting JJ McCarthy out of Ann Arbor. Saints pick #19 (like the Bucs one and done in the playoffs?) and the Panthers pick going to the Bears at 14. I guess they think Carolina and the ATL will be substantially better than Tampa. Somehow I think the Bucs will manage to win 5 or 6 games by being competitive in the division and then getting some wins over teams like the Colts and Texans and likely miss out on Caleb or Maye.
May 2nd, 2023 at 12:17 am
I guess we’re going to hear about this sh!t for another six months until we’re out of the running for the first overall pick.
This promises to be JBF’s most annoying obsession ever. Kill me now.
May 2nd, 2023 at 12:28 am
Look at the headcoich.
It’s certainly possible.
May 2nd, 2023 at 12:29 am
Sasquatch, I feel you. My guess is we pick in the middle of the first round. Obviously just a guess. We have the makings of a solid team on paper, especially if the offense changes the way it’s being presented. I think the defense will be just fine, and likely improved.
Many think coaching will ruin it regardless, but the coach will be painted in a corner and will presumably do anything to get wins. Whether that happens or not, we shall see.
May 2nd, 2023 at 12:30 am
Kyler Traskerfield = 3-14= Caleb Williams.
May 2nd, 2023 at 12:31 am
I gotta think our defense alone will allow us to be better than the worst teams. You almost have to try to be dead last. I remember even really pathetic seasons we somehow ended up picking 4th
May 2nd, 2023 at 12:33 am
It’s hard for Joe to believe the Bucs would be this p!ss poor to be drafting Caleb Williams.
Drake Maye? Not even sure about that.
Michael Penix or Quinn Ewers? More likely.
May 2nd, 2023 at 12:34 am
No Tom Brady to save this coaching staff from itself.
May 2nd, 2023 at 12:58 am
Good coaching could make this Bucs team competitive.
May 2nd, 2023 at 1:00 am
Suck bad enough to get a top pick or be a contender which is wishful thinking. We already know from last year what 8-9 will get us in the draft. Mediocre just won’t do
May 2nd, 2023 at 1:01 am
There is no battle between Baker and Trask. They will get a cheap vet QB to battle Trask for second string. We all seen the Bucs and Jason Licht smell of something awful for years, but they will never “tankforCalleb” like so many insanely idiotic idiots spout. How about “SUPERBOWLCHAMPS!” Bucs with a somewhat healthy defense will be able to get six wins and that’s not first pick.
May 2nd, 2023 at 1:02 am
Although the Bucs will be sunk by Todd Bowels, they won’t be the worst team…
Commandos and Packers will battle all season for the #1 pick…
Bears, Falcons, and Colts will be worse than the Bucs!
May 2nd, 2023 at 1:23 am
Please don’t believe the hype from these four horsemen, this is not the WWF, which is fake n always predictable. This Bucs team have improved from 2022.
1.We have a qb “MayBe or Trash”😝 who’s not dealing with personal problems
during the season, n can use their legs.
2. The front line is much more experienced n has depth.
3. We still have the same two pro bowl wrs n drafted one with blazing speed
who is fearless n said “I’m a dog”.
4. We got young n aggressive all over the defense, adding a rare specimen of a
DT, who is quick, fast, n strong.
5. Our rb is underrated. He’s the number one man. He came in last year as a
highly confident rookie saying “I’m here to compete cause I want to be the
starting rb”. Indeed he proved himself. He can only go up.
6. Bucs returns about 70% of a top 10 defense.
7.Our punter will be better. He still haven’t used his 4.5 speed on a fake punt.🤔
8. Our kr/pr game will be much improved. DThompson is ready. No JDarden.😬
9. We have an OC who is creative and knows how to maximize players skill
sets.
10. Todd Bowles is on the hot seat. He must win by all means necessary.
May 2nd, 2023 at 1:57 am
I am guessing that our best hope is to win nine or ten games. My worst expectation is to only win five or six. The latter situation would still require us to somehow find a way trade up for the first pick.
This all really falls on Canales our new OC. He is a total wild card and unknown for me. He is the one who has to produce a decent offense with “Traskfield”. Only toward the end of training camp will I even hazard a guess what is going to happen this upcoming season in order to to spout a prediction.
Stay tuned y’all. 😄
May 2nd, 2023 at 2:04 am
Put in the old Gator lay down play just in case.
May 2nd, 2023 at 2:04 am
Bowles’ fate is indeed tied to that of Canales. Of course Licht’s fate could just as well be linked to that of Bowels this year. More fun stuff this year. It is going to continue to be a rocky ride for Buc fans. I am embracing all of the excitement caused by the unknown. All things considered, I think Licht has had a great offseason so far.
Go Bucs!
May 2nd, 2023 at 2:09 am
I loved the Bucs draft picks but many of those players will need to be developed and it may be a year or two before they reach their potential.
Licht is clearly intent on building another championship team, not just drafting players who will make an immediate impact in this upcoming season. He’s doing exactly what he claimed he would do during his pre-draft press conference. I’m sure the Glazer’s are fully on board with it. They understand it requires more than a single season to rebuild after losing great players as they have due to the salary cap situation. They want to see the signs that the team is moving in the right direction. It’s not solely. about the number of wins in 2023. It”s about building a team that can go deep into the playoffs which they fully understand may take 2 or 3 years.
May 2nd, 2023 at 2:19 am
Here’s my prediction:
Bowles is going to prove all you haters wrong and be here for many years, eventually getting his contract extended.
He’s a defensive genius, the same guy who built a defense that held the Chief’s to zero TD’s in the Superbowl. He’ll be fine as long as he has a great OC and I believe the one he hired has that potential.
May 2nd, 2023 at 2:22 am
TRASK IS GOING TO SHOCK SO MANY BUCS FANS!
He’s going to be the starter and he’s going to do what he’s always done when finally given a chance to play – SHINE.
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!
May 2nd, 2023 at 3:22 am
Nothing but conjecture at this point, but I slightly can see their point. 8 wins win Brady. How many without, but our stick in the mud offensive coordinator has been jettisoned, but like I said conjecture at this point. No different than claiming you know who the starting guards are at this point.
May 2nd, 2023 at 4:01 am
Drafting #1 next year would be what’s best for business.
And when you don’t have a QB, you’re not going to win that many games.
But the Bucs didn’t go into full tank mode, unfortunately, and I don’t think they’ll be bad enough to be selecting #1 overall, so they won’t get their franchise QB. Instead they’ll go like 5-12 and pick 7th and end up getting the next VH3 or Mark Barron.
May 2nd, 2023 at 5:10 am
There’s probably a better chance of the Bucs making the playoffs again next year than there is of them having the worst record in the league.
May 2nd, 2023 at 5:26 am
Very few of us believe in Todd, but not even the haters are thinking we are the worst in the league – bottom 7 probably – but not the absolute worst
May 2nd, 2023 at 5:41 am
*This year
May 2nd, 2023 at 5:45 am
Loved the first 4 paragraphs Joe. That was an awesome way to preface things.
Remember these guys are former personnel men…Wonder why? LOL
Ok…
Here is my prediction… Bucs win the Super Bowl with Tom Brady returning from retirement in the 4th quarter setting a Super Bowl record with 4000 yards, 50 touchdowns and one interception to D White. Bowles is then elected President with BA as his running mate.
The tooth fairy will present the newly named Canales Trophy to the jubilant winners
May 2nd, 2023 at 5:47 am
Loved the first 4 paragraphs Joe. That was an awesome way to preface things.
Remember these guys are former personnel men…Wonder why? LOL
Ok…
Here is my prediction… Bucs win the Super Bowl with Tom Brady returning from retirement in the 4th quarter setting a Super Bowl record with 4000 yards, 50 touchdowns and one interception to D White. Bowles is then elected President with BA as his running mate.
The tooth fairy will present the newly named Canales Trophy to the jubilant winners
May 2nd, 2023 at 6:26 am
Tanking is for losers who want to lose on purpose?? I know losers I wish the NFL would do something about tanking. They desperately need a lottery for the teams that’s picking at the top of the draft. And if they do decide to tank we will suck for the next 10 years. Who is the quarterback y’all want going to throw the ball to ? Evans and Godwin are not going to be here if the bucs tank wich means his recivers are going to suck wich means by 2025 most of yall on here will turn on Caleb Williams or Drake May. Only losers franchises and loser fan bases believe in tanking.
May 2nd, 2023 at 6:27 am
The crazy thing is they don’t believe in Maybefield (as everyone should) and want to replace him with a short, system inflated stat QB. No, thank you!
May 2nd, 2023 at 6:28 am
They absolutely are in play for the number 1 overall pick next year. They had a losing season with Tom Brady.
May 2nd, 2023 at 6:34 am
If anyone could predict the future they’d rule the world. No one can, certainly not these four. We’ll see what happens, that’s why they play the games. Things were real bad last year, and we still won 8 games. Leftwich was a real problem. Canales is ready for this opportunity. We had a solid draft, and there won’t be the Brady drama hanging in the air. I think this team will be better, say 10 wins, then who knows. I can’t predict the future, but your guess is as good as mine.
May 2nd, 2023 at 7:00 am
Tom Brady was washed up last year and y’all know it but I guess when you tell the truth about Brady it’s call hate!! I guess BL design plays to throw the ball in the dirt or dump it to the running back. Not to mention he was the one changing the game plan the day before the game and BL and Todd Bowles didn’t know until the game started. I guess it was BL and Todd Bowles fault that he went to a wedding in New England and decided not to fly with team to game or coming back from the game. Brady new he on a loser franchise and wasn’t going to be held accountable for it . But if you do then that means you hate Brady lol 🤣😆😆. And now most of yall including Joe wants to tank wich shows the losing mentality of a franchise !!
May 2nd, 2023 at 7:26 am
Possible, but not probable. Dmatt has a fine list of the how comes. When I think of why these guys are wrong, my mind fixates on the offense as a whole. 17 points a game. Worst rushing in the NFL. The inexperience and decimation of last years offensive line. Ol Lefty doing Ol Lefty things. The mountain was to high.
That reset button has been pushed. If canales can fix the run game issues, I think Baker or Kyle will be fine at qb. The oline is still a lingering concern, but, the big uglies have real game experience of getting put on their collective arses which is the best experience of all imo.
May 2nd, 2023 at 7:27 am
I can understand that realm of thinking the Bucs won 8 games with Brady as quarterback and Bowles as coach so without Brady with a worse inexperienced team I could see only 5 wins at the most maybe less and by the way Bowles is still here. The conditioning on this team is bad there always seems to 2 or 3 people out with no experienced depth especially on defense this is going to be an issue.
May 2nd, 2023 at 7:48 am
I’m dead set against tanking until you are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but I have zero confidence in Bowles as a head coach and I fear the loses will come naturally. So be it written, do be it done.
May 2nd, 2023 at 7:52 am
Oneilbuc Says:
May 2nd, 2023 at 7:00 am
Tom Brady was washed up last year and y’all know it but I guess when you tell the truth about Brady it’s call hate!
Except there was no one more wrong on this stite in April of 2020 when you said that Brady was washed up, Belichick was a genius and there was no way that Brady and Arians could win a superbowl.
Dude your revisionist history is like your brain. Dementia like.
May 2nd, 2023 at 7:59 am
We won’t be picking first. Now if Lovie Smith was still our coach…
May 2nd, 2023 at 8:01 am
The Bucs are not going to have to tank they will be totally bad without tanking. Everyone in the division improved during free agency and the draft but the Bucs. If you didn’t improve and have a very bad head coach how can you expect to win.
May 2nd, 2023 at 8:02 am
Don’t worry about the run game we have Ronnie Brown the Sheperd great
May 2nd, 2023 at 8:11 am
Letsbucinggo —
Just not seeing Atlanta as much improved other than their 1st round draft pick.
Those two quarterbacks seem no better than the Bucs. Their defense is still clearly worse than ours.
Certainly, New Orleans is better with Carr over Winston. Is he that much of a stud though that he can’t be beat.
Carolina is apparently hoping that a 5 foot 9.5, 188lb quarterback that was allowed almost 3 seconds a drop back to throw at Alabama will hit. That seems like still just a projection to me.
Let me know what you think. Certainly, we can disagree.
May 2nd, 2023 at 8:18 am
Bowles will blunder in to a late season meaningless win to blow it.
May 2nd, 2023 at 8:25 am
We are breaking in an inexperienced OC, we have an unsuccessful, retread HC, a rearranged, not retooled, OL, a young DL, questionable OLBs, no Nickel back, our QBs could be called BAKED TRASH as a nickname, Saints added a vet QB, Panthers added Bryce Young, ATL added Bijan to an already successful running offense with 2 freak receivers, after all that, you really think this team is going to be so successful that we aren’t going to be close enough to at least trade up for the 1st pick, go ahead and read this twice, let it sink in
May 2nd, 2023 at 8:30 am
Joe:
The Bucs have arguably the worst coach in the NFL with no QB. Of course, analysts are going to think the Bucs will stink this year, because most likely they will.
I do think the Bucs have too good of a roster to have the worst record in the NFL. The Bucs will probably win 5 or 6 games and have a pick in the top 10.
There is a bevy of highly regarded college QB’s this year.
I really like Williams and Maye, but Ewers from Texas looks really good too.
May 2nd, 2023 at 8:52 am
With Bowles as HC, extreme Fail is possible.
Never underestimate the suck influence of a bad Head Coach.
May 2nd, 2023 at 9:43 am
This is very possible. Terrible head coach, no QB, and Goedeke is your starting RT. And this roster is overrated by us fans. If we’re being honest, the only elite players on this roster are Tristan Wirfs and Winfield.
May 2nd, 2023 at 9:52 am
Geno711. Again in April of 2020 know one knew that AB and Gronk was coming. Again how did Brady look when those guys left?? That’s a question you don’t want to answer because you know he was bad because he was washed. I didn’t let AB and Gronk fool me with Brady like you did. And don’t forget BA change the play book for Brady wich was a good idea. Every team in 2020 that Brady wanted to play for told him no . He didn’t have a choice but play for the bucs in 2020 .
May 2nd, 2023 at 9:58 am
Geno711 your right time will tell but Atlanta drafting the running back from Texas tells me they will have a strong running game. Since Suh left we have stuggled in that department. Bryce Young hes the #1 pick you would think he come out smoking but who knows. We are going to get only so much out of Mayfield and I am beginning to think Trask is a bust and they Bucs know it. A good defense if healthy and a very suspect offense.
May 2nd, 2023 at 10:24 am
It sets up for C Williams and hire the coach with him after a total collapse — package deal
A very painful year to get there
Obviously lots of unfortunate things have to happen to get there including likely injuries to one or both QBs and the misery of at least 1 long losing streak
I hope the season doesn’t go that way
May 2nd, 2023 at 10:41 am
ALL OF US HERE have see what a 5 win or less Bucs team looks like, and that was facing guys like Cam Newton, Matt Ryan and Drew Brees twice year in our division. I just don’t see this roster being a 5-win roster. Our coaching tree is better, I think our skill players are better. I think up and down the roster we’re better than a 5 win team. I can see 8/9 wins. Baker or Trask should be fine. Man, we managed to win 8 games last year averaging 17 pts/game. I just think this team is better than that, especially with a healthier offensive line. Then again, I probably went into the Josh McKown season thinking we have potential and we know how all that went. But hindsight, that roster was sh!t… One of the worst O-lines I’ve ever witnessed.
May 2nd, 2023 at 10:51 am
Oneilbuc
Your revisionist history is hilarious, or you have early signs of dementia.
The archives are here:
1. Multiple times said that Brady had a noddle arm, and no way could Bucs win a Super Bowl with a 43-year-old noodle arm quarterback.
2. Gronk was signed well before training camp. Not once did you get on this site and say that now that the Bucs had Gronk, you thought they were Super Bowl contenders.
3. Antonio Brown was signed. You had a chance at that point to get on board and root for the Bucs and say that you thought that they had a chance to win the Super Bowl. Zero times did you make that statement.
4. When Jameis Winston went 5 for 5 in relief for the Saints, you choose to get on this site and say that Jameis was on a much better team than the Bucs.
Pretty sure that no one on this site other than you consider your revisionist history as accurate. The archives are here to prove you wrong again.
May 2nd, 2023 at 11:13 am
Geno. The truth is the truth I know now days a lot of y’all can’t let go of player or except the fact that when they’re time is up . I would have never thought I would ever see Jerry Rice, Dan Marino , Warren Moon and others play bad football you couldn’t have never tell me they would not be good players. But when it’s over it’s over . Roy Jones I saw when he was washed up even Jordan so it happens to all great players . Patrick Mahomes , Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts , Josh Allen time will come to a end regardless how you and others feel about it . But so far Tampa is where young quarterbacks careers come and die and that’s a fact so what makes you think Caleb Williams or Drake May will develop in Tampa?? At this point the bucs got to try in win as much as they can because that super bowl will always be a Brady super bowl to you and most of yall on here more than the bucs. And I will stand a long believing that Brady was not the only reason why we won that’s how most of yall think on here. Did Brady helps us win yes because he was the starting quarterback just like Brad Johnson did in 2002 .
May 2nd, 2023 at 11:24 am
Oneilbuc
I am glad in the last comment you did not dispute your incorrect history on Brady and rooting for the Bucs. Baby steps.
May 2nd, 2023 at 11:28 am
Osqueeler, who is y’all? Not only can’t you count, you don’t take accountability for being a brainmidget either, just spouting “y’all” nonsense like a know-it-all when you don’t even know what Brian Flores looks like.
Name the 9 wins the defense got in an 8-win losing season for Bloweszo’s Bucs. Don’t have your mom type another word for you until you answer.
May 2nd, 2023 at 11:41 am
It is equally possible that the Bucs will win the Super Bowl this season. As to say, probably not very likely for either outcome.
May 2nd, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Some Bucs “fans”: THERE’S NO WAY THE BUCS CAN MAKE THE PLAYOFFS WITH TODD BOWLES AS COACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uh, they made the playoffs LAST YEAR with Bowles as coach.
May 2nd, 2023 at 2:14 pm
Joe Milton Tennessee quarterback that gave Hooker a run for the money in 2021. He played pretty good when Hooker tore his acl. He will more than likely be a Day 1 quarterback also. Hes 6′ 5″ 245lbs.
May 2nd, 2023 at 2:16 pm
Hoe in Michigan with another brilliant take.
8-10, a Tom Brady away from being 4-13. Bloweszo’s 4th consecutive losing season as headcoich. Biotch.
May 2nd, 2023 at 2:24 pm
Among other issues, what is tge difference between an early middle aged no.1 qb overall and a rookie qb otherwise the same.
These articles have mo logic I can see.
Hopefully somebody steps and gets to the right answer. Government by newspaper is sure to fail
May 2nd, 2023 at 3:01 pm
Goatfarmer Says:
May 2nd, 2023 at 2:16 pm
Hoe in Michigan with another brilliant take.
8-10, a Tom Brady away from being 4-13. Bloweszo’s 4th consecutive losing season as headcoich. Biotch.
^^^^^^^
I’m sorry facts hurt your feelings, Goatfarmer…Look it up, the Bucs made the playoffs last year.
May 2nd, 2023 at 3:03 pm
That’s the best you can come up with, Goatfarmer? Your name-calling game is weak AF.
May 2nd, 2023 at 4:22 pm
As far as the running game. I fully expect Canales to get creative with blocking schemes. That alone should have a positive impact on the running game. We have quite a few young athletic guys on this O-line. There’s no reason Canales can’t scheme double teams to open a hole. Or god willing maybe have a linemen get a hat on a linebacker. We can’t even evaluate our running backs based on last year. The blocking was so bad last year. Couple that with everyone knew where the run was headed.
I see a glaring issue that this team hasn’t addressed. Currently they don’t have a Left Tackle. Soooo… Either there’s a secret plan to bring Smith back. Or they plan on trying the Wirf’s experiment.
May 2nd, 2023 at 6:02 pm
My wild guess at this ridiculous early stage: Bucs 2024 QB will be…Baker Mayfield. Trask will remain a backup or dumped. Mayfield will do well enough to cause people to squirm and second guess draft priorities, even though they will probably need another QB eventually. The Bucs will remain mediocre under Bowles. Canales will be a slight improvement over Leftwurst.
Transition period, continued shuffling.
May 2nd, 2023 at 9:05 pm
Unfortunately, we won the NFC South last year. That means we’ll have a first place schedule. So, besides our conference games and the games versus the two divisions we face, the remaining games will be against teams that finished first in their divisions. Injuries and poor play could occur…yeah we’re picking 1st 😂😂
It’s going to be a fun year regardless, looking forward to the QB competition and our new rookie and free agent additions.
Let’s have some fun!