Free Agent Quarterbacks
March 11th, 2022
Please, no.
In the wake of this week’s quarterback shuffling, Joe has a strong feeling that free agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is very much in play with the Bucs. It’s not what Joe wants and it surely isn’t what Joe is advocating, but this is what the tea leaves read.
Two years ago Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians slobbered over Bridgewater like Joe does for Rachel Watson. Thankfully, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Arians lured Tom Brady, so the bullet was dodged. Then.
Tuesday, the Broncos traded for Russell Wilson, ending the Bridgewater experiment. Given the haul Denver coughed up to get Wilson, it appears it was a very expensive failed Bridgewater experiment.
So with the Bucs in dire need of a quarterback (unless you are a believer in Blaine Gabbert or Kyle Trask), and Bridgewater looking for work, is it a stretch to expect to see Bridgewater in pewter and red?
Vinnie Iyer of the Sporting News isn’t impressed. Iyer ranked his top-10 free agent quarterbacks and believes Bridgewater is middle of the pack.
5. Teddy Bridgewater, Broncos (age: 29)
Bridgewater resurrected his career, like [Jameis] Winston, getting into the Saints’ offense with Brees and Payton. He did OK back full-time starting with the Panthers and Broncos, but he is probably most useful as a seasoned backup going forward. He’s a good candidate to return to Denver behind someone not named Drew Lock.
Iyer also has a likely landing spot for each free agent quarterback. He has Jameis staying in New Orleans and projects Marcus Mariota to the Bucs.
Let Joe be clear here: Marcus Mariota is a horrible, brittle, runaround quarterback. And Arians hates runaround quarterbacks. Joe cannot see the Bucs getting Mariota.
And if you are banking on a guy like Mariota, then Joe has every bit of sympathy with the Gators crowd desperately hollering for Trask. Joe can understand Arians’ argument for Gabbert over Trask. But Mariota over Trask? That would tell Joe there is something seriously wrong at One Buc Palace or Arians has been hitting the bottle a few too many times.
March 11th, 2022 at 9:08 am
Mariota will stay healthy enough to play 2 maybe 3 football games…
Then in comes Trask.
March 11th, 2022 at 9:09 am
That Jameis Winston guy would be a huge upgrade over Blaine Gabbert. Dude threw for 5,000 yards his last time as a full time starter. Yeah he throws interceptions but so does Carson Wentz, Mitch Trubisky, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Cam Newton etc…..
March 11th, 2022 at 9:10 am
Can you imagine reading this list 5 years ago and seeing Cam’s name at the bottom of the list? My how the mighty have fallen.
March 11th, 2022 at 9:13 am
Fitz is 4th get him instead.
March 11th, 2022 at 9:15 am
I think Mariota is going back with Reich in Indy. That’s why they let Wentz go. I think we’re in play for 3-5 to compete with Gabbert and Trask.
March 11th, 2022 at 9:16 am
Bridgewater and Mariota don’t have the arms to run the bucs offense. if you want to know what that looks like think about Bruce Gradkoski’s noodle arm trying to hit an open Joey Galloway and the ball falling 10 yards short every time.
That’s an ugly list of QB’s there. If the Bucs go with anyone on that list we’re looking at drafting in the top 10 next year.
March 11th, 2022 at 9:16 am
What a horrible looking list.
At this point trying to get Jimmy G seems like the best option.
If that doesn’t work then let’s see what Kyle Trask can do
March 11th, 2022 at 9:17 am
I thought Newton retired. And Winston is mentally brittle. All of the guys on that list are bridge quarterbacks to the next one anyway. No way anyone would or should sign one of these guys to more than a 2 year deal.
March 11th, 2022 at 9:17 am
Iyer has no idea what he is talking about. I mean, where is Ryan Griffin?
March 11th, 2022 at 9:24 am
I think FitzMagic retired? …if not, throw him in the mix.
March 11th, 2022 at 9:25 am
Trask, Mariota, T-Mobile, Winston
March 11th, 2022 at 9:33 am
Funny, they left Gabbert off that top 10 list.
Mariota, with the Oline the way it is right now, Bucs will need a “Run Around” QB.
March 11th, 2022 at 10:08 am
I’d be disappointed with any of those options if it meant we went like 7-10 and still have no clue if Trask can play at the next level. Lol apparently Blaine Gabbert is not a top ten free agent, if he had to help Brady learn the offense he’ll definitely only resign here if he’s getting first crack at starting. He’d have to help any other quarterback learn the system so maybe he’s gonna try to milk the Bucs too
March 11th, 2022 at 10:09 am
‘Two years ago Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians slobbered over Bridgewater like Joe does for Rachel Watson.”
Reversing that, the image of Joe slobbering over Rachel Watson like Bruce Arians slobbered over Teddy Bridgewater is very disturbing. Oops, make that VERY disturbing.
March 11th, 2022 at 10:18 am
IDK why people who think Trask is the best option are Gator fans. People think he was good in college and it’s better to take a risk with him then go all in on some mediocre QB.
Meanwhile it was the FSU fans around here including one of the Joes defending Jay Miss winston’s 30 for 30 season.
March 11th, 2022 at 10:25 am
If I was hell bent on not giving Trask a chance to start the season, I’d choose either Fitz or Jameis from that sorry lot. Talk about going backwards though…
March 11th, 2022 at 10:27 am
Marita all the way. Could be a starter on any team. If you can’t see that, you’re dumber than a Chicken.
March 11th, 2022 at 10:29 am
Is anyone else getting tired of this?………
March 11th, 2022 at 10:39 am
COLIN KAEPERNICK !!
March 11th, 2022 at 10:46 am
Bring back the Amish Rifle!
Sadly, it will be Jimmy GQ in a swap for TB12
March 11th, 2022 at 10:46 am
I really think Jameis, Fitz and Trubisky are the best for Arians offense. The reason Teddy didn’t work out in Denver is because he was too scared to make throws to get the team back in the game when they were down, even when coaches asked him to try to force it down field. Mariota had a similar rap. Scared to throw isn’t in Arians offensive scheme and we don’t have a defense capable of taking over a game to let the offense play ultra conservative.
March 11th, 2022 at 10:55 am
All you Trask-hating, FSU-jersey-wearing, ignorant “fans” who keep knocking Trask without any factual basis need to get a load of these words from Bruce Arians himself.
“I’ve got a year with Kyle. Got to see Kyle every single day, watch him improve those nuances in the pocket, cause he ain’t afraid to stand in there. HE CAN REALLY SLING IT. HE’S GOT ALL THE THROWS.”
Suck on that lollipop.
March 11th, 2022 at 11:01 am
Looks like the only real option is to either play Trask or bring back Winston. Which as much as I hate Jameis he does know the offense and he has chemistry with the players on our team. Only problem is he throws just as much to the other team as he does ours in this offense.
March 11th, 2022 at 11:31 am
This is a situation where no news is good news. Give Trask a shot and fill the holes with this draft.
March 11th, 2022 at 11:48 am
Niles have you also heard what BA has said about Blaine Gabbert?
March 11th, 2022 at 12:01 pm
WHAT A HORRIBLE LIST!!!!
If you’re a GM looking at this list for your starting QB, you’ve already lost all chances of making the playoffs. Just throw in the towel. Stock up on picks, draft an offensive line, lose every game, and get a legit starting QB next year.
March 11th, 2022 at 12:49 pm
Why hasn’t another Super Bowl winning QB not been mentioned on the cheap….Nick Foles 😳
March 11th, 2022 at 1:16 pm
I agree with Joe Please, no
They will lose the fan base I am not that loyal all I need is a
JoeChargersfan web site and I’m done if bridgewater is a thing
March 11th, 2022 at 2:16 pm
Ya know Joe, most of us ‘Gators fans’ aren’t just clamoring for Trask because he was a Gator.
We are clamoring for him because he was on the bench for 3 years before his number was called. When Franks went down most of us thought, “there goes our season”. Then we Watched the change!!!! We were in awe of how much better he was than Franks! Dude has “IT”. I guarantee you if he gets a shot he is a winner!
March 11th, 2022 at 2:27 pm
I think we should go get the bucs-slayer from Washington: Hienke!
March 11th, 2022 at 4:19 pm
With that list, Play Trask.
March 11th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
I would like Mariota. He’s not going to cost much and he doesn’t get in trouble. He’s young enough to be a career backup for us if he doesn’t play like a starter.
Keep in mind…he had Gruden as a coach…and Gruden is total junk as a coach.
If we’re going to gamble…I say gamble one him. He’s no more than a gamble than Trask. Meanwhile, consider a trade or something.
Watson has too big of a cap hit.
March 11th, 2022 at 4:52 pm
Or we could wait till July when Brady makes the call to Jason….and forget about this trash list of backups remaining.
March 11th, 2022 at 9:01 pm
Trubisky is the better of this horrific list. I would not vomit if the Bucs grabbed him, but I would still feel queasy.
Barring some kind of trade for something better (Mike White, Matt Ryan, Cousins), I would prefer draft over all of these underperformers.
Enter camp with Pickett and Trask, have them fight it out. Unless he has dramatically improved, Trask might lose such a competition. If he won’t be the backup, trade him.