Todd Bowles Does Not Dismiss The Bucs Drafting A Quarterback Early
March 4th, 2023
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
Joe already stated that if the Bucs have a chance to land Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker in the second round, they shouldn’t waste a second in bringing him to Tampa Bay.
It appears the Bucs may have another SEC quarterback in mind.
Yesterday at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis at the combine, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson admitted he met with both Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Bucs coach Todd Bowles. Licht and Bowles likely wouldn’t waste their time with a player without being interested.
So Joe was going back through Bowles’ Tuesday quotes from the combine and Bowles sort of telegraphed that the Bucs could draft a quarterback early, even with Kyle Trask all but elevated to starter.
“[Trask] doesn’t preclude you from anything,” Bowles said. “It’s going to be a competition at every spot – that’s going to be every year.
“As long as [I’ve] been a coach, there’s going to be competition. We’ll look at everybody. We’ll try to take the best players available. We’ll see who can help us, who can try to help us, but Kyle will compete. He’s the only one on the roster right now.”
If the Bucs do draft Richardson, Joe cannot fathom him starting in 2023. He’s a project. World of talent, but a project. He really needs seasoning.
Joe would still rather get Hooker in the second round at No. 19 draft a pass rusher or a left tackle or a cornerback. Hell, Joe would even welcome Bijan Robinson at No. 19.
Richardson at No. 19? You talk about a “Hail Mary.”
March 4th, 2023 at 8:07 am
Pass. More pressing needs this year.
March 4th, 2023 at 8:09 am
JOE: “World of talent”
At what? running back? Tight end?
March 4th, 2023 at 8:11 am
Perhaps Bowles is a genius and knows Richardson is overhyped and is trying to induce other teams to waste a high draft pick on him? 🙂
March 4th, 2023 at 8:13 am
If you want any QB for the Bucs to have a chance for success next year the last thing you want to do is draft a project QB with your first pick. I’d rather see us pick a TE like Mayer out of N.D.. Pair him with Otton, and make our offense really QB friendly would be the way to go. If the corner Gonzalas from Or slips to 19, and you draft him, that would still help our offense more by making our D better than drafting a QB. No projects this draft in any round.
March 4th, 2023 at 8:14 am
Nothing but speculation until our number is actually called on Draft Day.
March 4th, 2023 at 8:22 am
I would be shocked if Hooper falls to the 19th pick of the 2nd round. He is getting a lot of hype and teams want a guy with his potential. I have a feeling he will probably go late first early 2nd round. Teams always reach when drafting a QB. A guy with his ceiling will not last too long despite the injury.
March 4th, 2023 at 8:23 am
Smokescreen, tis the season
March 4th, 2023 at 8:24 am
BucBoy one thing I do know Bowles is far from being a genius.
March 4th, 2023 at 8:28 am
Hooker is the only QB in the draft I would consider. If not him I would wait until next year I am sure are place in the draft will be somewhat higher toward the top five.
March 4th, 2023 at 8:29 am
This man has NO concrete strategic plan.
March 4th, 2023 at 8:31 am
I could see that dude as a 4th, mebbe 5th
March 4th, 2023 at 8:31 am
Hooker is not an option. He’s 25 and coming off a late ACL injury. By the time he’s physically ready to play he’ll be 27. It’s a shame too because he’s a heck of a player. Without the injury is a sure fire RD1 pick.
March 4th, 2023 at 8:34 am
“It’s going to be a competition at every spot – that’s going to be every year.”
Unless your QB is Tom Brady…
FTFY coach…
LOL!
March 4th, 2023 at 9:05 am
How much say, if any, does Bowles have in the draft? I would think none. Because it seems Licht and Bowles have two competing interests:
Licht’s Interest -> In the long term development of the team, which would mean playing Trask, seeing what he has, and drafting for our many other needs.
Bowles’ Interest -> In not getting fired after next season, which would mean finding the quarterback most likely to get us smoked in the first playoff game again.
March 4th, 2023 at 9:13 am
Bucs will draft a TE in 1st round! SMH
March 4th, 2023 at 9:16 am
This post is akin to publishing a story that claims the sun rises in the east every morning, and sets in the west. What a shocker.
No team EVER honestly reveals their draft strategy or intentions before the draft actually takes place. Really, that’s news? Every player at every position is not eliminated prior to any draft, for every team.
Who is actually on the Bucs draft board? Well, only the Bucs know, and that is likely a moving target anyway until all the pre draft meetings and workouts are completed.
We can say it would be dumb to take a quarterback in the first round, and maybe that’s right and maybe it’s not. But is surely in the Bucs best interests to fake their competitors out not only prior to but within the draft process itself.
March 4th, 2023 at 9:23 am
Competition at every spot….except for HC……..unfortunate.
AR-15…..a great 5th round pick
Hooker….a great 3rd round pick
Let’s get the best TE, LT, CB, LB at 19 or better yet….trade down for extra picks.
And, Jason….don’t use the extra picks to trade up…..we need lots of players due to our cap issues.
March 4th, 2023 at 9:24 am
Talking to several ex players none of them think Trask will be the starter nor will we draft a QB. Of course they wouldn’t tell me who they do think but sounds like it won’t be a Gator QB.
March 4th, 2023 at 9:25 am
“The Bucs shouldn’t waste a second”…Was that a play on words about how the Bucs wasted a 2nd (round pick) on Trask, Joe?
March 4th, 2023 at 9:25 am
Pass on Richardson, he’s sorry. It would be funny watching the Gator fans argue about which one of those subpar quarterbacks should start though. Either way Bucs will go 3-14 in 23.
March 4th, 2023 at 9:35 am
Richardson is god awful, and is going to be a massive bust.
March 4th, 2023 at 9:41 am
Wouldn’t want him in Tampa, but I will say whomever is fueling Richardsons’ hype machine is doing a lot of work lol
March 4th, 2023 at 9:47 am
bucnjim Says: “Talking to several ex players none of them think Trask will be the starter”
Are these the same ex players who thought highly of Jameis? 😛
March 4th, 2023 at 9:50 am
Joe in Michigan Says: “the Bucs wasted a 2nd round pick on Trask”
Any facts supporting that? Or just your bias again?
March 4th, 2023 at 9:51 am
I really hope they don’t even sniff a QB until the 5th rnd. I don’t think they should draft one at all.
This is a deep corner back draft class. Hopefully they go CB, OT and DL in the first 5 rounds.
March 4th, 2023 at 9:57 am
Every time Bowles talks about Trask, he doesn’t really seem to be sold on him. Trask is the starter till we find someone we like better.
March 4th, 2023 at 10:07 am
Bowles is a Football Fool.
March 4th, 2023 at 10:14 am
That’s funny very few people outside of this site ever liked Winston. Maybe a handful of FSU fans in the very beginning.
March 4th, 2023 at 10:20 am
There was no competition last season at the QB position, and maybe there should have been. Brady phoned it in. He wasn’t focused. He won a few games, but he was also responsible for losing games too. The Florida QB should not be considered in our draft. In fact, starters at any other position should take priority over competition for Trask. We have too many holes to be filled to waste a prime draft pick on someone not likely to contribute anything on Sunday afternoons.
March 4th, 2023 at 10:36 am
They won’t draft a QB unless they trade back and acquire additional picks. It would be game over if they draft another guy and miss again. Hardly any GMs get 3 whiffs at that position.
Probably holding their hand close to the vest in order to make a move for a kicker…..
March 4th, 2023 at 10:38 am
BucBoy: It’s pretty simple, my brother Buc fan…If the Bucs took another QB in the 1st or 2nd rounds, it’d show they have little to no faith that Trask is the answer at the position.
March 4th, 2023 at 10:42 am
They won’t take a QB in the first 3 rounds, IMHO. The jury is still out on Trask, obviously.
The Bucs need CB, Edge, and OT, I hope that’s what they pick (in no certain order) in the first 3 rounds.
March 4th, 2023 at 10:53 am
They have interviewed a dozen QBs in thr draft plus formal interviews with Richardson, Levis and Hooker. I have noticed they haven t interviewed any running backs yet. I wonder if they don’t plan on drafting one?
March 4th, 2023 at 10:59 am
History repeats itself…
IF They draft a qb early, Bowels will screw it up as bad as Lovie if not worse….
Good qbs have come from other rounds like Jalen Hurts, Derek Carr, Jimmy G, Russell Wilson, even Tom Brady….
Richardson is likely one of those smoke screens people over hype every year and then ends up going in 3rd or 4th round!
March 4th, 2023 at 11:01 am
Tye Malik Willis prime example!
March 4th, 2023 at 11:08 am
We’ve all had bosses/a manager who was a good enough co-worker at a lower level position but shat the rack once over promoted. That/He is Bowels. His era ends badly ( see Jets, New York ).
March 4th, 2023 at 11:15 am
I would lay 100 to one that Richardson doesn’t make it passed the second rd.
I am not advocating for him in anyway. We need to see what we have in Trask first. Richardson has just WAY too much potential to last past the first round IMO.
March 4th, 2023 at 11:27 am
We need to a sure fire quality starter in our first pick– if we can trade down and get more draft capital and still get a quality starter with first pick- all the better. Same for the round 2– no hail marys with those two. AR 15 is a hail mary
March 4th, 2023 at 11:35 am
@Meat🐓
Bucs only have one quarterback right now. They need at least two more. Taking one in the second round means nothing as regards Trask.
March 4th, 2023 at 11:44 am
@Joe Swanson
great example! Malik Willis agent must have done ‘some favors’ to get the media to blow him up like they did last draft season…. AR might have the same agent.. .LoL
March 4th, 2023 at 11:52 am
the humility trait needed to be an elite captain like brady isn’t there for Richardson. he told the newspaper “i cant also catch every pass” and that he did want to become a legend.
I also thought he was brittle at fla, i know they tell them not to play hurt.
he doesnt throw well to his deep right according to will miles.
i dont know about his scores on sb-2 cognition, he does read plays well.
hooker was better on the eye test i thought.
running qbs might work, seems like a waste of mike evans to me
March 4th, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Drafting Hendon Hooker with our second pick should he be available would not bother me. I assume his would be another draft for potential similar to that of Kyle Trask a couple of years ago. With additional experienced free agency pickups we could have some real competition for starting QB at a reasonably low cost this year. Should both Trask and Hooker pan out by next year we will then have insurance at the position and potential trade options in an emergency as well. Sounds like somewhat of a win-win thing to me.
March 4th, 2023 at 12:00 pm
BucBoy: Hahahahahahaha! Good one!
You should become a Washington Commodes fan, you’re a real commodian!
Meat
March 4th, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Trade back a few spots in the first and get a pick in the 4th in the deal. Licht likes having picks in every round. If they are not completely sold on Trask, then draft Hooker. He gets a year to rehab and learn the offense and could even get playing time late in the season if he is ready. Then roll with Hooker in 2024 and beyond.
March 4th, 2023 at 12:18 pm
Any veteran we sign is Short Term and no one can be dumb enough to think that because Trask drafted he will work out.
We talked a lot about Bowles not having his own coaching staff, Trask can be his hand picked quarterback. It was BA’s choice
March 4th, 2023 at 12:19 pm
I also have read elsewhere they’ve met with Hooker and Levis. So, going through due diligence. People are afraid we’ll draft Richardson. I’d be shocked if they drafted him. I don’t think they’re in a position to gamble a pick on a project.
March 4th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
Pewter Power Says: “no one can be dumb enough to think that because Trask drafted he will work out”
So you’re dumb enough to think he won’t work out?
March 4th, 2023 at 12:39 pm
It is just amazing the Bucs retained the worst coach in the NFl.
March 4th, 2023 at 12:50 pm
Maybe try an find some other commentary besides b!tching about how Bowles wasn’t fired. It’s old news. ADAPT.
There are other things to talk about. Try contributing.
March 4th, 2023 at 12:54 pm
Smoke and mirrors to try and hide that LB or D-line guy he really has his eyes on.
There will be no QBs at 19 that aren’t a stretch, so draft Bennett later.
March 4th, 2023 at 12:55 pm
A big red nose and two tufts of red hair sticking out of each side of his head.
March 4th, 2023 at 1:01 pm
Bucs would be smart to either build the trenches or go after a Defensive player.
March 4th, 2023 at 1:04 pm
Mike Johnson: Exactly!
March 4th, 2023 at 1:12 pm
HC Grover Says:
March 4th, 2023 at 12:39 pm
It is just amazing the Bucs retained the worst coach in the NFl.
^^^^^^^^^^
Whether you like it or not, Bowles is the coach this year. If it’s too much for you that you constantly have to whine about it, maybe you should take up a hobby, such as dandelion picking.
March 4th, 2023 at 1:23 pm
It would almost be worth it to watch the gator haters have a meltdown. Either way, Trask needs and will get competition. No one should ever have a starting role gifted to them. Give him a fair chance and make him earn it or cut bait and move on.
March 4th, 2023 at 1:31 pm
Remember, In the big games at uf, except utah who had no idea how to deal with the heat of aug/sept, it didn’t happen for richardson.
the sec is good but its not even as good as nfl preseason is.
its not that he doesn’t have skills, but these picks need to produce wins, its not there yet .if he goes #1 you have to play him, and that’s a tank for sure.
what do you do then, draft caleb?
trade caleb’s rights?
lamar jackson, and cam newton lit up sec and similar scoreboards before they were drafted.
maybe richardson in the later rounds makes sense, it could be how this plays out.
or maybe you take the georgia qb that wins with none of richardson’s talents and gifts.
March 4th, 2023 at 1:42 pm
Every single up to date mock draft I see has AR15 going in the top 10, so people worried about another bust of a Florida QB coming here, they don’t need to worry about it.
With that said I’d be fine taking a project like that since you take a year to see what you have. Since he has so many tools, he’d still have high end trade value next season if you’re still not sold on him. Or, if he shows promise, well, you got a future QB.
The QB to Tennessee, from the limited amount I’ve seen, seems like he could be good. Taking him in the 1st however seems way too high, and I doubt he’s there in the 2nd. So maybe trading back some and picking up another 3rd rounder, perhaps that’s the way to go if they’re thinking about taking him.
But I’m still fine Tanking with Trask. Next year’s QB class is supposed to be top notch, so roll with Trask and if it’s a disaster (which I expect) then great, you got a top pick. If, however, Trask does well, then great, you got a QB. Worst thing the Bucs could do is something dumb like sign Brissett or Mayfield and go 6-11, so you miss out on the top QBs next year, plus since Trask probably didn’t play a ton, you still have no idea what you have.
March 4th, 2023 at 1:54 pm
Just pray the Bucs don’t draft that guy. There are a lot of other needs that we could address early and get some good players. Drafting him will be a project and I don’t want us to waste another draft pick on a project
March 4th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
Coach Bozo wants a runaround QB. Bottom line.
March 4th, 2023 at 2:25 pm
Troll Joe in Michigan. Mind yer own business. Why u care what I think? Go away.
March 4th, 2023 at 2:41 pm
I think we will have higher priorities than QB for our first pick and probably our second pick as well. The draft occurs after free agency for a reason. The Bucs franchise will know how it stands regarding the salary cap also. Meanwhile, my guess is good as anyone else’s.
My current targets for our first pick are edge rushers Lukas Van Ness or Isaiah Foskey and then safety Brian Branch.
March 4th, 2023 at 2:44 pm
HC Grover Says:
March 4th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
No evidence of that. Safe to say he wants a QB who can play and win, with or without the added scoots.
March 4th, 2023 at 2:59 pm
HC Grover: Because you’re a whiny b!tch, I don’t want you to be a whiny b!tch your whole life. You’re welcome, although you’ll probably whine about me helping you out.
March 4th, 2023 at 3:42 pm
Even if we moved up in the draft to take one of the top 3 qb’s….. I would still like to give Trask a shot for a bit to see what he is. If he’s decent we would kill his trade value by not playing him.
March 4th, 2023 at 3:56 pm
Rod Munch – you are fine with taking Richardson, and also fine with “tanking with Trask”, presuming that you know Trask will suck and Richardson might not. Comparing apples to apples, Trask played vastly better at Florida than did Richardson. Only one of those two player led the nation in passing yards, passing TDS, TD/INT ratio, and wins … while the other did not. Only one of those two players takes care of the ball. Yet you have convinced yourself that they’re equals.
It is certainly NOT clear that Richardson is going in the top 15 – I’ll be very surprised he goes in the first round, maybe not even the second round. Everybody sees what he is – an inexperienced, undisciplined run first quarterback who doesn’t take care of the ball.
March 4th, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Mind you, I’m NOT advocating that Richardson will be a great QB, maybe not even good. But dang, that kid is a freakin’ athlete. Set a QB record for vertical jump, 40.5 if I remember right, from watching the combine.
I could actually see him do well as a WR or a receiving TE.
Will Levis has a strong arm. Nobody else really caught my eye yet in the first wave of QB’s.
Watching this combine feed is rather interesting. Watched some in last few years, but for some reason I’m interested this year. Who knew combine coverage could be worthy of our time? LOLz.
March 4th, 2023 at 4:03 pm
Anybody else watching combine footage? Or am I just a bored football nerd? (Don’t answer that, hataz!)
March 4th, 2023 at 4:12 pm
Just cuz I’m geeking out at this fool’s measurables, AR at the combine:
Height: 6’4 1/4″ (taller than Kittle)
Weight: 244 lbs (heavier than Haason Riddick)
Hand: 10 1/2″ (bigger than De Hopkins)
Vert: 40.5″ (higher than Dev. Adams)
Broad jump: 10’9″ (longer than OBJ)
Haven’t seen his 40 time yet, not sure if he finna run.
At the least, I can imagine SOME team grabbing this guy, just cuz he’s an athlete – BPA.
March 4th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
PS: And there was a CB who ran a 4.27. 27!!!!
And there was a DL who ran a 4.39. 39!!!
Geez these athletes are only getting faster, stronger, better. From that old ’80’s show with Steve Austin, 6 million dollar man, aint no need to rebuild these guys faster, stronger, better – many of them don’t even need robotics.
Incredible.
March 4th, 2023 at 4:20 pm
Holy crap Richardson just ran a 4.44. At 244lbs.
March 4th, 2023 at 4:49 pm
Here we are, mid-season in the Liar’s Poker Championship, and Bowles puts in a bid on his bill.
Oh, puh leeze.
Richardson should be long gone by 19, not to mention the 2nd round.
Hooker has a better chance of going to the Bucs in the second round.
Bowles is really bad at Liar’s Poker.
March 4th, 2023 at 5:12 pm
Take Richardson if he is there, but I doubt he will make it that far. What an electric player. Worth paying to see.
March 4th, 2023 at 5:39 pm
Rod Much Says: “Worst thing the Bucs could do is something dumb like sign Brissett or Mayfield and go 6-11, so you miss out on the top QBs next year, plus SINCE TRASK PROBABLY DIDN’T PLAY A TON, YOU STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU HAVE.”
Rod, as you know, you have spent the past two seasons trashing Trask despite – as confirmed by Licht this past week – Trask not having taken a single snap with the starters at any time. Now, though, you concede that “YOU STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU HAVE” in Trask without sufficient playing time. Glad to see you acknowledge that all your comments trashing Trask were BS.
March 4th, 2023 at 7:44 pm
In the NFL, you have to be able to complete a high percentage of your throws. If a guy can’t do it in college, why would you draft him thinking he’d do it in the NFL? That’s the definition of insanity.
March 5th, 2023 at 5:06 am
The tragedy is that they have dismissed dismissing Todd Bowles, ensuring more directionlessness. Exactly what is this team about? What kind of QB depends on that and many other undefined factors. It’s a mess, and throwing Rah Rah Canales in there with his Seahawks redux and helium high confuses things even more.
Don’t forget that Bowles loves Blaine Gabbert, everything about him, and considers Gabbert “one of his favorite guys”.
March 5th, 2023 at 8:22 am
every position needs competition except the QB spot. QB is the toughest position in all of sports. name your starter and let him get every rep they can to get better.
March 5th, 2023 at 9:54 am
Bijan Round 1, Hendon Round 2.
March 5th, 2023 at 11:07 am
BucBoy Says:
March 4th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
Pewter Power Says: “no one can be dumb enough to think that because Trask drafted he will work out”
So you’re dumb enough to think he won’t work out?
——————————-
So your the kind of idiot that is on some type of Zach Wilson ish, let’s hope for the best with no back up plan whatsoever
March 5th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
The Bucs aren’t in range for Richardson. He’s going top 5 for sure. AR’s floor is Justin Fields and his ceiling is ridiculous.