Is Quarterback The Bucs’ No. 1 Draft Need?
April 23rd, 2023
“Just say a few prayers on draft night, Kyle.”
A guy who knows the Buccaneers intimately and has close friends on the inside was very clear Friday when assessing team needs.
Joe is referring to everyone’s favorite NFL Draft guru, former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik, the employed draft expert for SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Dominik broke down the Bucs’ draft needs in order: quarterback, pass rusher, cornerback, tight end, and the right side of the offensive line (guard or tackle).
Yep, Dominik thinks QB is a pressing need. If the Bucs had faith in Kyle Trask, Dominik said, then they wouldn’t have signed Baker Mayfield. Ouch!
Dominik said perhaps the duo will be in a real competition for the starting job, but he isn’t leaning in the direction. (Who is?)
Multiple times Dominik said he could see the Bucs picking one of the elite tight ends in the draft at No. 19 overall. He doesn’t think current Bucs No. 1 tight end Cade Otton has that kind of ceiling.
And Dominik also thinks edge rusher Myles Murphy out of Clemson could be in Tampa Bay’s sights at No. 19.
But quarterback remains Tampa Bay’s top need, per Dominik, and he would applaud University of Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker landing with the Bucs at No. 19, or after a slight trade up to get him.
Hooker will be rehabbing his surgically-repaired knee all summer and might not be ready until October or November, so no team can count on him this season. But Dominik sees Hooker as a priority pick, not one to pad the roster. “It’s not a luxury if you get it right,” he said.
Joe wonders if Todd Bowles and Jason Licht see quarterback as the Bucs’ No. 1 need. Joe can’t go there. Bowles needs wins in 2023, and Licht has been doing his best to build a win-now roster.
April 23rd, 2023 at 8:14 pm
What a freaking tard.
April 23rd, 2023 at 8:16 pm
Joe is referring to everyone’s favorite NFL Draft guru, former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik
Surely, Joe….you jest…….and I don’t mean to call Joe Shirley…..
The number one need in the draft is practically every position except QB……
We have no idea how good or bad our QBs will perform and we certainly don’t know how a draft pick would.
April 23rd, 2023 at 8:24 pm
Dominik should at least think before he open his mouth. Even if the Bucs believe Trask will be fantastic they should still go after any potential starting QB the comes available. I agree that Trask has shown nothing and Baker doesn’t currently look like a number 1 overall pick. But, it’s too early to give up on both. And picking a top QB is a low percentage game anyway.
April 23rd, 2023 at 8:26 pm
Strongly disagree with the ranking of his areas of need. An offensive tackle is a must in either the first or second round. That is def the top need imo. We have drafted defensive lineman first the last two years. I don’t agree that we have to address that right now. Hopefully Shaq has full recovery, JTS finally figures things out and Logan Ryan improves in year two. I don’t think a mid second or third round edge rusher is going to set the world on fire as the really good ones will be long gone. If the second and third year guys don’t progress then you do a full overhaul of that next year. I do agree with him about Hooker though. If he was a year younger and no injury he would probably be a top 5 pick. If the Bucs grade him out high they should grab him. Lamar fell to the second round and Mahomes fell to 10th overall. Finding a franchise QB is the hardest thing to do and if we can get one with the 19th pick they should absolutely pull the trigger.
April 23rd, 2023 at 8:26 pm
Long term, #1 is obviously QB, but not necessarily this draft. Pash rusher definitely is high on the list, maybe tied with OT. CB a bit further down, but definitely a nickel corner is needed at some point. I would say TE next after that. But, there are some pretty darn good TE’s in this draft, so maybe they end up with one high up as good value.
April 23rd, 2023 at 8:27 pm
Forget Mark. He has never shown any ability to evaluate talent. Not one NFL has tried to hire the guy in any capacity. There is a reason for this. Mark you’re not that guy.
He has his opinion and as far as I’m concerned he can feed the pigs with it. He has zero credibility in my humble opinion.
My prediction? We will trade back and eventually pick TE Darnell Washington from Georgia. He will help the run.
I’m not saying it’s what I would do I’m saying it’s what they will do.
April 23rd, 2023 at 8:28 pm
I’ve read Joe say several times that he doesn’t think they’ll draft QB early because Bowles is in a situation that if he doesn’t win immediately he won’t see next season. If I were the owner and saw a coach without vision of trying to create a dynasty, I don’t think I’d keep him on without results. If Bowles believes in a certain QB, I’d make it happen. I’m not sold on Mayfield (4 teams in 2 years). If Bowles believes in Trask-great, but I’m not seeing confidence coming from Bowles. I get that we have a ton of holes but if Levis or Hooker is your man, go get him.
April 23rd, 2023 at 8:36 pm
Mark Dominik was easily the worst GM ever employed by the Bucs so for me his opinion is a HARD listen 🤨!
April 23rd, 2023 at 8:37 pm
Uh. No.
April 23rd, 2023 at 8:39 pm
The two top needs is offensive lineman( guard or tackle) snd safety period. No edge rusher until day 3. Licht blows chunks when it comes to edge rushers. Or if they trade White then linebacker in the third round..
April 23rd, 2023 at 8:49 pm
As a team, yes we need a QB, but I’m not convinced we have our coach. They won’t draft a QB due to not knowing who’s going to be our coach next year. This is a wait and see year…
GO Bucs
April 23rd, 2023 at 8:51 pm
Yeah….. draft a hurt qb, let him sit another year while rehabbing,watch Mayfield and Trask. Ignore your real needs. Geez.
April 23rd, 2023 at 9:06 pm
Remember how they played last year with Brady, well imagine how they will play without him and his leadership… “Come on man ! “
This is the NFL and we didn’t look like any of the playoff teams
April 23rd, 2023 at 9:08 pm
Unfortunately if DOM says pick a guy – you should go in the other direction.
April 23rd, 2023 at 9:12 pm
If you don’t have a QB, then it’s always your top need as it’s the most important position in all of sports. It’s not really a controversial take. The only question is if there’s anyone worth taking at that spot – will it actually give you an upgrade over what you already have.
April 23rd, 2023 at 9:25 pm
Take care of everything except QB. Let the new HC next year pick his QB.
April 23rd, 2023 at 9:25 pm
OT, DT or Edge, CB , Safety, TE, ILB. For insurance, the Bucs would be better off bringing a vet QB in after the draft.
April 23rd, 2023 at 9:29 pm
Why would a hot seat, short term, head coach select an ACL, long rehab, question mark, QB like Hooker? Doesn’t make sense.
April 23rd, 2023 at 9:50 pm
Buc4ever is spot on. Get the best OT you can get. Between he and Wirfs you have the solid foundation to protect the team’s about for the next 7 years….whomever that qb may be.
April 23rd, 2023 at 9:51 pm
Team’s qb
April 23rd, 2023 at 9:53 pm
Between Trask and Mayfield, we’ll field a QB that’s at least a 6 or 7 on a scale of 10. Our issues with OL and DL are worse than that
April 23rd, 2023 at 9:54 pm
It would make way too much sense to give Canales his own rookie QB to overlap with the new OC installing his first ever playbook. I’ve been vocal about drafting Hooker, and I’d be 100% fine drafting him and not playing him one snap in 2023. We’ve got Mayfield on a 1 year deal and Trask on the 2nd to last year of his rookie deal, let those two split the reps and battle it out.
Meanwhile, you put Hooker with the training staff and QB coach. Get him to study his playbook, let him watch Traskfield take reps, study the pacing of the NFL game. Don’t dress him on game days, but when he’s ready let him loose with the scout team in-season. The point is getting away from the regular practice of taking a QB and throwing him in the fire as a rookie. Whether it be Hooker or almost any other rookie QB this year wouldn’t start for Tampa, so why not target one of the better QBs in this draft who also needs the time to acclimate to the NFL w/next to no pressure? Ijs
An aside, but I’ll be impressed if Stetson Bennett is drafted at all.
April 23rd, 2023 at 10:13 pm
Unless you have a certified franchise QB under center, that position is a top need.
You all are fooling yourself if you don’t think they’ve put a ton of time into scouting the QB’s in this draft. You’re also fooling yourself if you think Licht is panicking about the offensive line.
April 23rd, 2023 at 10:36 pm
I am not an ex NFL GM but if we don’t shore up the OL even P Mahomes want be successful
April 23rd, 2023 at 11:25 pm
A QB in the sixth. Top 5: DB in the second round and the rest in the trenches.
April 23rd, 2023 at 11:50 pm
I expect Licht to take a QB this draft. Licht can’t go into camp with just two QB’s. So expect them to pick one. I feel Licht is fluid with the 19th pick. If a QB falls that they like they will take it. Otherwise he will choose the highest rated player on thier board. From a needs perspective whether it’s a LT, RB, Safety, TE, etc. I’m not excited about the prospect of moving Wirfs to LT. But the move gives Licht options so he doesn’t absolutely have to draft a LT at 19. If you ask me LT is must but don’t over draft one. So fluid is the answer for this draft. Licht has lots of options.
April 24th, 2023 at 12:03 am
Of course QB is every teams biggest need but not at 19, ain’t getting our star QB for next 5 years at 19. I bet we thought about Action Jackson but NO money, cant bc sold the farm with Brady to get our team a Lombardi. Best value is longest return on investment, OL, aka Wirfs. Should find Donny’s replacement at 19. Draft all Big Boys, get a dominant OL to run the ball and can win with average QB’s. Move the sticks with only 3.3 yards per tote!
April 24th, 2023 at 12:54 am
You want a 90% guarantee for a draft bust? Pick a QB, especially in the 1st round. What a vote of no-confidence in Baker Mayfield by Dominik. And, if he’s still plugged in to the Bucs rumor mill, that’s definitely not a good sign for Baker. I thought Bijan might be a good pick at 19, if he lasts that long. But, great RBs don”t take you to the promised land. Nope! The Bucs need a great (and healthy) D-line, O-line, and LBs. Maybe the Bucs can luck out with a QB trade by offering up DW. Trey Lance? Then at least there would be a real QB competition come August. I hope Licht makes the right choices.
April 24th, 2023 at 2:07 am
With Brock Purdy rehabbing an injury why would they be shopping Lance? Do the 9ers think Trey Lance isn’t the answer? A big fat Red flag …pass
April 24th, 2023 at 2:56 am
We need a name we can give these people!
He’s connected to who? The Strength coaches second cousin twice removed?
After the stunts this guy has pulled I wouldnt allow him in the building!
Dominik continues to appear here despite the fact that all he has ever put out to include his days here at One Buc is borderline insanity.
April 24th, 2023 at 3:50 am
All anyone need do is listen to the Dumbonik and do the exact fargin opposite. Every time this cretin opens his mouth he further cements himself as the ex-failed general manager, and soon to be ex-NFL network spewer.
Maybe he could take Osqueeler’s title as the village maroon.
April 24th, 2023 at 8:08 am
#1 draft need??? Not by a long shot. We need to establish a franchise Qb. Maybe we pick up a Brock Purdy late in the draft. Someone who the coaches like and might play well in the system. But we have make sure the trenches are ready both sides of the ball.
April 24th, 2023 at 8:21 am
Goofarmer. You are the biggest coward on this site all you do is insult people that you disagree with behind a key board just like a 10 year olds child. Baker Mayfield is a proven scrub this is his 4th team in 6 years and you rather to gift him the starting job because you believe what one of the guys on Joe bucfan says. He’s the only one that talks about tanking and he’s the only one that claimed that Kyle Trask had a real chance to compete against Gabbert. Ira Kaufman has said repeatedly that no one knows what Trask is so I will wait and see what if he’s good or bad just like I would do if they draft a quarterback with 19th pick.
April 24th, 2023 at 8:39 am
The Bucs should draft a player that meets their needs, no concern about Bowles future as HEAD COACH, build for the team to win it all like they have over the last several years.
April 24th, 2023 at 9:23 am
Correction, Oneilbuc, the Buc’s staffers have a pretty good idea what they have in Trask, but they’re not sharing it. The signing of Mayfield has no indication of their opinion of Trask because we needed an experienced backup anyway. We’ll all find out this summer and fall.
That said, we’ll probably add one late in the draft. Might even add a USFA.
April 24th, 2023 at 10:11 am
Don’t worry, Fred, Osqueeler and his “y’all” stuff can’t even count, let alone use any rational thought. And there are a number of Trask breathers who are convinced that there is a Trask Suppression Conspiracy, and they are holding him down on purpose. What that purpose would be? Well, don’t ask the resident village maroon. She wouldn’t even understand the question.
She claims there were 9 wins by the defense during a year that the team won 8. LOL!
April 24th, 2023 at 10:26 am
Fred . I agree with some of your comments but until they see him with the starters than they will know what he is . Even the coaches said it and the GM said he’s finally going to get a real shot. But I still believe that Baker will start the season off but I don’t have no confidence that he will remain the starter. Baker Mayfield is a proven scrub with a big mouth. I was one of the only ones who gave Baker Mayfield a chance even his last year in Cleveland I gave him a pass because he was playing hurt . But what I saw last year with the Panthers and Rams I was done.
April 24th, 2023 at 10:42 am
You go girl! You go girl!
Ever seen a photo of Brian Flores, “y’all?”
April 24th, 2023 at 11:33 am
Yes
April 24th, 2023 at 1:08 pm
The guy who chose Adrian Clayborn over Cameron Jordan is the guy I’m expected to listen to as being an expert at what the Bucs might draft?
I am not adverse to drafting a quarterback however as others have said we seem to have a lot of different holes to fill in this draft.
I don’t think any quarterback that we draft at 19 this year will have any impact for this year or even next year. Given that Todd Bowles is on the hot seat having had a losing season despite the goat I fully expect that they will try to retool the offensive line and the defensive line in this draft.
April 24th, 2023 at 3:42 pm
And so who did Dominik draft at QB… Josh Freeman and Mike Glennon.
Both of these guys were “decent” JFRO actually won 10 games his second year before imploding. But neither of them can be described as true “franchise QB’s”
The players on the roster are as talented as those two. Mayfield is a freaking Heiman winner who led the fantastically crappy Browns franchise to the playoffs and a first round win over the hated Steelers.
I’m not suggesting Mayfield is that “franchise QB” I am suggesting that if somebody did something once they can do it again. There is no reason not to believe that with the right team Mayfield gets to the playoffs again.
Trask…no comment…unlike many here I gotta see him play first.
April 24th, 2023 at 5:56 pm
Oh, I got it now.
Mark Dominick = Rock Tard
April 24th, 2023 at 8:27 pm
Why draft a QB who won’t play for the first half of the season? They will probably get a higher (hopefully not too much higher) pick next year. They can draft someone cimparable to Hooker then. Get the best player available at a position of need.
April 24th, 2023 at 10:34 pm
Take everyone off the board that the turd Dominik likes… which isn’t hard. Murphy is from Clemson and he SHOULD know it would be received awfully by fans, Hooker is overaged and damaged, and anyone else he likes is destined to fail… TE? C’mon, man!
April 27th, 2023 at 6:56 pm
Defense wins Championships!
But its offensive ability that gets you there.
Bucs are old and slow.
NO QUARTERBACK!!! This is not a group of coaches that can train a QB.
Need a top lineman. If the best is a center, take him. I don’t want a guard that can’t control his weight and has slow feet. Can be a right tackle.
Running back is wasted pick with this line.
Unless off the charts, pass on TE. Ya drafted two last year.
A WR that can separate off the line.
Really need 4 to 6 players on defense.
With that many needs, A QB, especially a project is a waste of a pick, as well as a distraction in camp.