According to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Bucs have been doing “extra legwork” on some of the quarterbacks that are expected to go in the second or third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Three quarterbacks likely will get drafted in Rounds 2 and 3, and a handful of teams have done extra legwork on them — a list that includes the #Bears, #Vikings, #Saints and #Bucs. @gmfb @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/CcPhUOVI1U
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 28, 2021
“There are three quarterbacks who are likely to go in Rounds two or three, those being Stanford’s Davis Mills, Florida’s Kyle Trask and Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond,” Pelissero said. “And I can tell you that there are a handful of teams who have done extra legwork on some or all of them. A list that includes the Bears, the Vikings, the Saints and the Bucs.”
Quarterback Tom Brady is coming off his seventh Super Bowl victory and remains under contract through 2022, but he’ll still be 44 this season. On top of that, Brady has been recovering from a minor knee procedure that he underwent in February.
Brady was initially expected to resume practice in some form by June, while backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert also remains unsigned heading into the draft. Considering these factors, Tampa Bay looking at a mid-round quarterback makes sense.
SR recently wrote about all three of the Bucs’ potential Day 2 options in one of his weekly Fab 5 columns.
But with the Bucs holding late picks in the second and third rounds, how many QB options will be available? As Pewter Report has discussed, the Bucs options at No. 32 could be limited depending on what happens in front of them. That same principle rings true as they search for a quarterback in the second and third rounds.
Will one of these quarterbacks slide? Would general manager Jason Licht will be willing to move up for a signal caller? As the Bucs continue to bring back impact players from their Super Bowl-winning roster, most recently receiver Antonio Brown, their needs on Draft Day continue to shrink. Now that Tampa Bay has reportedly put in the effort with these quarterbacks, what will it take to land one? And will the player they add be worth it if they do?
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About the Author: Taylor Jenkins
Not surprising because Gabbert may have priced himself out of the Bucs budget. Plus, there are reports of the QBs that should go in the first round falling.
My belief is the Bucs don’t have to draft a QB till 2022 or 2023. But given that AB is back in the fold now the Bucs can crush the draft by going BAP rounds 1-7.
By now you know how I feel about it. Will we actually draft a QB; probably not even though I think we will regret it. Since Brown resigned I expert Gabbert will sign today.
I really don’t think the Bucs’ options are limited at all .. they have all the options in the world with 100% of their regular season as well as playoffs starters resigned. The most likely outcome of this draft, despite a lot of blather from the prognosticators who are all predicting 6 quarterback picks or more in the first round, is just the opposite – maintainance of the routine three or four QBs in the first. Meaning that at #32, the Bucs will likely have several of the second tier quarterbacks to choose from .. and as NFL history has… Read more »
Egads, as I wrote elsewhere, drafting a QB with the No. 1 pick does nothing for this team next season. This would be the same bonehead mistake that the Packers made last year. Good grief.
The SB window for this team is as big as Brady’s contract. Where does a drafting a QB with a No. 1 pick help in this equation.
It doesn’t. It’s a terrible idea, for several reasons, not the least of which is that there won’t be a QB available at our pick who’s even almost worth that pick. Now, if Fields was to fall, then it at least becomes a reasonable question. Even then, it’s no clear choice. So all in all, yea, I’m with you – it’s a dumb idea.
Aaron Rogers was drafted in the 1st round, 24th overall (although he slipped considerably after Alex Smith was taken 1st overall)
Similarly, Lamar was also a 1st round pick, 32nd overall
You’re really firin from the hip here. Nobody is predicting 6 QBs taken in the first. Maybe you, since you so desperately want us to take one at 32, but you’re about it, my man.
Ugh
As a GM I would never draft a QB in the 1st Rnd unless he was highly considered a sure thing in my evaluation estimate. The percentage of 1st Rnd busts are high. Licht already has a 1st Rnd QB bust in Winston. He does not want to become the GM who drafts QB’s like he does kickers… always over-reaching them. If I was Licht I would draft this kid in the 4th or 5th Rnd. He’d be a perfect fit in the Bucs offense. https://appstatesports.com/sports/football/roster/zac-thomas/6152 Makes way more sense than using a #1 pick which would be a hail… Read more »
I like how you think.
He’s drafted one QB, so I’m not sure what you’re talking about and at the time, Winston was not an overreach. I’m not sure why everyone is on this wait until next year or whatever in regards to drafting a QB. Why not grab someone and let them learn the system and get to sit behind Brady for the next year or so. If you can get one of these halfway decent guys in the second, you do it. And who’s to say Brady won’t retire after another Super Bowl and then where are we? There is this old saying… Read more »
I am one fan who is with you on this. There seems to be a decent sized group of a local anaysts and fans who think that everything should be geared toward winning that second Super Bowl in a row this year. This would include all our draft decisions. I understand this thinking. That said, I feel that it is important for Licht (and the Glazers) to be looking to the future anyway. In the first round I think we should defintely be eyeing edge rushers Joe Tryon or Joseph Ossai I would be happy to see us grab quarterback… Read more »
Exactly! Glad to see more are seeing the light. As old and great Bradyis we still need a legit backup.
Well for one thing, because he’d be sitting for two years, not one. That’s just a waste of a heavily discounted rookie contract. The BIGGEST benefit to starting a guy on his rookie deal is that he’s making way below market value for his services. It enables a team to build extra heavily around him, spreading out top QB money across other areas of need on the roster. So instead of paying a QB $40M, they’re paying him, say, $4M, then spending the other $36M on (for examples) a great pass rusher, a top notch #2 WR, one more decent… Read more »
Brate restructuring makes the likelihood of Gabbert returning probable
There is going to be a run of QBs, OTs, WRs and CBs in round 1. All that means is the Bucs can take the best front seven defensive player available and be grinning from ear to ear.
Other than CB there is going to be a lot of defensive players available at 32 and if the Bucs really want they can go offense as I believe the run on OTs will continue into early round 2.
Where would we be without Brady? Finding QB’s isn’t easy. Look at Denver, just traded for Bridgewater. They haven’t hit on a QB since Manning retired. Carolina, the Jets, and now New England shaking the bushes looking for a competent QB. We wouldn’t be rolling the dice picking a Lance with the third pick, we’d be doing it at #32, big difference. Let’s add the Colts to the list. We would be them if Tom signed elsewhere, and we signed Phillips. Had that happened, we’d be arguing about what QB to draft in the first, not if we should at… Read more »
I don’t see any attractive QBs getting released as a result of his team drafting his successor. For example – Minshew would be interesting to me, but JAX will either keep him or trade him, not just send him packing while he’s a strong backup on a dirt cheap rookie contract. I really hope we don’t go trading anything other than table scrap draft picks for other teams’ table scrap QBs, whoever they are.
Unless a trade can be worked out with NE, I heard there’s a very high chance Jimmy G gets cut by SF. So if he’s not traded tonight, expect him to be cut before training camp. No way the 49ers are going to pay a rookie QB #3 overall money, along with Jimmy G’s 25 MIL. Not to mention, Jimmy G has a couple of teammates that are clear supporters(most notably, George Kittle). So introducing a rookie to the mix, alongside Jimmy G, might divide the locker room. And that’s definitely the last thing you want. Say they start Jimmy… Read more »
If the Bucs are serious about drafting a QB this year, then I would expect to see them trade out of the 1st round tonight, and using the 2nd rounder they pick up in said trade for a QB.