Done Deal: Buccaneers Landed A Veteran Key Player As A Perfect Upgrade

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were undecided about the starting quarterback a year ago. Baker Mayfield put a strong stop to it with a stellar rookie year in Tampa Bay that resulted in a $100 million contract extension.

The backup position is now the focus of the inquiry. With Mayfield as the Bucs’ starting quarterback, is Kyle Trask the solution?

There haven’t been many regular-season opportunities for the former second-round choice. Trask completed 65.2% of his throws for 509 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in preseason games played last summer.
Coach of the Buccaneers quarterbacks, Thad Lewis, stated that they “won’t be scared of putting Kyle in” in the event that Mayfield is forced to miss any time, but it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t look hard to find a possible replacement.

Even if Tampa Bay believes in Trask, it could be wise to bring in more rivals.
Ryan Tannehill is a name to keep an eye on. Tannehill, who is still available in free agency, has three possible destinations, according to Justin Melo of the Draft Network. One of those destinations is the Buccaneers. Melo thinks Tannehill would be a better match for Liam Coen’s new offensive scheme.

“Tannehill is a significantly better fit to operate Coen’s offense than current backup Kyle Trask,” Melo adds. “Tannehill trained in Tennessee under Matt LaFleur, Arthur Smith, and Todd Downing, and Coen runs a version of the West Coast Offense. Trask’s stay in Tampa is coming to an end.
It’s a worthwhile point. It all boils down to cost in free agency, just like everything else.

Why not, if Tannehill is available for a fair contract?

With their current roster, the Buccaneers can win the NFC South. It makes sense to have a good backup quarterback who can lead the offense in the event that Mayfield misses a few games since they can still contend for a postseason run.

Tannehill, who has 151 career starts under his belt, is another former top-10 draft choice with a ton of experience, much like Mayfield. Tannehill had a difficult season in 2019 and only made eight starts; but, in 2020, he had a 106.5 passer rating, 3,819 yards of passing, 33 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. With a rating of 117.5 the previous year, he was the league leader.

Although Tannehill wouldn’t want to start ten or more games, the Bucs might use him as a reliable backup if Mayfield is sidelined for a few games.

It all boils down to the price of Tannehill’s deal. It’s a move worth investigating if the Buccaneers can sign him to a team-friendly contract.