The QB situation for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seems to be a lock as Baker Mayfield is showing interest in making a return to the team. After his solid performance for the Bucs last season, it seems like a no-brainer that the Bucs will be eager to give him the extension he wants.
But what would happen if the negotiations between Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fail to bear fruit? They would have to take a gamble in the 2024 NFL Draft. Before Bucs fans begin to pick up their pitchforks and warn off against such a possibility, one of the team’s most respected icons gave an answer that would make more than a couple of eyebrows raise.
Bruce Arians thinks Tampa Bay Buccaneers can count on 2024 Class if Baker Mayfield deal falls through
Arians may have retired from coaching football, but he’s never far away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 71-year-old was heavily consulted by the organization, but he still gave way for Todd Bowles to make the final call with the team.
Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds talked with Arians to get his feel on the Bucs’ QB situation and the next batch of QBs. The QB Whisperer gave an interesting answer that will make the Bucs fans intrigued with the next batch of rookie QBs:
“I think it’s probably the best one I’ve seen in maybe 10 years,” Arians said of the 2024 QB draft class. “There’s just so many different types of quality guys. Tape tells you some things. I’d have to get them in the room and really put them on the board and get to know them a little bit better in a personal setting to put a stamp on them. But as far as talent, I don’t know if I’ve seen this many passing quarterbacks – guys that can really throw the football – come out in a while.”
This is high praise for any QB class, but this is significantly more impressive if you consider the previous QB classes that came over. The 2021 Class was probably one of the most talented in recent years as multiple QBs got selected in the first 15 picks of the draft.
For Arians to claim that the incoming rooks are better than that class is a testament to how deep the QB pool is. Caleb Williams and Drake Maye will not likely fall into the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but there are plenty of signal-callers left on the list who could take over if Baker Mayfield decides to head elsewhere in the offseason.
Of course, Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans would prefer to have a proven QB over an uncertain rookie. But if Arians gives this QB class the QB Whisperer Stamp of Approval, it’s hard to imagine the Bucs whiffing on a QB if they do decide to pick one up.
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