Are The Buccaneers In The Market For A QB In This Year’s NFL Draft

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter the 2026 NFL Draft with several needs, but quarterback sits low on the list.

The Buccaneers are stable at quarterback beyond Baker Mayfield, who appears in line for a lucrative extension this offseason. General manager Jason Licht reinforced the room by signing Jake Browning as a capable backup, after already bringing back Connor Bazelak on a one-year deal. Still, with quarterback being the league’s most critical position, Tampa Bay remains active and attentive to any opportunity that emerges.

No Stone Unturned 

The Buccaneers have already met with a few quarterbacks in this year’s class, both formally and informally. When asked during his pre-draft press conference whether Tampa Bay would consider drafting one, general manager Jason Licht didn’t shut the door on the idea.

“We’ve looked at all the quarterbacks in this year’s draft, and we do it every year. We haven’t drafted a lot since I’ve been here, quarterbacks,” Licht stated. “But I’ll kind of echo the same thing I said – we signed Jake Browning and we like him. We really like [Connor Bazelak] and what he showed us last year and we had him all year. [We will] give a chance for the new staff to see him here coming up here during the offseason… But if there’s one that we like, that we feel comfortable taking at the right spot, it’s something that we’ve talked about. It’s something that we’ve talked about [doing] every year. So we’ll just kind of have to see how it falls.”

The Buccaneers held informal meetings with several notable prospects, including Jalon Daniels, Ty Simpson, Drew Allar, Joey Aguilar, and Taylen Green, signaling clear due diligence at the position.

Currently Comfortable 

The team remain comfortable with their current quarterback room. Any rookie addition would likely compete with Bazelak for the QB3 role, with Browning expected to back up Mayfield in 2026. Carrying three quarterbacks on the active roster seems unlikely, making a practice squad spot the more probable landing spot for that third option.

There’s also the question of Mayfield’s contract, which runs through the 2026 season. While many expect Mayfield and general manager Jason Licht to reach an extension before kickoff, there’s always a chance both sides let it play out. If that happens, adding a young quarterback could provide some insurance in case 2026 doesn’t unfold as planned and a new deal never materializes.

All Options On The Table 

You can never over-scout the quarterback position, and while it’s not the most likely outcome, the Buccaneers taking one in this draft isn’t off the table. Clarity won’t come until the draft opens on April 23, and even then, it would likely take until Day 2 or Day 3 before fans hear general manager Jason Licht make that call.