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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a lot to figure out this offseason. For one, 25 players are free agents heading into the 2022 season. They will have to decide who will be moving on from Tampa Bay and who will receive a contract extension.
Three of the free agents out of Tampa Bay include star running back Leonard Fournette, tight end Rob Gronkowski, and wide receiver Chris Godwin. All three were the main players in their respective positions and were key components to the Buccaneers' Super Bowl victory in February of 2021. If any or all of the offensive stars don't return for another season, the Buccaneers will have a lot of rebuilding to do.
However, nothing is official yet and there is a lot of time for contracts to be negotiated. There are also plenty of quality players in these positions coming from the 2022 NFL Draft and as free agents from the rest of the NFL. The Buccaneers have a much larger, more urgent hole to fill in their 53-man roster. This hole is the size of legendary, 7-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.
If you don't live under a rock, then you're well aware that the “GOAT” retired from his 22 years in the NFL. In fact, the news was so big that it was reported twice. Adam Schefter of ESPN originally reported the news on Saturday, January 29. It wasn't until Tuesday, February 1 that Brady made the announcement himself.
In typical Brady fashion, he led the Buccaneers to win their first Super Bowl since 2002. The win was in Brady's first season with the franchise, accompanied by Gronkowski, his longtime teammate. The 2020-2021 season was also the first time that the Buccaneers had been to the playoffs since 2007 when they were eliminated in the Wild Card Round.
Bruce Arians has been the head coach of the Buccaneers for three seasons, the latter two with Brady in the backfield. It is nearly impossible for a team to find a quarterback worthy of taking over after his departure. This, along with the fact that there aren't any quality quarterbacks available in free agency, makes the vacancy at quarterback harder to fill than any other Buccaneers opening.
For now, Tampa Bay's QB1 is Blaine Gabbert. He had minimal experience this season, only making an appearance in five games and throwing completions in three of them. He is one of the free agents currently on the market from Tampa Bay, so he would need a contract extension to continue his career there.
Right behind Gabbert is Kyle Trask. He spent his rookie season as the third-string quarterback for the Buccaneers, and only had reps on game day field during preseason.
There are a couple of promising quarterbacks that are available in the 2022 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, the Buccaneers' first selection isn't until No. 27 in the first round. Most of the quality candidates will likely be swept up by then.
Kenny Pickett from the University of Pittsburgh is the top quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft class, and he is likely to be selected well before the Buccaneers even have a chance to pick him up. But, who knows, maybe another legend will slip through the cracks like Brady did in 2000.
