Don't Make Assumptions, Bucs Will Explore All Options at No. 1 Overall Pick

Suck for the Duck.

Shame us for Jameis.

Even before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers locked up the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, these were the only two options given by fans and media alike, as to whom the team should select. But despite Tampa Bay’s weak quarterback situation, taking a quarterback with the top pick—or using the selection at all—is far from a lock.

Now, was poor quarterback play a huge part of why the Bucs regressed from a 4-12 record in 2013 to a league-worst 2-14 this past season? Absolutely. Veteran free-agent addition Josh McCown was the complete opposite of the low-risk game manager he was billed to be, and while Mike Glennon fared a bit better in his opportunities, the second-year pro certainly didn’t look like the type of franchise signal-caller who will ever strike fear into the hearts of opponents.

That said, there are multiple reasons why the Bucs could decide to go in a different direction than the one most seem to be pigeonholing them into.

First off, there are the quarterback prospects themselves. Neither is without his concerns, whether on or off the field, and every question mark is magnified a thousand times when it comes to a game’s most important position.

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Florida State’s Jameis Winston is the more traditional pocket passer and would likely have an easier transition to the next level after playing in a pro-style offense in college, but his maturity and off-field decision-making is sure to give every NFL front office pause. On the other hand, Oregon’s Marcus Mariota doesn’t seem likely to embarrass a franchise off the field, but the popular “system quarterback” argument looms over him like a dark cloud.

While Winston’s on-field demeanor and leadership ability are exactly what NFL teams are looking for in a potential franchise quarterback, he struggles with poor mechanics far too often to be viewed as a “can’t-miss” prospect, even without considering the off-field concerns. And while Mariota seems the quiet, humble type, there have already been reports that some teams could end up viewing him as “too nice,” instead of the fiery leader many franchises would prefer.

With plenty of questions surrounding each of the two top quarterbacks who appear to be the “obvious” choices, Bucs general manager Jason Licht and head coach Lovie Smith might prefer to use the No. 1 overall pick on a less risky option at a different position.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Even between the two quarterbacks, debates have raged on regarding which of them is the best fit for new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and new quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian. The pro-Winston camp has pointed to Koetter's pro-style system, while others claim that Koetter's previous experience working with Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich at Arizona State means the team is leaning more towards Mariota.

This line of thinking is nothing more than connecting theoretical dots and making more out of circumstantial evidence that is really there. Koetter's system is obviously more "pro-style" than Oregon's, but Mariota is a far better pocket passer than many give him credit for. On the other side of the coin, Koetter has already stated that Helfrich didn't learn the spread offense he now employs with the Ducks until after the two coaches had parted ways, as pointed out by Gil Arcia of BucsBlitz.com.

The point? Don't assume the Bucs' intentions with the top pick simply based on these kinds of theories. Tampa Bay fans should remember well how leading up to last year's draft, the popular opinion was to connect Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr with Jeff Tedford, who was set to be the Bucs' new offensive coordinator. Despite a very close relationship between the two, the Bucs passed on Carr, just as Buffalo's Doug Marrone passed on Ryan Nassib the year before, who had played for him at Syracuse.

There’s also the remote possibility that the Bucs could trade out of the pick, should another team be willing to sell the farm to obtain one of the top quarterbacks or another elite talent. For a Tampa Bay team that has very little quality depth across the roster, the prospect of moving down and acquiring a stockpile of premium picks for their trouble has to sound extremely attractive. It’s not a likely scenario, giving the price tag that would be demanded by the Bucs, but if the right offer came along, fans shouldn’t be surprised if Licht pulls the trigger to help rebuild multiple positions over the next two drafts with other teams’ picks.

At the end of the day, I don’t see another team giving up what the Bucs would require to move down from the No. 1 overall pick, but that doesn’t mean they’ll automatically go with a top quarterback if they keep the selection.

If the Bucs don’t feel comfortable handing the keys to the franchise to either Winston or Mariota, they’re likely to simply spend the pick on the best available player. When a team is 2-14, it’s usually because the roster is lacking in overall talent across the board, and while the Bucs have a few key pieces in place, it’s never a bad thing to keep adding the best players possible, regardless of position.

Outside of the quarterback spot, there’s not a big area of need with a player worthy of the top overall selection. Tampa Bay needs a top pass-rusher and more offensive line help, but they won’t be addressing either position at No. 1 if they go the “best player available” route.

The likely pick in that scenario would be USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who is considered by many to be the top-ranked overall player in this year’s draft class. Williams is a versatile player whose best fit in Tampa Bay would be at defensive tackle, despite that position being one of the few areas of strength on the Bucs roster.

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Many Tampa Bay fans might cringe at the possibility of passing on a quarterback to take a player who doesn’t fill a big need, but the idea of lining up the disruptive Williams next to Gerald McCoy in the middle sure doesn’t sound like the worst thing in the world to me. A dominant front four is vital to the success of the Tampa 2 defense, and there’s no offensive line in the NFL who would look forward to lining up against that tandem.

There’s still more than two months before the draft, and the rumor mill is sure to get out of hand again this year, as it always does. You’ll see a million articles about why the Bucs should take Mariota over Winston, and vice-versa.

But throughout the entire process, don’t lose sight of the fact that Tampa Bay has plenty of options at the top of this year’s draft. Despite how angry the fanbase might become if they pass on a quarterback, it’s conceivable the Bucs could go in a different, less popular direction, and it could easily end up being the more sensible, successful choice in the long run.

Luke Easterling is a Featured Columnist covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and NFL draft for Bleacher Report. He is also a Senior NFL Draft Analyst for Draft Breakdown. Follow him on Twitter @LukeEasterling.