Is Jevan Snead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Most Intriguing Free Agent Signee?

It wasn't all that long ago that Todd McShay, draft guru extraordinaire, had Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead pegged as a first round pick.

The one-time University of Texas quarterback had transferred to Oxford, and things were looking really good for the Rebels of Ole Miss going into last season.

After a couple of big wins to open the 2009 season (45-14 over Memphis, 52-6 over SE Louisiana), they were ranked No. 4 and rolling into Columbia to take on Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks in a nationally televised game on ESPN.

Snead and Ole Miss fell on their faces, losing 16-10, and never really recovered from there. Sure, they finished 9-4, but it wasn't what they expected.

Snead declared for the draft after that junior season and had to realize that after watching seven rounds go by last weekend with no takers, he might have made a mistake.

He'll get a chance to redeem himself with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's probably the name you'd most easily recognize among the Bucs' free agent signings.

Snead has NFL size (6'3", 220) and a good arm. But he was erratic at times last season and perhaps threw too many interceptions.

Whatever the knock on him was, he'll have his chance starting Friday when all the draft picks and free agents show up for a mini-camp at One Buccaneer Place.

The third quarterback roster spot is definitely up for grabs. Backup Josh Johnson has long been rumored as trade bait.

Snead will have a big say when it comes to that third spot and perhaps the future of Johnson.

Either way, it's a good chance for the Bucs to take a close look at a guy who once graded as a first rounder.