Bucs' Top QB Options in 2023 Free Agency, Draft After Tom Brady Announces Retirement

Even though it was expected the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would need a new quarterback next season, Tom Brady confirmed it on Wednesday by announcing his retirement.

In a video posted on Twitter, Brady said he was retiring "for good" after 23 seasons in the NFL.

This is shaping up to be a crucial offseason for the Bucs with a lot of big roster decisions facing general manager Jason Licht. They have been borrowing money from their future over the past two years to keep running it back with Brady.

Tampa's bill has come due for all of those moves, as the team is currently $55.7 million over the 2023 salary cap. This will make it very difficult to do anything in free agency, let alone trying to find a starting-caliber quarterback.

If Licht wants to keep pushing more money into the future by restructuring contracts for players currently on his roster, there are some free-agent options who will be available.

Here are the top quarterbacks who could be on the Buccaneers' radar for next season.

---

Jimmy Garoppolo

The New England Patriots drafted Jimmy Garoppolo in 2014 with the idea he would probably be Brady's successor, so why not have the Bucs sign him to be Brady's replacement?

Garoppolo's market is going to be fascinating because he's been wildly successful with the San Francisco 49ers, but there's been an endless debate over how much of the credit should be divided between him and head coach Kyle Shanahan's system.

It doesn't help the argument for Garoppolo defenders that Brock Purdy put up virtually identical stats when he stepped in after Garoppolo suffered a broken foot in Week 13.

Another problem for Garoppolo in free agency is his lack of durability. He's only played a full regular season once since becoming the 49ers' full-time starting quarterback five years ago. He tore his ACL in 2018, dealt with ankle injuries in 2020, missed two games in 2021 with a calf injury, had shoulder surgery in March 2022 and the foot injury this season.

If the Buccaneers believe they can contend next season but don't want to invest heavily in the quarterback position, signing Garoppolo to a one-year contract wouldn't be a bad idea.

It would also allow them to potentially select a developmental quarterback early in the 2023 draft.

---

Daniel Jones

After helping the New York Giants make the playoffs in 2022, Daniel Jones has put himself in position to get a good contract this offseason.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen made it clear they want to bring Jones back next season, following the team's playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

"We're happy Daniel's going to be here," Schoen told reporters on Jan. 24. "We're happy he's going to be here. Hopefully, we can get something done with his representatives. … And that would be the goal—to build a team around him where he can lead us and win a Super Bowl."

Jones is coming off the best season of his career with 3,205 passing yards and 708 rushing yards. He accounted for 22 touchdowns under head coach Brian Daboll.

The 25-year-old has gotten better at protecting the football in each of the past three seasons. After fumbling 29 times in his first two seasons combined, Jones only has 13 fumbles in the past two seasons. His 1.1 interception percentage in 2022 was the best mark in the NFL.

If Jones' price tag gets to a level that the Giants don't feel comfortable going to, the Buccaneers could make a play to sign him. He does have to play under the right offensive system with a coach that knows how to utilize his skill set.

Jones is a free agent this offseason because the Giants declined to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal after he struggled in his first three seasons.

We don't know what Tampa's scheme and system are going to look like in 2023. The Buccaneers don't currently have an offensive coordinator after firing Byron Leftwich on Jan. 19.

---

Anthony Richardson

The most-likely avenue for the Buccaneers to take this offseason is go all-in on a rebuild. Their cap situation is dire and they had the oldest roster in the NFL this season.

Tampa's process has been sound for a long time. This roster was loaded with talent after the 2019 season, which made them appealing to Brady when he was a free agent. They won the Super Bowl in his first season with the team, so naturally the front office wanted to keep running it back with that group.

The 2021 team finished 13-4 and nearly erased a 24-point in the NFC Divisional Round before losing to the Los Angeles Rams.

After the bottom fell out this season, it's time to focus on the long-term future. Barring a trade up, the Bucs are almost certainly out of the mix for Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Will Levis in the draft. Their first pick is at No. 19 overall.

One option that could be available to them at that spot is Florida's Anthony Richardson. Scouting opinions on the 21-year-old are all over the place because his production in college was lacking.

Richardson only had one full season as the Gators' starter in 2022. He completed 53.8 percent of his attempts for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions through the air. He added 654 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

B/R's NFL scouting department has Richardson ranked as the third-best quarterback and No. 31 overall prospect in the 2023 draft. His arm strength and mobility are cited as the best among all players at the position in this year's class.

Despite being incredibly raw as a prospect, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. had Richardson going to the Carolina Panthers at No. 9 in his first mock draft.

"Let's get this out of the way now: I wouldn't play Richardson in Year 1. He needs time to develop," Kiper wrote. "He's not an NFL-ready thrower. But he is an awesome talent, a raw quarterback in a 6-foot-4 frame who would be one of the league's most electrifying runners as soon as he steps on the field. His size and physical tools cannot be taught, and NFL coaches will want to work with him and try to take him to the next level."

This is where the idea of signing a stop-gap quarterback like Garoppolo for 2023 could help the Bucs. He is good enough to steer the ship for one season and allow them to develop a player like Richardson with off-the-charts tools who probably isn't ready for primetime as a rookie.