Mariota, Winston Are Bucs' Top QB Options as Mike Glennon Continues to Falter
The never-ending search for a franchise quarterback continues for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Josh Freeman, Josh McCown, Mike Glennon. Next!
No one likes to discuss the team's future midway through the season, but the Buccaneers are 1-7 and rudderless without a reliable signal-caller behind center.
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Part of the problem stems from a lack of commitment to a top talent at the position.
The organization hasn't invested a top-10 pick in a quarterback since 1994, when the Buccaneers drafted Trent Dilfer with the sixth overall selection. The team has selected in the top 10 five times since then. Those picks became Cadillac Williams, Gaines Adams, Gerald McCoy, Mark Barron and Mike Evans.
Meanwhile, the team passed on quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Tannehill, Teddy Bridgewater and Johnny Manziel. The team also avoided a few busts along the way in Brady Quinn, Jason Campbell and Tim Tebow (none of which were top-10 selections).
First and foremost, the Buccaneers had to find out exactly what they had in Glennon.
After being selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft, Glennon outplayed both quarterbacks selected before him—the Buffalo Bills' EJ Manuel and the New York Jets' Geno Smith—during their rookie campaigns. That isn't much of an endorsement since both have been benched this season.
What the franchise found was an inconsistent quarterback who hasn't been able to excel even with solid surrounding talent.
Since taking over as starter for an injured McCown in Week 4, the Buccaneers are 1-4 overall. Glennon flashed talent in those games which validated an early-round selection. He's also made multiple mistakes and proved to be turnover-prone.
| Opponent | Completion % | Passing yards | Touchdowns | Turnovers |
| Steelers | 50.0 | 302 | 2 | 1 |
| Saints | 59.4 | 249 | 2 | 2 |
| Ravens | 54.5 | 314 | 2 | 2 |
| Vikings | 67.9 | 171 | 1 | 1 |
| Browns | 51.5 | 260 | 2 | 2 |
This isn't to say Glennon isn't talented. He is. After all, his completion percentage, yards per attempt and passing yards per game have all improved during his second season.
However, Glennon continues to put the Buccaneers in poor positions due to debilitating turnovers. In 19 career games, the North Carolina State product has 19 turnovers. That number doesn't include five fumbles Glennon's teammates eventually recovered.
An offense can't survive knowing its quarterback is a ticking time bomb just waiting to blow up at some point each game.
Sunday's effort during a 22-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns didn't prove to be any different. Glennon threw a pair of interceptions when the Buccaneers were in position to bury the Browns.
The first came early in the game courtesy of a severely underthrown deep pass. Rookie wide receiver Mike Evans raced past cornerback Joe Haden and was wide open down the middle of the field. The poorly placed pass allowed Haden to close the gap between himself and Evans. The cornerback tipped the ball into the air with one hand while safety Donte Whitner came down with it. A well-thrown pass would have given the Buccaneers an early 7-3 lead.
A more costly interception came during the second quarter. Tampa Bay led 7-6, and Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer turned the football over inside the Browns' 20-yard line. Two plays later Glennon misfired in the end zone and threw the ball directly to the NFL's leader in interceptions, Tashaun Gipson.
Glennon said after the game, via PewterReport.com, his turnovers probably cost the team a victory:
"The two picks in the first half were not good at all. Should have been potentially two touchdowns—throws I need to make. Just bad plays right there. Who knows what the outcome would have been if I [hadn’t] made those. ... Just frustrated with myself for those two picks early in the game.
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Prototypical size and a big arm—both of which Glennon possesses—mean nothing when a quarterback isn't reliable. For that reason alone, it's time for the Buccaneers to move on. The organization will be better served investing a top draft pick in a potential franchise-caliber quarterback.
A perfect nexus of ineptitude maybe be aligning with the stars for Tampa Bay to finally acquire that level of a prospect.
Bleacher Report's NFL draft lead writer, Matt Miller, projected four quarterbacks in the top 15 of his midseason mock draft. Each of these four has ample opportunity to become top-10 selections before it's all said and done. Each would also be a major talent upgrade over what the Buccaneers currently have behind center.
Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Of the three teams with a worse record currently than Tampa Bay—the Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets—only one of them has a crying need at quarterback. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, that may be all it takes for the Buccaneers to miss out on the top quarterback prospect in next year's draft class.
Mariota isn't simply considered the top quarterback prospect; he's already regarded as the best prospect at any position. Miller ranks Mariota as the class' No. 1 overall talent as does ESPN insider Mel Kiper Jr. (subscription required).
What's not to like?
The Oregon quarterback stands 6'4" and weighs nearly 220 pounds. Mariota does a nice job working through his progressions in the Ducks' scheme. He displays a quick release. And he rarely makes throwing mistakes. Over the past three seasons, Mariota has a 65-12 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
The fourth-year junior is also a dynamic runner. Make no mistake: Mariota is not a run-first quarterback. But when he decides to run the football, there are very few who are as dangerous. The Ducks' signal-caller displays impressive explosion and long speed.
Mariota simply isn't just the current front-runner to win this year's Heisman Trophy, according to Bovada (h/t Odds Shark). But it's very likely he'll also be the first player selected in the draft. It all depends on whether a quarterback-needy team at the top of the draft selects him or another team trades up to acquire his services.
If the Buccaneers are truly serious about upgrading the position, the conversation starts with Mariota.
Jameis Winston, Florida State
No single prospect will be discussed more than Winston as the draft process plays itself out. The Florida State quarterback is a lightning rod of controversy yet supremely talented.
His ceiling as an NFL prospect is far superior to last year's traveling circus, aka Johnny Manziel, but his off-the-field incidents are even more alarming.
Eventually a team will select Winston. Talent overcomes trepidation. And it'll likely be much earlier than some suspect. Winston has all the tools necessary to be considered an elite quarterback prospect.
After Thursday's near-debacle against the Louisville Cardinals, Miller wrote:
"Jameis Winston is special. I can't take into consideration his off-field concerns yet, but his on-field ability is unique. Winston wasn't at his best against a good Louisville defense, and the numbers will show three interceptions—one caused by a receiver not finishing his route—but he plays his best when the game is on the line and has an unnatural coolness when pressured. NFL teams are going to fall in love with that poise whenever he enters the draft.
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As Miller states, there is very little anyone can pick apart regarding Winston's on-field performance. The redshirt sophomore already won a Heisman Trophy, national championship and has yet to lose a game as the Seminoles' starter. Winston has been tested time after time and passed with flying colors.
The underclassman also has prototypical size and continues to pick collegiate defenses apart with tremendous anticipation on this throws.
For Tampa Bay, Winston may actually be a better fit for the organization. First, unlike Mariota, Winston is a true pocket passer similar to those quarterbacks preferred by head coach Lovie Smith. The Florida State quarterback isn't exactly a statue, but teams won't need to game-plan around his mobility. After all his talent is considered, Winston would also be a major draw for the Buccaneers if they kept him in state.
The organization would simply have to make the decision whether Winston was worth the potential headaches that would inevitably come with his addition.
Brett Hundley, UCLA
After Mariota and Winston, there is a drop-off in talent. Those two are by far the most physically gifted prospects in the upcoming draft class.
Hundley isn't far behind, though.
The biggest difference between these quarterbacks is Hundley produced the shakiest performance this season.
The UCLA quarterback has been under constant pressure this season due to poor offensive line play. Yet, he's still the nation's second-most accurate passer at 71 percent.
What makes Hundley special is his footwork. When the junior quarterback keeps his eyes downfield and works through his progression, he keeps his feet inline with his eyes. Unfortunately, due to the amount of pressure he's seen this season, Hundley has become skittish in the pocket and started to peek at pressure coming his way.
The Bruins' quarterback is also a tremendous athlete. At 6'3" and 227 pounds, Hundley is often the team's best running option out of the backfield. He's taken over games with his ability to run the football. Over the past three seasons, Hundley rushed for nearly 1,300 yards.
A more mobile quarterback may be necessary for a team like Tampa Bay as the team struggles with offensive line play this season.
Hundley may not be as polished as Mariota or Winston, but he has the raw talent to build around and should be considered early in the draft.
Connor Cook, Michigan State
Michigan State has quietly become a quarterback factory. The three quarterbacks to predate Cook as Sparty's starter are currently in the NFL and started multiple games this season. Each of those former Michigan State quarterbacks proved he's capable of playing in the league, yet Cook is considered a superior talent compared to Drew Stanton, Brian Hoyer and Kirk Cousins.
These prospects have been generally overlooked due to Michigan State's pro-style, run-first offensive scheme.
"The Michigan State offense doesn't allow him to compete with [Baylor's Bryce] Petty, Mariota or Winston in terms of numbers, but he looks the part of an NFL starter," Miller wrote.
Another reason the previous three signal-callers weren't high draft picks is due to a lack of ideal physical tools. Cook doesn't have the same problem. He's 6'4" and 218 pounds with an above-average arm while playing in an NFL-caliber system. Teams will know exactly what to expect out of this pocket passer, and that's actually a positive.
As a starter for the past season-and-a-half, Cook doesn't make major mistakes and plays fundamentally sound football. The junior has thrown 39 touchdowns compared to only 11 interceptions.
The one concern with Cook is how he deals with pressure and reacts when he's not placed in a perfect pocket. Otherwise, the young signal-caller continues to take the Michigan State program to new heights.
A reliable option behind center is certainly something that should be quite appealing for Buccaneers brass. Although, Cook told the Detroit Free Press last week that he plans to return to East Lansing for his senior season.
What Does the Future Hold?
Any of these quarterback options are superior alternatives to what the Buccaneers placed on the field this season.
At 1-7, the Buccaneers currently own the league's fourth-worst record (mainly because they've played one less game). If the draft was held today, Tampa would select fourth overall, which puts it in prime position to choose one of these top prospects.
It doesn't matter which of them Tampa Bay eventual selects. All of them are superior prospects entering the league compared to Glennon.
Once the Buccaneers finally get a true talent behind center to build around, it has enough overall talent on the roster to quickly improve.
Glennon clearly isn't that guy. Mariota, Winston, Hundley or Cook likely will be.
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