The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are officially Tom Brady’s team now.
The six-time Super Bowl champion left the New England Patriots this offseason for a team that hasn’t been to the postseason in over a decade. But with a talented roster and rising defense, the Buccaneers seem poised to compete in the heavily-competitive NFC South.
But at 43 years old, the Brady era in Tampa may not last as long as people hope, and the Bucs would be wise to start looking ahead for who their next quarterback will be. With guys like Chris Godwin and Mike Evans just entering their prime, the Bucs have plenty of good years ahead of them if they can successfully transition to a new quarterback post-Brady.
While I still believe the Buccaneers would be wise to re-sign Jameis Winston in the 2021 offseason, there’s another quarterback out there who should also be on their radar: Mitchell Trubisky.
The Chicago Bears quarterback and former No. 2 overall pick has had a rough time in the NFL. While he did manage to throw a career-high six touchdowns against the Buccaneers back in 2018, consistency has been a big problem for Trubisky, who started only 13 games at the University of North Carolina before turning pro.
The Bears traded for former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles this offseason to compete with Trubisky, and with the Bears having declined the starter’s fifth-year option, Trubisky will be an unrestricted free agent in 2021.
The Buccaneers are still hoping Brady is their quarterback in 2021, but having a potential successor waiting in the wings would be a good idea for Tampa Bay. If Trubisky can sit and learn for a year behind a guy like Brady, it may pay big dividends down the road.
Just look at Winston. The former top pick signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints this offseason for the chance to sit and learn behind Drew Brees. If Trubisky came to Tampa Bay, there’d be no immediate pressure on him to start. He could take a year to learn and work on his issues before taking over for Brady. Plus, if Trubisky struggles in 2020 like he did last year, the Bucs could potentially get him for a bargain if no other team is willing to give him a chance to start right away.
While the Bucs and their fans want to enjoy the Brady era for as long as possible, it’s always smart to plan ahead, which is why management should keep an eye on Trubisky’s situation this season.
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