Buccaneers are open to drafting a QB in the first round, but who could it be?

With the No. 32 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be looking at drafting a developmental quarterback.

Even with Tom Brady continuing to defeat time, the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers may look to acquire a developmental quarterback with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times that his team may kick the tires on making it six first-round quarterbacks this spring with their No. 32 overall selection. Quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Trey Lance and Mac Jones are gall expected to go in the first round. So what signal-caller could be the Buccaneers be targeting?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Could they draft a quarterback at No. 32?

The most obvious candidate for the Buccaneers with the last pick of the first round is former Florida Gators star and Heisman Trophy finalist Kyle Trask.

He has starred in an offense that many believe its architect could be an NFL head coach one day. Trask has an NFL prototype akin to Sam Darnold, Ben Roethlisberger and Jameis Winston.

The best part is he has no issues being a backup.

Trask did not start games in high school, as he was teammates with former Houston Cougars and current Miami Hurricanes signal-caller D’Eriq King. At Florida, Trask backed up Feleipe Franks prior to Franks breaking his ankle vs. Kentucky in 2019. In nearly two years as a starter, Trask became the most accomplished quarterback to play in Gainesville since the iconic left-hander Tim Tebow.

By taking Trask as No. 32, it affords the Buccaneers the opportunity to potentially exercise the fifth-year option, just like what the Baltimore Ravens did by trading up to get Lamar Jackson out of Louisville in 2018. With Brady expected to play through his age-45 season, it should afford Trask enough time to grow and learn Arians’ complicated vertical passing offense before it is his turn.

While Trask is the obvious candidate to be the Buccaneers’ selection at No. 32 if they do go quarterback, the other player who could be in play here is former Texas A&M Aggies starter Kellen Mond. Though Mond is even more of a developmental project, he did flourish in his final season over in College Station for Jimbo Fisher, nearly leading the Aggies to the College Football Playoff.

It would not be the strangest thing in the world for the Buccaneers to draft Trask at No. 32 overall.