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Kirk Cousins could be option for Bucs’ backup QB job
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sure have a lot of work to do in the offseason. However, an important role has gone under the radar this season: that of the backup QB role behind the ever talented Baker Mayfield. The Bucs’ failure to find a competent addition to the QB room has led to questions about what would happen should Mayfield suffer a major injury.
Now more than ever though, the Bucs head into an offseason filled with ample options to fill in for Mayfield in a pinch. After all, while Baker has been a picture of longevity for the Bucs, starting all 51 games over his three seasons, he has also played through serious injuries, including an AC joint sprain suffered in Week 12 of this year.
With Teddy Bridgewater his current backup, he simply won’t cut it after his ineptitude in being able to manage games at the NFL level, as evidenced by his performance filling in for Mayfield in Week 12.
A Familiar Face with System Knowledge
Should the Bucs wish to dip into the free agency market to improve the position group, there are three concrete options, all with the requisite NFL experience to be a massive upgrade over Bridgewater. The first name that could be on the Bucs’ list is veteran Kirk Cousins.
There may be no better schematic fit for the backup QB spot than that of Cousins, as he previously played for new Bucs OC Zac Robinson in Atlanta. Also, the Falcons are looking to cut Kirk Cousins, potentially making for a cheaper deal for the Bucs.
Cousins has proved a competent backup in Atlanta, going 5-3 in relief of Michael Penix Jr. One of his best gams actually came against the Bucs and was a big reason they missed the playoffs. In that game, he had 373 yards and three touchdowns in the Falcons’ 29-28 win.
Another trendy option could be Mitchell Trubisky, whose experience in both Chicago and Buffalo could come in handy. While only playing in one game for the Bills this year, he looked the part, throwing for 259 yards and four touchdowns. He could have a more robust market as a potential bridge option though, so could come at a cost for a team like the Bucs.
A Veteran Wild Card with Proven Production
The final option, perhaps with the most risk, is Joe Flacco. The elder statesman has proven he still has juice in the tank in stints with both the Browns and the Bengals. In fact, Flacco threw for 1,664 yards, thirteen touchdowns and only four interceptions in his time with Cincinnati. In his six starts with the team, they averaged 26.8 points per game. Over a full NFL season, that would have ranked them ninth in the NFL.
A move for Flacco could also require a lot, as Cincy could keep Flacco on their roster after his performances. Still, it could be worth a shot.
The bottom line is despite Mayfield’s run of health, the Bucs don’t want to rely too much on it. Any one of these three options could make it so that there would be no significant drop off in QB play should Mayfield suffer more serious injuries.
Christopher Sheppard Christopher Sheppard is a passionate and knowledgeable sports journalist based in Englewood, NJ pursuing a role in the sports media industry. He covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, focusing on the Dolphins, Chargers, and Buccanneers. More about Christopher Sheppard
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