In spite of winning their second straight NFC South Division Title, the 2022-2023 season exposed a major issue inside of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That issue is the evident and undeniable decline of QB Tom Brady, who just finished his 23rd and final season in the NFL.
Without the expertise of super-bowl winning head coach and QB guru Bruce Arians, Brady has shown a noticeable statistical decline in recent years. In Brady’s final season with Arians as head coach, Brady threw for 5,316 passing yards, 43 passing touchdowns, and twelve interceptions while completing 67.5% of his pass attempts to lead Tampa Bay to a 13-4 record and their second-straight playoff appearance, following their incredible 2020-2021 run to Super Bowl LV.
In defensive-minded Todd Bowles’ first season as Tampa Bay’s head coach, Brady endured noticeable struggles, throwing for 4,694 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions while completing 66.8% of his pass attempts, finishing with an 8-9 regular-season record and a first-round playoff exit to the Dallas Cowboys.
In reference to this, Tampa Bay’s entire offense was negatively affected by Brady’s decline, as the Buccaneers went from averaging 30.1 PPG (2nd in NFL) in the 2021-2022 season to averaging 18.5 PPG (24th in NFL) this season. Furthermore, Brady’s Receiving Corps has largely remained the same, headlined by Pro Bowl Receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in the last two seasons. While future Hall of Fame Tight End Rob Gronkowski and Veteran Wide Receiver Antonio Brown both departed Tampa Bay in the offseason, the Buccaneers managed to sign Wide Receivers Julio Jones and Russell Gage in Free Agency, while drafting Tight Ends Cade Otten and Ko Kieft in the 2022 NFL Draft as reinforcements for Brady.
Unfortunately, time has seemed to catch up to Brady, who announced his retirement from the NFL on February 1st via Twitter. With this said, Tampa Bay will have plenty of options to replace Brady through the 2023 NFL draft.
1. Bryce Young, QB, University of Alabama
2022-2023 College Stats: Twelve Starts, 245 Completions, 380 Attempts, 3,328 Passing Yards, 32 Passing Touchdowns, Five Interceptions, 163.2 Passer Rating, 49 Rushing Attempts, 185 Rushing Yards, Four Rushing Touchdowns, 3.8 YPC.
Following a tremendous 2021-2022 season highlighted by an SEC Championship, National Championship Appearance, and Heisman Award, Young enjoyed another excellent season as the Crimson Tide’s QB1. Due to the utilization of an explosive skill position room, Young threw for over 3,300 passing yards and 32 touchdowns while completing 64.5% of his pass attempts. It’s worth noting that Young managed to throw a career-low five interceptions this season, better than last season’s mark of seven. In addition to his passing, Young showcased his ability to make plays as a runner, notching 185 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, and 3.8 YPC, all career highs. Even though Alabama failed to make the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019, Young decided to play for the Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl versus Big-12 Conference Champion Kansas State Wildcats, and didn’t disappoint. For reference, completed 15-21 pass attempts for 321 passing yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions in Alabama’s 45-20 thrashing of Kansas State on New Year’s Eve.
While Young’s junior season was impressive in itself, it also proves that Young’s historic sophomore season wasn’t a fluke. For reference, Young threw for 4,872 passing yards, 47 passing touchdowns, and seven interceptions while completing 66.9% of his pass attempts. Young’s statistical success was well-rewarded, as Young won a plethora of awards, including the AP Player of the Year Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and the Heisman Trophy while earning Consensus All-American Honors. Likewise, Young is far from a System QB, as Young has flourished in Steve Sarkisian’s and Bill O’Brien’s respective offensive schemes over the past two seasons. Although Young’s small physical frame of 6’0″, 194 pounds does raise concerns, Young has all of the tools and football IQ to overcome this aforementioned barrier throughout his NFL journey.
2. CJ Stroud, QB, University of Ohio State
2022-2023 Stats: Thirteen Starts, 258 Completions, 389 Attempts, 3,688 Passing Yards, 41 Passing Touchdowns, Six Interceptions, 177.7 QB Rating, 47 Rushing Attempts, 108 Rushing Yards, Zero Rushing Touchdowns, 2.3 YPC.
After a fourth-place finish in the Heisman Award Voting and an exciting Rose Bowl Victory in the 2021-2022 season, Stroud had another excellent season for Ohio State and Head Coach Ryan Day. Similar to Young, Stroud had plenty of elite offensive skill position players around him, including Running Backs Miyan Williams, Dallan Hayden, and TreVeyon Henderson, along with star Wide Receivers Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr, both 1,000+ yard receivers. In reference to this, Stroud’s 2022-2023 season would go as expected, with the Junior Quarterback completed 66.3% of his pass attempts for over 3,600 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, and just six interceptions, leading Ohio State to an 11-1 regular-season record and the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff. Although No. 4 Ohio State was narrowly eliminated by No. 1 Georgia in the Peach Bowl 41-42, Stroud diced up the Bulldogs’ defense, completing 23-34 pass attempts for 348 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
It’s worth noting that Stroud’s 2022-2023 season was a nice follow-up from his impressive Sophomore season. For reference, Stroud threw for 4,435 passing yards, 44 passing touchdowns, and six interceptions while completing 71.9% of his pass attempts. To no surprise, Young was named the 2021 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year after setting 17 different Ohio State Football School Records and rewriting the Big Ten Conference History Books. Standing at 6’3″ and 215 pounds, Stroud’s physical frame is a plus, rather than a minus to his play at Quarterback, unlike Alabama’s Young. At 20 years old, Stroud is more than capable of learning any new offense or formation that is thrust upon him, but would be well-positioned to lead a spread or vertical offense in the NFL. With Stroud expected to be selected as a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Tampa Bay needs to be prepared to send future assets in order to acquire Stroud.
3. Anthony Richardson, QB, University of Florida
2022-2023 College Stats: Twelve Starts, 176 Completions, 327 Attempts, 2,549 Passing Yards, 17 Passing Touchdowns, Nine Interceptions, 131.0 Passer Rating, 103 Rushing Attempts, 654 Rushing Yards, Nine Rushing Touchdowns, 6.3 YPC.
In his first full season as the Starting Quarterback at Florida, Richardson’s play was uneven, to say the least. In Florida’s Week One Upset Win Verus No. 7 Utah, Richardson was stellar, completing 17-24 pass attempts for 168 passing yards while adding 106 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on eleven rushing attempts. Following his superb season debut, Richardson’s flaws as a passer began to show, as Richardson posted a 3:7 TD-INT ratio across his next five starts, including a zero-touchdown, two interception outing versus No. 20 Kentucky in Week Two. With Florida at 4-2 and 1-2 in SEC Conference play entering Week Seven, Richardson rebounded from his early season slump, completing 95-182 pass attempts for 1,367 passing yards, twelve touchdowns, and two interceptions while notching 368 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 56 carries across Florida’s final six games. In spite of Richardson’s star play, Florida finished the 2022-2023 season with a 6-6 overall, 3-5 SEC record, prompting Richardson to opt out of the Gators’ upcoming Las Vegas Bowl Game while later declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Although Richardson played in just 22 collegiate games from 2020-2022, Richardson’s physical tools are extraordinarily rare, making the 21-year-old an extremely enticing QB prospect. Standing at 6’4″ and 236 pounds, Richardson’s unique physical frame allows him to scan the entire field while looking to throw the football, or gives him a strong but elusive running style that makes Richardson a true dual-threat Quarterback. Of course, future injury concerns with Richardson’s playstyle in the NFL will resurface, so learning to play as a pocket passer will be crucial for Richardson’s development. Fortunately for Richardson, Tampa Bay has a solid offensive line, headlined by Veteran OT Donovan Smith and OG Shaq Mason, along with standout OT Tristan Wirfs and 2022 second-round draft pick OG Luke Goedeke. In addition with the possible mentorship of Brady or journeyman Blaine Gabbert, Richardson will quickly adapt to the NFL.
Three Additional QB Options Via the 2023 NFL Draft
4. Will Levis, QB, University of Kentucky: After serving as Sean Clifford’s backup at Penn State for two seasons, Levis transferred to Kentucky in hopes of boosting his draft stock. Levis did just that, as the 6’3″, 222-pound Senior completed 185-283 pass attempts for 2,406 Passing Yards, 19 Passing Touchdowns, Ten Interceptions, and a 151.9 Passing Efficiency Rating. Levis will obviously need to improve upon his turnover and limited rushing ability in the NFL (72 Attempts for -107 Rushing Yards, Two Rushing Touchdowns, -1.5 YPC), but is an interesting draft prospect nonetheless.
5. Bo Nix, QB, University of Oregon: Following a lackluster tenure at Auburn, Nix decided to transfer to Oregon in preparation for the 2022-2023 season. With this said, Nix has seen his 2023 NFL Draft stock improve immensely following a phenomenal 2022-2023 campaign with the Ducks. campaign. In Thirteen Starts, Nix completed 294-409 pass attempts for 3,593 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns, and seven interceptions for a 165.7 Passing Efficiency Rating. Likewise, Nix found success when running the ball, recording 89 rushing attempts for 510 Rushing Yards, 14 Rushing Touchdowns, and 5.7 YPC, all career-highs. At 6’2″ and 213 pounds, Nix’s elite arm talent and creation capacity are just a few physical tools that give Nix a very high ceiling as a future starter in the NFL.
6. Hendon Hooker, QB, University of Tennessee: Of all the QB Prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, Hooker is the most polarizing and intriguing QB. Standing at 6’4″ and 218 pounds, Hooker was absolutely dominant for the Volunteers, completing 229-329 pass attempts for 3,135 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, and two interceptions while adding 430 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns on 104 carries in Eleven Starts. Unfortunately, Hooker’s superb senior season was cut short by a Torn ACL, but still managed to finish fifth in the Heisman Voting based on his electric early-season success. In addition to his ACL tear, Hooker is already 25 years old, an unusual and concerning mark for NFL Scouts due to a possible lack of development.