Are the Bucs Duck hunting … In recent weeks, there had been a growing consensus around the NFL that if Tampa Bay took a QB with the #1 pick at this year’s draft it would almost assuredly be Jameis Winston of Florida State despite all the off-field red flags as the former Seminoles’ star is more the kind of prototype pocket passer that would fit the Buccaneers offense than Marcus Mariota of Oregon, this year’s other top-rated prospect at the position who is more a spread system QB. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Tampa Bay is actually leaning toward taking Mariota, presumably because he’s a cleaner prospect. Of course, its also just possible that with the smoke ad mirrors season upon us, that Tampa Bay is simply floating the idea of taking Mariota to see what, if anything, Philadelphia, which is thought to be angling to find a way to acquire the former Ducks’ star, would package in order to move up all the way up from the 20th spot to ensure getting Mariota. Hard to imagine that Tampa Bay would necessarily want to drop all that far, but what’s the harm in asking. Stay tuned.
