The Buccaneers are in the midst of yet another offseason, during which they are pondering the possibility of a new starting quarterback for the following season. Some of that might be connected to the fact that they are still conducting interviews for the position of offensive coordinator, which is now open. Should this be the case, there is a wide variety of potential quarterbacks for the 2023 season. However, it is possible that they are limited in their capacity to recruit a seasoned quarterback with a top name due to financial concerns.
Depending on who is supplying the story, the Buccaneers have been linked to players such as Derek Carr, Baker Mayfield, and even Aaron Rodgers. Carr is set to be released by the Raiders before Tuesday’s deadline. Baker Mayfield and Aaron Rodgers have also been mentioned. However, since this time last year, when Tom Brady was going through the first phase of his retirement, there has been another name that has been linked to the Buccaneers, and they are now linked to him once again.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. According to reports, Tampa Bay is interested in signing the veteran quarterback who will soon be a free agency. Reporter Mike Garafolo mentioned the Buccaneers’ interest in the 31-year-old signal caller while speaking on NFL Network about the Buccaneers eating up Tom Brady’s post-retirement salary for this season. He also mentioned how difficult it may be for the Bucs to sign Brady, despite the Bucs’ interest.
Garafolo remarked in reference to the money due by Brady, “They knew they were going to have to pay these obligations at some point.” They are going to look for a seasoned quarterback in the market. Jimmy Garoppolo is one of the players that they prefer, but it is possible that they do not have the financial resources to sign him. To ensure that they are in compliance with this year’s salary limit, Tampa Bay will need to perform some maneuvering with the salary cap that they have in place. The $35 million in dead money that the Buccaneers are stuck with as a result of Brady’s contract puts Tampa Bay well over the $50 million threshold for being over the salary cap.
It is fortunate that general manager Jason Licht and his team have always been innovative with the cap and have been able to make things work; hence, it will be intriguing to see how they can shift money around in order to be in compliance once again. Regardless of the circumstances, hiring an experienced quarterback such as Garoppolo or Carr will require a substantial financial investment. Simply designating quarterback Kyle Trask as the team’s starter for the 2023 season will suffice for Tampa Bay in their efforts to keep some of their own free agents on the roster.