In soccer, a slant route is constructed on timing and precision. The receiver doesn’t waste movement – he breaks sharply throughout the sphere into open area earlier than the protection can react. It’s easy in design, however separation is created by way of execution.
That very same method defines my new weekly Saturday Bucs column, Slivon’s Slant.
Every week from now till coaching camp, I’ll have a look inside a unique Bucs place group. The objective is to chop by way of the floor to seek out the clearest path in evaluating this roster because it takes form. Then, as soon as the season begins, the column will proceed providing totally different angles for breaking down and discussing the workforce.
Inside The Bucs Quarterback Room
The Franchise Quarterback: Baker Mayfield
It’s only a matter of time earlier than Baker Mayfield turns into the highest-paid athlete in Tampa Bay. Extending Mayfield to a long-term deal is a matter of “when” and never “if” at this level, which might solidify him because the Bucs franchise quarterback effectively into his thirties.
How he performs inside Zac Robinson’s system will outline the offense’s ceiling. By way of three seasons in pink and pewter, there isn’t any questioning how far Mayfield has come from a journeyman signal-caller into somebody firmly within the prime 10-12 vary at his place. With one elite season sandwiched between two good ones, is the very best but to return or did it already occur?
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Fortuitously, a robust supporting forged round Mayfield stays in place. Robinson can be calling the pictures, placing him in the very best scenario to copy his 2024 season with Liam Coen. Meaning plenty of fast sport throws to get him right into a rhythm and balancing deep pictures. Discovering artistic methods to run the soccer with Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell, and even Sean Tucker will assist hold defenses off steadiness. Within the passing sport, Chris Godwin Jr. can nonetheless be a high-volume goal, with Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, Tez Johnson, and third-round decide Ted Hurst offering high-end complementary expertise. Don’t neglect about tight finish Cade Otton, both.
At 31 years outdated, Mayfield is the igniter of this Bucs soccer workforce. The captain within the huddle. The voice everybody leans an ear towards. His roots in Tampa Bay are entrenched, and he’s in it for the lengthy haul. To be able to overcome final season’s struggles, Tampa Bay wants Mayfield greater than ever. As he goes, this offense – and the workforce as a complete – goes with him.
The New Veteran Backup: Jake Browning
The Bucs’ backup quarterback scenario has undergone vital turnover over the previous 10 months or so. After Teddy Bridgewater outperformed Kyle Trask for the No. 2 function throughout coaching camp and the preseason, the previous 2021 second-round decide was launched in favor of a extra skilled veteran presence behind Baker Mayfield. Bridgewater spent most of final season holding the clipboard in Tampa Bay, showing solely in spot obligation towards the Rams in Week 12. However with Bridgewater returning to the Lions, the workforce was pressured to re-evaluate the backup quarterback place but once more. Enter Jake Browning.
Bucs QB Jake Browning – Picture by: IMAGN Pictures
Browning inked a one-year, $1.33 million deal this offseason after taking part in in 17 video games (10 begins) for the Bengals throughout 2023-2025. He flashed intriguing potential in 2023, maintaining Cincinnati afloat and main them a 4-3 document to shut out the common season. Over that seven-game stretch, Browning accomplished 70.4% of his passes for 1,936 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.
His efficiency positioned him as one of many NFL’s prime backup quarterbacks – till the 2025 season informed a unique story. Filling in for Joe Burrow once more, issues didn’t pan out the identical method as Browning struggled throughout three winless begins, resulting in the workforce buying and selling for then 40-year-old Joe Flacco.
Now in Tampa Bay, the 30-year-old Browning enters a brand new chapter. Barring something unexpected, he’ll seemingly function Mayfield’s prime backup. A former Washington quarterback, he additionally joins a roster already aware of that program pipeline. From a schematic standpoint in Zac Robinson’s offense, Browning’s effectivity as a passer gives some optimism that he can handle video games if referred to as upon. Nevertheless, turnovers stay the important thing concern that should be cleaned up if he’s to be a dependable choice. Nonetheless, at a league-minimum worth level, few backup quarterbacks provide his mixture of expertise and previous manufacturing.
The Developmental Arm: Connor Bazelak
What do the Bucs have in Connor Bazelak? On one aspect of the argument, nobody ever actually needs to know, as that will imply a QB emergency struck in Tampa Bay. On the opposite aspect, Bazelak is somebody the workforce has spoken extremely about since signing him as an undrafted free agent final offseason out of Bowling Inexperienced. After a powerful preseason wherein he accomplished 32-of-46 passes (69.6%) for 261 yards and one landing with zero interceptions, Bazelak made the observe squad and was even signed to the 53-man roster late within the common season.
Bucs QB Connor Bazelak – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
As just lately as final month earlier than the 2026 NFL Draft, common supervisor Jason Licht went on-record saying that the group actually likes his ability set and needs to offer him each probability to get observe and preseason sport reps over the subsequent few months. Turning 26 years outdated in September, age shouldn’t be essentially on Bazelak’s aspect to become far more than what he’s at this level.
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 225 kilos, he has good dimension and decision-making going by way of reads, which dates again to his time in school. His likeliest path to creating the Bucs roster this season is discovering a strategy to stick on the observe squad and be taught from Baker Mayfield and Jake Browning. Ought to he flip heads through the preseason, he may turn out to be the workforce’s prime backup signal-caller going into subsequent season if he outperforms Jake Browning.
The UDFA To Watch: Jalon Daniels
Though the Bucs unsurprisingly determined to not use a draft decide on the quarterback place, the preliminary buzz on signing undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels is actual. Daniels is available in with loads of school expertise after spending six seasons at Kansas. He wouldn’t turn out to be a full-time starter till the start of his fifth yr with the Jayhawks, however as soon as he did, the expertise and playmaking potential was evident.
Daniels gives critical dual-threat potential, possessing a strong arm to stretch the sphere and fast legs to increase performs. The arm expertise provides him beginning the wrong way up the street, however step one down that path is how he fares at rookie mini-camp.
Underneath the tutelage of quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer, there’s a lot to love in regards to the type of participant Daniels might be molded into on the subsequent stage. The traits are there, however polish is required for him to turn out to be extra environment friendly finishing passes and limiting interceptions.
Bucs QB Jalon Daniels – Picture by: IMAGN Pictures
It’s value monitoring how he appears to be like all through the offseason and whether or not Tampa Bay finds a strategy to hold him round by stashing him on the observe squad. Amongst undrafted free brokers, Daniels is without doubt one of the extra thrilling names with an opportunity to make his title recognized early on.
Closing Slant
The Bucs are in good arms at quarterback with Baker Mayfield below middle. No matter exterior notion concerning the workforce’s potential to win massive video games and make a deep playoff run with Mayfield, secure quarterback play stays one of many hardest commodities to seek out within the NFL. Mayfield’s resurgence is proof of that, following a league development of QBs like Geno Smith and Sam Darnold incomes second possibilities. If he bounces again from final season, Tampa Bay’s offense has the potential to return to top-tier standing.
Behind him, Jake Browning, Connor Bazelak, and Jalon Daniels every deliver a unique layer to the quarterback room. Browning gives some confirmed expertise as a gradual No. 2, Bazelak gives developmental depth on the observe squad, and Daniels represents the upside swing if he can beat out Bazelak. Altogether, it’s a structured quarterback room constructed on stability, insurance coverage, and upside, and it’s exhausting to argue with that basis.
