Might The Bucs Turn To Andy Dalton?
February 22nd, 2023
A potential compromise may be in play at One Buc Palace.
Joe has stated many times that Todd Bowles likely is disinterested in rolling with a rookie quarterback or Kyle Trask. And, for Bowles, that’s a survival instinct.
Bowles has to know another losing season might get him cardboard boxes and a pink slip from Team Glazer. But Bucs management realistically doesn’t have the salary cap room to bid for a mega-money quarterback and still retain all its core talent. So what if Bowles is told he can go with a veteran if the guy comes super cheap.
Heck, Bucco Bruce Arians himself, a mentor to Bowles and Bucs general manager Jason Licht, said himself that rolling with Blaine Gabbert or Trask last season was a recipe for failure.
Enter durable three-time Pro Bowler Andy Dalton. He’s the quarterback who completed two-thirds of his passes (18 touchdowns, 9 interceptions) and went 6-8 as a starter in New Orleans last season. He did all that for a $3 million salary after the Saints benched Jameis Winston.
Retired Pro Bowl QB Matt Cassel, a busy man in Boston media and elsewhere, recently ranked NFL quarterbacks and had Dalton as the 22nd-best QB in the league, one notch ahead of Russell Wilson and one behind Jimmy Garoppolo.
That’s a hell of a ranking for a guy earning peanuts.
If the Bucs and Bowles are celebrating what new offensive coordinator Dave Canales did in Seattle with Geno Smith, perhaps they think he can turn 35-year-old Dalton into the next Carson Palmer or Rich Gannon?
Dalton doesn’t throw a lot of picks and has proven to be a very quick study at his last three stops: Dallas, Chicago and New Orleans, where he had a combined 13-16 record as a replacement starter. Joe suspects those traits impress Bowles.
Joe is not lobbying for Dalton, but much stranger things have happened in the NFL.
Joe certainly could see Bowles asking for permission to let Dalton and Trask battle for the starting job.
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:00 pm
it’s a bucs life
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:00 pm
So….it might be Dalton, Geno, Rodgers, Jimmy G., Carr, Baker, Ryan, Gabbert, Trask…..
Mahomes & Burrow haven’t been suggested.
or, will it be “none of the above”?
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:01 pm
I understand that makes sense, But no thank you….I would rather go with Trask and Gabbert….
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:05 pm
If he can be had for $3 million, I say he is a Buccaneer in 2023. Not that I like it, but Joe is right, saying in effect beggars can’t be choosers.
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:08 pm
No!
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:10 pm
Well Joe – at least you are being a little more realistic with this one…
Adding Dalton would be more inline with the Bucs current budget.
A QB room with:
– Trask
– Dalton
– H. Hooker
Wouldn’t be too bad given our current circumstances…
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:10 pm
The only way to determine the abilities of Trask is to play him. We already know that Dalton is, at best, the 22nd best quarterback in the league … and maybe not nearly as good as that.
It’s not Bowles’ fault that Brady retired this year, or that we have no cap room to sign a major veteran star to replace him. He won’t get fired for those things, and he knows it.
That does not mean the Bucs won’t sign Dalton – they very well could. But not as a means of keeping Trask on the bench.
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:14 pm
Trask, a journey man and Hooker if available 3rd or later or Dugan late if not.
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Come on!
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:22 pm
Same answer as for every other QB name floated: Will he play for less than 10 million? Then yeah, you can put him on the list.
Personally, no, not interested. If we’re going for a low-mid tier QB, pick a young guy with some upside and playmaking ability.
I’d say he’s a less than 1% chance.
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:22 pm
I’d rather have Jameis Winston than Dalton
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:22 pm
If they dump Gabbert (which actually requires zero effort since he currently isn’t an employee) Dalton or Brisset along with Trask is doable
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:22 pm
LOL
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:25 pm
I suppose he’s as good as any other ho-hum QB.
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:26 pm
I would prefer Brissett.
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:26 pm
Cleanhouse wash your mouth out
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:27 pm
These headlines are increasingly depressing
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Joe’s endless search for anyone but Trask leads to a guy turning 36 this year? lol
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:28 pm
Would this make it the first Center/Quarterback redhead duo in NFL history?
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:34 pm
God no.
Rather roll with Trask.
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:37 pm
Same here BucsfanFred. I’ve been saying that for 2 weeks. Brisset’s only 30 and has pretty decent stats. But, it’s Bowles and Canales show.
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:38 pm
Barf
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:42 pm
Trask or broke
Actually Jameis for vet minimum would be the only reason to watch the 2023 season
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Most teams that go with a rookie/inexperienced qb (Trask) have a functional vet to turn to, just in case. Dalton/Brissett fit that bill . That said, I’m not convinced the Bucs staff has any confidence Trask is even an option
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Dalton > Gabbert, IMO. So…there’s that.
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:52 pm
I’m in the camp of draft a QB if available or roll with Trask until next draft.Brining in a vet to lose 8-9 games is madness. The way the NFL is setup, if you don’t have the horses to contend, middle of the road does nothing for you unless you have young talent.
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:53 pm
If they are not committed to starting Trask, then pretty much any of the quarterbacks whose names have been bandied about that are in our price range are an option. They seem mostly interchangeable at this point. Though honestly, Dalton has been playing better than any of the other ones in the lower tier being considered. No one is excited by him, but how excited are we with brissette? Or darnold? Or any of the others? It all depends on what they’re going to do with the only quarterback currently on the roster.
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:55 pm
LOL
February 22nd, 2023 at 12:59 pm
Talk about a retread.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:01 pm
Good times!
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:02 pm
Beej Says: “I’m not convinced the Bucs staff has any confidence Trask is even an option.”
Arians say otherwise: “We got a good young quarterback.”
But then, Arians is only a 34-year NFL coach with Super Bowl wins as both a head coach and assistant coach. Wat da hel duz he no, rite?
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:05 pm
I spit on you for even bringing this up.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:08 pm
It’s soooooo funny that this dumbazz organization has decided to hold on to a loser coach as it’s leader!!!
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:16 pm
Listening to Canales live right now….I like this guy.
And yes, Dalton at 3 mill, all day. Its gonna be a losing season anyway.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:18 pm
So the front office is cool with admitting they threw away a 2nd round pick for no reason whatsoever while they were trying to build a “win now” roster with Brady under contract? Not likely.
They’ll bring a veteran in for a “competition”, but come hell or high water, they will be finding out if Trask can be the man, and Bowles will fall into line with that decision.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:19 pm
Oh we have reached this level of the basement I see. Be mindful of our mental health before you post such stories, Joe!
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Dalton, Trask and Goobert!
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:21 pm
What happened to Ryan Griffin ?
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:24 pm
I think Dalton is a more proficient passer than Gabbert. Since it is a new offense I would call it for Dalton, besides he will be cheap.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:25 pm
Brady—>Dalton.
How the mighty have fallen.
I suppose Brees—>ATM—>Dalton was equally as stinky.
But if he’s cheap and part of the plan to fix the cap, could prolly do worse. Although is doesn’t make the team younger or faster.
That said, I always liked Dalton. Not as a “gotta have him”, but as a solid QB in some challenging situations.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:25 pm
No, just no. No Dalton, No Mayfield, No Lock.
Nooooooo please
Rather see what Trask is about honestly.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:26 pm
Not much more mobile than Brady. Good at losing close games. No thanks.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:27 pm
From a Hall of Famer to a Hall of Shamer! Noooooooo!!!!!
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:27 pm
Looks like theyre keeping Gage….and Canales is big on TE and RB
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:28 pm
I’d prefer Mayfield.
Mayfield could still be a star. Like Brees when he got to New Orleans.
Dalton’s best days, which weren’t that great, are long behind him.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:29 pm
I am just not worried at this moment it’s the end of February
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:31 pm
I was also impressed with the new OC during his press conference. Seems very bright and well prepared. Looks kind of like a young John harbaugh as well, haha. But clearly we will be running the ball more as the majority of the press conference regarding play calling seem to center around the running game.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:32 pm
Canales is crushing this PC, really encouraging to finally hear from him and you can tell he’s made his rounds throughout 1 Buc gettin to know who he needs to know. Also acknowledging how much experience he has to draw from the holdover coaches and some of the guys he’s bringing with him. Very, very well spoken and you can hear the enthusiasm he has for the game of football.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:36 pm
Hmm, I might have to adjust my mock draft to include a TE…if we keep Fournette, then Im going TE instead of RB or QB Hooker with the 2nd or 3rd….dont know which one which round yet…
I still want LT Duncan first though, and we might be able to trade down a few spots and still land him….its according to how he does at the combine. I think he’ll blow it up though and may go before pick 19. I know my offensive line prowess when it comes to promoting on here….and I know what I saw when I watched him play Maryland’s entire bowl game.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:40 pm
‘Joe is not lobbying for Dalton, but much stranger things have happened in the NFL.’
I love the caveats Joe. You throw Dalton’s name into the JBF fishtank, then sit back & watch the guppies chew on him for awhile. Actually, make that the piranha’s. It quacks me up.
But for the sake of playing along … why not Dalton for $3 mil. It’s not like we’re gonna trade for Mahomes or Burrows (and then put a 1-man team out there because we couldn’t afford anything else).
My only HOPE is that Trask gets a fair shot at becoming the starting QB. We invested a 1st Rnd pick in 20-year old Jameis Winston in 2015, then suffered through 5 long years of 32-48 drudgery. We’ve invested a 2nd Rnd pick in soon-to-be 25-year-old Kyle Trask and we have no clue as to how well he’d do because, oh ya, we’ve never even given him a fair shot at performing with the big dogs. Let’s at least SEE what we’ve got in him before relegating him to obscurity. Some guys surprise you when they get under the bright lights.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:44 pm
Pass the joint bro!
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Well, it’s february. How much crap is there to talk about?
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:50 pm
I know what I saw with Trask in his few preseason games, and he didnt look at all like the Trask that was playing in college. Now, maybe he’s gotten some pointers that have helped him toughen up and be faster in his deciaion making and release of the “ham” as Canales put it….but thats why I wouldnt mind bringing in Dalton for cheap as a backup, or if needed to start until Canales thinks Trask is ready.
Canales def wants quick reads and decision making abilities from his QB….Dalton may be as immobile as Brady, but he does have more experience in reading and decision making.
February 22nd, 2023 at 1:51 pm
Hard pass on the red rifle. Brissett makes sense. He’ll come fairly cheap and winning the putrid south (which is ownerships goal) is doable with him. I still think they roll with Trask, simply because they need to know. I think we’ll all be pleasantly disappointed, but they need to know..
February 22nd, 2023 at 2:00 pm
I am in the Baker Mayfield camp . Feel free to rip me for it lol..
I feel their is unfair bias against baker mayfield . Year 1 2018, browns go 7-8-1 after previous seasons 1-15 2016, 0-16 2017. Coach Hugh jackson, enuff said!! Baker supporting cast nick chubb also rookie, wrs jarvis landrey, breshard perriman, antonio callaway, njoku..njoku was not a good player until last year=fact. Coaches- hue jackson fired and greg williams (def coord)
2019 browns go 6-10 Head coach freddie kitchens..offensive help *chubb and K hunt good rbs..wrs Obj, Landry, R higgins, Njoku. Personally despise Obj and feel he quits on his team when the going gets tough/ and takes plays off when he is not involved which gives tells to the defenses. Njoku as i said was a non factor in his early career, bad routes , drops, confidence,,etc…Freddie Kitchens subpar coach agree?
2020 Head coach Stefanski browns go 11-5 beat steelers 48-37 playoffs and lose to kc 22-17 2nd round playoffs… Off supporting cast chubb, hunt-good rbs.. wrs landry, higgins , d p jones, austin hooper, njoku . baker best season 26td 8int
2021 Stefanski brown record 8-9 off support – chubb , hunt- good…wrs Landry, DPJ, Higgins..TE- Hooper, Njoku.. Baker injured week 2 partially torn labrum..week 6 reaggravated torn labrum..week 10 right knee contusion..Baker played the season with serious shoulder injury to left shoulder. Basically his whole season was played under duress/injured.
2022 Panthers Week 5 high ankle sprain and you know the rest..Rhule fired,,qbs mayfield, darnold and pj walker. Baker leaves panthers to finish out season with rams and mcvay = a good offensive coach
Baker has lit up the scoreboard and has had some memorable games against lamar, mahomes, burrows, Carr, Hebert where his offense produced. And yes he has had some games where the offense was a dud..but why..some is on him. some on coaching , and some on supporting cast. I think he is better than given credit for. Yes he has an abrasive personality but he is aggressive with the ball and can make plays outside of scheme breakdown and can play within scheme. I am not saying he is great but I believe he is arguably the best qb out of Carr, Garropolo, tanehill, cousins, darnold etc. Anyways for the right price in right environment he aint bad
February 22nd, 2023 at 2:13 pm
Mayfield is fairly 6 ft tall, and he gets a lot of passes batted down
February 22nd, 2023 at 2:16 pm
For those of you advocating that the Bucs start Trask to see what he is, that’s probably the best plan, BUT .. they still need a backup.
Gabbert could be that guy, and he knows the team.
Dalton could be that too (insert gif of Lloyd Christmas gagging)
If Mayfield is only a little more $ than Gabbert or Dalton, it’s probably worth the gamble.
But overall, wow … what a spoiling three years it’s been.
February 22nd, 2023 at 2:18 pm
They are not just going to give it to Trask there will be a veteran and I’m sure Trask will be given his shot to compete.
February 22nd, 2023 at 2:24 pm
trask had 3 yrs with Tom Brady ; if he hasn’t learned what he needs to compete by now -he likely never will /. Either play the guy or let him go ….
February 22nd, 2023 at 2:46 pm
If the Bucs turn to Dalton, I am going to turn to drugs.
February 22nd, 2023 at 2:57 pm
This made me legit laugh out loud.
February 22nd, 2023 at 2:59 pm
“Joe certainly could see Bowles asking for permission to let Dalton and Trask battle for the starting job.”
If accurate, truly a sad situation for any coach and a bad way to run any business.
“…Bucco Bruce Arians himself, a mentor to Bowles and Bucs general manager Jason Licht, said himself that rolling with Blaine Gabbert or Trask last season was a recipe for failure.”
The very same BA who lauded the Virtue of Lefty as OC, whom you vehemently denounce in that roll. The same BA who bailed on his team in the 11th hour and stuck the team will little coaching options. The same BA who played in a prominent role bringing in Gabbert and Trask, then talks out the side of his ever self serving mouth. The same BA “consultant” that watched a 13-4 Brady team slide to mediocrity and never said a word other than another self promotion after the Seattle game… and you still quote that duplicitous legacy hound as if gospel. Hey Joe, I got some swampland I’m sure you’d love. Come on man. BA is a front runner who tapped the long-term viability of the team financially for his own glory, then ran and hid when it got tough.
February 22nd, 2023 at 3:12 pm
Clean…Jameis is never coming back. Even if he was a bargain, he would cause a QB controversy and poison the QB room. And why would he want to go back to a place that didn’t even make him an offer to return? He was basically fired.
February 22nd, 2023 at 3:25 pm
Ive said it before,so one more time
Bucs are going nowhere as long as Bowles is HC. Comonman, check out his resume as head coach. He doesnt have what it takes.period…..
February 22nd, 2023 at 3:25 pm
I’d rather just roll with Trask and and someone like Brisket or Lock as backup. See what Trask is about in a offense that should be easier on a QB. If it fails, we have A LOT more cap space next year and will likely have a high pick in the draft. And their will be a lot of QBs in FA or the draft next year, assuming Trask doesn’t surprise alot of people, which is very possible.
February 22nd, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Brisset, not Brisket. Dumb autocorrect lol
February 22nd, 2023 at 3:29 pm
Even if it is Trask, you have to bring in a vet to compete with him. No NFL team ever went to training camp and handed the keys to an inactive QB from the season before. Heinike, Brissett, or Dalton, all would make sense.
February 22nd, 2023 at 3:31 pm
@Bucfan94
Brisket is never a mistake, go treat yourself and don’t forget the slaw
February 22nd, 2023 at 3:41 pm
Folks the Bucs won’t come out and say it but we all know they are about to try and rebuild. No cap space at all and you are going to need to get younger across the entire team. I say no to Dalton and roll with Trask at QB. That may put Tampa in the running for Williams or Maye. Plus 2024 if the bucs just go ahead and take the cap hits this year instead of pushing out you will have money to go loaded up again but they need to focus on drafting the trenches and build it up.
February 22nd, 2023 at 3:41 pm
None of this matters with Bowles as HC.
February 22nd, 2023 at 3:52 pm
No retread we could possibly sign will lead us to the promise land. Go with inexpensive QBs, save some money balance the Bucs checkbook, work on the cap pinch. Be in a better position to move forward in 24.
February 22nd, 2023 at 3:53 pm
The QB will be determined by Camales. Guarantee won’t be expensive QB, so Camales will be the one to make the decision to run the offense since he was finally hired amongst a plethora of others and Bowles doesn’t know anything about offense.
February 22nd, 2023 at 3:54 pm
Andy Dalton? Well guys, we got away from it for a few years. But its looking like we are heading back to the…BUC LIFE.
February 22nd, 2023 at 3:58 pm
Hell No! Waste of time and money!
February 22nd, 2023 at 4:24 pm
Marine Buc
Like it , mostly because of the Hendon Hooker pick
February 22nd, 2023 at 4:35 pm
The End Times Are Nigh!!!
February 22nd, 2023 at 4:39 pm
When my mother was pregnant with me, they did an ultrasound and found she was having twins. When they did another ultrasound a few weeks later, they discovered that I had resorbed the other fetus. Perhaps Dalton can do this with Trask? It would give him the skills of two QB’s
February 22nd, 2023 at 4:43 pm
A little Borg!
February 22nd, 2023 at 5:11 pm
What about Otto Graham or George Blanda, or Bart Starr ? Every living quarterback has already been mentioned , I guess it’s time to start speculating on the chances of the dead showing up.
February 22nd, 2023 at 5:20 pm
The people saying “the only way to evaluate Trask is to see him, to get him on the field.” Well, the coaches see him in practice every day for two years. They’ve seen him in preseason games. They saw him against the Fowlclowns. Just because you haven’t seen him, is irrelevant. They’ve seen him and are doing their jobs, to put the best players on the roster. The dude couldn’t even beat out “Watch Daddy Sling It” Goobert. He is a tenuous 3rd string QB who might be overmatched at that. Sometimes what you haven’t seen is better left that way.
February 22nd, 2023 at 5:40 pm
Sounds good to me. Who cares at this point.
February 22nd, 2023 at 6:32 pm
@goatfarmer
He was never battling it out with Trask for the back up job. The plan(even started by BA was to sit him and learn as long as we had Brady and Gabbert lol. We learned that the day/week he was selected.
February 22nd, 2023 at 6:33 pm
Fuhhhhhhhhhhhhh-Q no thank u
February 22nd, 2023 at 9:12 pm
Yes to Andy D. as Trask back up. Otherwise you waisting valuable practice snaps. Trask should and will defeat any of these old unproven qb’s anyway even he has to compete against them. The Texans combo of Trask and Mike Evans will be so efficient as Trask and Kyle P. in Florida. In two years Trask was neither allowed to compete for QB2 nor play with starting players.
February 22nd, 2023 at 10:59 pm
I don’t know why the saints started Andy Dalton over Jameis so for the love of god no
February 22nd, 2023 at 11:04 pm
Jameis are Mayfield is all we can afford, just kick it back to jameis, let him beat out trask and lets win our 4 games and draft a qb next year. I feel im overpaying for season tickets this year
February 22nd, 2023 at 11:14 pm
westernbuc – They started Dalton because Winston had a broken back and wasn’t really close to 100%.
But, again, even with as much of a fan as I was of Winston, if we’re just going to be running some dink and dunk offense, that’s a terrible fit. Plus the Saints might not even let him go, if the numbers I see online are correct, he’s a $11m cap hit, and only frees up about $4m if they let him go. Meanwhile a QB the level of Winston or Mayfield is going to probably cost around $12m-to-$15m for a year.
That’s why you just roll with Trask, let him see what he can do. If he stinks, oh well, you were just going to fire anyone at the end of the year anyways. But if he’s good, then fantastic, you got a future QB. It’s not like this team is going to be any good if they lose a bunch of defensive guys and don’t have any depth on offense or defense.
February 23rd, 2023 at 10:10 am
Western buc, the Saints started AD over Jameis because of 30 turnovers in a season!!! Not quite 2 a game!!! That kills a team! And Jameis has shown the Saints he can’t change how he does things!! Very simple!
February 25th, 2023 at 9:27 am
What’s Fitzy doing these days?