Handicappers Believe Bucs Are Favorite To Land Carson Wentz

March 2nd, 2023

Tampa Bay bound?

Bucs fans may want to brace themselves for this.

As Brent Musberger would say, our friends in the desert have weighed in. Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht this week all but promised a veteran quarterback would be signed to push Kyle Trask in the race to win the Bucs starting quarterback gig this fall.

Looking at the current quarterback landscape, it seems if the Bucs do go after a veteran quarterback, he better be cheap because the Bucs’ mortgage is currently underwater. In other words, the salary cap is crunching the Bucs.

Handicappers have placed the Bucs as the favorite to land Wentz, documents Matt Severance of Sportsline.

There might be just one team in the league where Wentz could have a good chance of starting right now: Tampa Bay, following the retirement of Tom Brady. The lone QB on the roster is 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask, he of the nine career NFL pass attempts.

When the Bucs were interviewing offensive coordinator candidates, they were told Trask will compete for the team’s Week 1 starting job. The team’s new OC, Dave Canales said he sees Trask as an efficient “point guard” who can distribute the ball to Tampa Bay’s skill position players. It’s expected the Bucs will bring in a veteran to compete with Trask. With major salary-cap issues, the Bucs probably can’t afford someone like Jimmy Garoppolo or Derek Carr.

Unless you count scatterbrain Drew Lock as a veteran (he’s already lost two quarterback battles, so what’s a third?), it’s fair to suggest the Bucs aren’t going to find anyone cheaper than Wentz for a veteran quarterback. So that makes sense.

Of course, trying to decide which is more palatable between Lock and Wentz is like asking which is more tolerable, the stomach flu or a flare-up of hemorrhoids?

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Which team will sign Carson Wentz?
Buccaneers +300
Raiders +400
Panthers +500
Titans +700
Chiefs +800
Bills +900
Cardinals +1000
Saints +1200

70 Responses to “Handicappers Believe Bucs Are Favorite To Land Carson Wentz”

  1. Joe in Michigan Says:

    XFL +200

  2. Leopold Stotch Says:

    Insert Michael Scott No God please no, no! Meme

  3. PewterStiffArm Says:

    They better not go there, period.

  4. DoooshLaRue Says:

    🤮

  5. AnonymousBuc76 Says:

    I hate this time of the year…

    Everyone’s throwing spit against the wall trying to see if it sticks…We would be like his 4 team in 4 years…He obviously can’t play; why in the heck would we drag his ars down here and expect him to show us something different… Apparently he has issues being coached hard and doesn’t seem to handle criticism very well…That being said, this fanbase would eat him alive…

  6. PoundTheRock Says:

    Nooooo. For the love of God no!

  7. Buc4evr Says:

    Why? When Mayfield and Brissett are available?

  8. Jack Burton Mercer Says:

    He was pretty good for a while. And then he wasn’t. No thanks.

  9. ViSyl Says:

    No, Please God No No. Noooooooooooooo!!!!

  10. Zoocomics Says:

    Good morning all. So, I get everyone’s apprehension here, this guy has been a coach killer as of late (Rivera is lucky he is still in Washington), but there is upside to this guy, and to land him on the cheap? Mayfield and Brissett fall into the same category as a Wentz, except with less upside. Mayfield and Brissett have really never shown to be franchise QB potential imo. They too had their chances to solidify themselves as franchise QBs, and it didn’t work. I think Baker was way overrated, never shown any sort of consistency in either of the last 3 teams he’s played for, he’s had 1 winning season. Brissett is good within 10-15 yards, with an elite running game, but the guy can’t make the deep throws, and as a starter, he has a horrible record. Wentz under Doug Peterson was a franchise QB, and was paid as such, yes, it is hard to argue his track record since their super bowl season, but the fact that he can make all the throws, his big guy, and mobile… and cheap? And he’d be thrown to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Cade Otton. Maybe Canales offense allows Wentz to not have to play hero ball. Clearly he wasn’t the only problem in the Colts Org and/or Washington, though he wasn’t the solution either.

    Wentz is the steal of free agency if we land him, I think he falls into the same category as a Derek Carr as far as upside… To anyone that thinks Brissett and Mayfield are better options, not even close.

  11. Letsbucinggo Says:

    This guy has got serious attitude issues please no!

  12. B.D Says:

    at least with him, you know Trask is going to play a lot…

  13. Defense Rules Says:

    IF Trask doesn’t win any starting QB competition outright, whoever we sign surely will only be a short-term solution until we find the franchise QB we need. Of course, the irony in all this would be Trask really knocking it out of the park then the Bucs having to re-sign HIM to a major contract in 2025 (being a 2nd Rounder, he doesn’t come with any 5th-year options).

  14. RagingBrisket Says:

    Sign Taylor Heineke

  15. Thisisouryear!! Says:

    I sort of agree with zoo comics. I think Wentz would be cheap and the couple years he played under Pederson in Philadelphia, he was a top 5 qb in the league. If canales can help geno out that much I’d like to see what he can do with Wentz. I still think when Wentz finds the right situation, he’s going to be a top QB again.

  16. BucBoy Says:

    I need to start a spreadsheet to keep track of all the quarterbacks coming here. 😛

  17. Jeff’s grandpa Says:

    Cooper Rush is the better ginger qb

  18. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Gabbert would be better…….if what you are looking for is cheap vet competition….

  19. Rick Says:

    Favored to land Carson Wentz? Please tell me its for him to be picking up the empty beer cans in the parking lot after tailgating time at home games?

  20. DoooshLaRue Says:

    I’ve always said that Gabbert is garbage but Wentz is worse.
    Please…… no.

  21. Curse of Gruden Says:

    Joe, Marcus Mariota was released by Atlanta. Where’s the “Marcus to the Bucs” article? You can do it!

  22. BA’s Red Pen Says:

    Why pay extra for some crappy vet to go 3-14 when we can do it with Trask on his rookie deal? We roll with Trask and Ryan Griffin and then draft a top QB prospect in 24.

  23. D-Rome Says:

    I’d rather have Josh McCown.

  24. LVMYBUCS Says:

    Washed up QB I rather roll with Trask

  25. Duane Says:

    Define “cheap”

  26. PSK Buc Fan Says:

    NOOOOOOOO……..

  27. Upstate NY BUC Says:

    White from the Jets, Rush or Heineke to compete with Trask, we will be fine with our receiver corp…

  28. Stebobucsfan Says:

    I keep saying Jacoby Brissett. Haven’t heard anything about him so I guess the Bucs are not interested or they’re not showing their hand. I mean a lot of teams need a QB or a QB backup

  29. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Potential QB’s

    • Jacoby Brissett (30)
    • PJ Walker (28)
    • Jarrett Stidham (26)
    • Gardner Minshew (26)
    • Mike White (27)
    • Cooper Rush (29)
    • Drew Lock (26)

    Tampa Bay expected to sign at least two veterans @QB.

  30. MadMax Says:

    Just draft Hendon Hooker, let him heal, slowly bring him on while Trask sinks or swims….now while he finishes healing, we will need someone if Trask goes down, someone cheap, and thats where Im a Dalton fan….i know, i know…but it will probably be a losing season anyway.

    Or we could grab Max Dugger in the 5th or 6th (I like his name, duh)

  31. MadMax Says:

    There you are LUV, what up Bro!!!!

  32. Just Leave Trask Alone Says:

    I’d rather see Gardner Minshew come here and trigger a bunch of feminists with videos of him playing guitar in his shaggin wagon.

  33. Marine Buc Says:

    Jacoby Brissett probably gives the Bucs a better chance of winning a few games in 2023…

    Carson Wentz gives us the best chance of earning the #1 overall pick in 2024?

    Which would you rather have Buc fans?

    #1 – Winning 6 games
    #2 – Winning only 2 games but getting the #1 overall draft pick

  34. LUVMYBUCS Says:


    Estimated Market Value

    • Jacoby Brissett (30) 1 yrs, $5,493,925
    • PJ Walker (28) 1 yrs, $2,250,000
    • Jarrett Stidham (26) 1 yrs, $2,250,000
    • Gardner Minshew (26) 1 yrs, $2,750,000
    • Mike White (27) 1 yrs, $2,250,000
    • Cooper Rush (29) 1 yrs, $2,750,000
    • Drew Lock (26) 1 yrs, $1,750,000


    Estimated Market Value

    • Jimmy Garoppolo (29) 4 yrs, $139,735,404 | Avg. Salary: $34,933,851
    • Geno Smith (32) 2 yrs, $78,659,052 | Avg. Salary: $39,329,526
    • Taylor Heinicke (29) 3 yrs, $59,484,258 | Avg. Salary: $19,828,086
    • Andy Dalton (35) 2 yrs, $13,622,660 | Avg. Salary: $6,811,330
    • Baker Mayfield (27) 2 yrs, $13,051,904 | Avg. Salary: $6,525,952
    • Sam Darnold (25) 2 yrs, $10,219,658 | Avg. Salary: $5,109,829

  35. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    @ MadMax

    Yo! what’s good bruh?

  36. Stebobucsfan Says:

    LOL marine Buc

  37. Stebobucsfan Says:

    Nevertheless, if Brissett can win us 6 games and the defense can win us 3 or 4 I ll be happy with that given mess we’re in cap wise and our draft position

  38. Mike Johnson Says:

    Oh hell Nawwwww! Wentz or Mayfield would ensure our disastrous future for years to come.

  39. Rand Says:

    A.J. McCarron and Cooper Rush

  40. Oneilbuc Says:

    It’s funny how y’all want to lose 😂😂!! This is a loser fan base on this site!! Loser fan base = a loser franchise we are the consumers so the franchise is moved by the fan base.

  41. Marine Buc Says:

    @ Stebo

    I agree.

    Nine wins would probably be enough to win the NFC South again and would be pretty amazing given the circumstances.

  42. Marine Buc Says:

    @ Oneil

    You may think I am being negative… That’s fine.

    But being a Buc fan since 1980 has taught me one valuable lesson in life.

    You must be realistic and set your expectation levels at the appropriate height…

    Listening to the radio adds every year singing – “It’s a new day in Tampa Bay!!!” – then we would win 4 games. Year after year after year.

    I would rather be realistic than be blinded by my pewter colored glasses my friend.

  43. Bucamania Says:

    That would ensure the #1 pick.

  44. BucsfanFred Says:

    It must be oneilbuc’s break time. Breaktime’s over. Get back to fluffing.

  45. Rand Says:

    @ Oneil

    So you think we’d be winners with Carson Wentz? Please tell Mr. Prognosticator?
    What do you know more than us losers know. Mr. Almighty Buc Fan of the South

  46. tbc 1 Says:

    why not bring him in starting role is not a guarantee and he may know this is his last shot. Really Mayfield and the rest-at least Wentz did not have a bad season in Indy just bring enough talent to have him have some time to throw the ball. He will be better than last years version of Brady.

  47. Coburn Says:

    Kinda been having that feeling ever since he’s been released… Competitive for Trask. We aren’t gonna spend huge money on a surefire starter. Will be a Journeyman like Wentz who has started before

  48. sasquatch Says:

    I don’t believe it. I see them signing Gabbert before Wentz.

  49. THOMAS PFALZ Says:

    From what I seen of Duggan not impressed. More impressed with McKee, Hoerner & Bageant

  50. Oneilbuc Says:

    Rand . I hope Trask does well this year and we finally got our quarterback that was developed by our team. I’m tired of hearing tank and all this bashing of a quarterback that we don’t know if he’s good or bad . I hoping for the best for Trask to be our next quarterback. It’s so many people on here acting like Trask sucked in college and he was the number 1 quarterback in college in yards and Touchdowns and our fan base not even giving him a chance. All they want is a name and that’s what the Glazers been saling us for years now is names. That’s what I mean about loser fan base they rather lose for a quarterback that not going to have no one to throw to. And in 2 years they are going to turn on him just like the rest of the quarterbacks the bucs drafted.

  51. Oneilbuc Says:

    Marine. In with you on that I’m a realistic as well but what I’m not going to do is just because one player left that means we are going to suck.

  52. DoooshLaRue Says:

    Marine Buc speaker of the truth!

    I wouldn’t mind Rush and Minshew.

  53. Just Leave Trask Alone Says:

    Oneilbuc we do want to win, we just understand the realities of the cap and what it takes to field a good football team. What we don’t want is to build upon bad processes. We’ll take a year that enables us level set and trend upward over repeating mistakes that lead to mediocre at best results.

  54. MadMax Says:

    @Thomas, noted.

  55. Oneilbuc Says:

    Build the team around Trask that’s all I saying bro!!!

  56. Marine Buc Says:

    @ Oneil

    “Build the team around Trask that’s all I saying bro!”

    I agree with you on that.

    At this point I don’t think we have much of a choice… I hope Trask is successful and becomes a legit franchise QB.

    But for my mental health I will maintain low expectations for 2023…

  57. Marine Buc Says:

    @ Dooosh

    Rush > Minshew…

    I watched Philly’s games at the end of the regular season – when they were resting J. Hurts – and Minshew did not impress me at all and they lost both games with a Super Bowl bound team behind him.

  58. Marine Buc Says:

    @ Oneil

    “just because one player left that means we are going to suck.”

    No doubt we will all miss Tom Brady… But like most things in life it is a combination of factors that determine outcomes…

    – Tom Brady retiring
    – $55 million dollars over the cap
    – 23 free agents and 3 restricted free agents to sign
    – the Bucs are releasing at least 3 players – 2 were starters
    – only 3 draft picks in the top 100
    – Kyle Trask probably starting at QB (I hope it goes well)
    – best pass rusher coming off a blown achillies
    – starting center returning from a major knee injury at age 32
    – new unproven offensive coordinator
    – installing a whole new offense

    Is that a long enough list or do you want me to add some more?

    LOL!!!!

  59. unbelievable Says:

    LOL Leopold !!

  60. Oneilbuc Says:

    Marine. Maybe we can pitch in and help with the cap lol 🤣🤣! I know our cap is bad this year I see what you saying bro .

  61. Mike Johnson Says:

    Go After Brissett.

  62. Marine Buc Says:

    @ Oneil

    LOL…

    It’s going to be a very interesting year.

    The last few off seasons have been rather boring…

    I believe the 2023 Bucs are going to look completely different from last year’s squad.

    I can’t wait to see how things go. This is truly a true test of our GM’s abilities.

  63. Oneilbuc Says:

    Marine. I agree 💯 percent bro I can’t wait until the season starts!!!

  64. Oneilbuc Says:

    💯 percent

  65. Rand Says:

    Oneil

    I’m with you on giving Trask his shot at being the franchise QB but please when you call fans out, call them out by name instead of an open ended insult. I thought you were criticizing me with your comment right after I made my comment.

  66. Oneilbuc Says:

    My bad Ran !!

  67. ScottyMack Says:

    I’d rather have Mayfield, Brissett or even Matt Ryan!

  68. Architek Says:

    No. Thank you.

  69. Gazillionaire Says:

    Fitzpatrick

  70. BabyBuc Says:

    Wow. Im surprised how dumb most of the people in this comment section are—minus 2 with reasonable takes. Everyone is literally repeating talking points with no original thought. Is Wentz Tom Brady? Absolutely not. But think for a second. Wentz has had how many bad years statistically? 2? 2020 (benched) and this year (injury)? I mean he got injured this year in 6 games within a brand new system. And this means he’s garbage? I mean this is a guy who set the Eagles up with the 1 seed in 2017, and won the NFC East in 2019 with practice squad receivers and threw for the franchise single season record in yards. If he doesn’t get Covid the week of the Vegas game, he mightve one the AFC South. I’d gladly welcome him to the team!