Predicting The Future

May 5th, 2023

Todd McShay foresees.

Yes, yesterday Joe shared an FS1 gambling graphic a bit puzzled that the Bucs’ win-loss total set by our friends in the desert hasn’t budged from the original 6.5.

From draft buzz alone, teams often get a bit of a boost. Not the Bucs.

Face it, folks outside Tampa Bay aren’t stoked about Kyler Traskfield. And the book on the Baker Mayfield Project is fully open. If he plays well, the Bucs have their quarterback for the next few years.

If the Baker Mayfield Project flops…

Listeners to the “Ira Kaufman Podcast” — hey, if you live on foreign soil and listen to Ira, stand up! Let Joe (and Ira) know where you are — know last week one Joe said despite the Bucs solid draft last month, it sure smells like the Bucs are gearing up to draft a quarterback next spring.

Joe’s not the only one who feels that way. So too does Todd McShay of BSPN. He has a 2024 mock draft — patently absurd in May — and his mentality is, well, interesting.

McShay believes the Bucs find their next quarterback — with the No. 1 overall pick. (You’ll have to click the link to find out who that is because Joe doesn’t want to start a flame war this morning — no blood on Joe’s hands.

53 Responses to “Predicting The Future”

  1. BA’s Red Pen Says:

    I just hope this doesn’t snowball to another Lost Decade.

  2. Duane Says:

    Who cares what a bunch of talking heads think? Those same talking heads did not predict a Super Bowl run for the Philly Eagles … indeed most of them predicted that their quarterback, with whom they were “unimpressed” – Jalen Hurts – would likely be benched within a month of the season opening. Yeah, THAT Jalen Hurts to passed his way to the Super Bowl and was a candidate on lots of ballots for MVP of 2022.

    That’s why they play the games!

  3. Hodad Says:

    Can we take the field than talk?

  4. Bosch Says:

    If neither Trask nor Mayfield pan out, which is fairly likely, then that is a spot on prediction.

  5. Allen Lofton Says:

    Life is not about what ifs – it’s what you do – so it’s on the coaches and players to maximize. no more talking.

  6. TDTB2022 Says:

    This reminds me of all the doubters when Brady came. Time will tell. It looks like the Bucs are crossing their t’s and dotting their i’s. That is all you have to do right now. Soon the coaches will coach and try to create a winning formula. Time will tell if all is coming together or not.

    In Licht I trust! Go Bucs!!!

  7. ocala Says:

    Vegas is usually right

  8. zzbuc Says:

    I don’t get why majority here is so down on Mayfield….

  9. Mike Says:

    I’m thinking that the Bucs want to play good defense and run the ball, which should keep games close and respectable. In this way, Bowles can keep his job another year because the defense performed, but the offense was held back by limitations at QB, so we end up with a sufficiently high draft pick and have a shot at a franchise QB as a result.

  10. Infomeplease Says:

    I believe this predicted road to disaster leads back to the head coach. The whole nfl world saw what a splendid job he did last season! They expect no better this season. We’ll see. Just don’t hold your breath!

  11. Fred McNeil Says:

    I like Mayfield. I don’t know much about Trask.
    If they both stink…hello Caleb.

  12. Stanglassman Says:

    You can pay espn 10 bucks a month to read this crap if you want. Bucs finishing last place and taking Celeb crazy talk. Too much talent on this team to finish last.

  13. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Can’t we at least play a game first? Even a preseason game? Then we can prematurely talk about a QB next year.

  14. Jay Says:

    So you’re saying as a fan we should just cover our heads and find a different team for this year because all is lost and maybe start watching the cooking channel or something like that.

  15. Fred McNeil Says:

    Wins and losses in preseason do not have any bearing on how teams will play in September.

  16. robert Says:

    We may very well be picking 1st next draft.

    They needed to sign a QB, but I think they should have named Trask the starter out of the gate. They may as well have hung a sign on Trasks locker that says you suck. Probably took away any hope and fire he had to get the gig….not because they signed baker….but the way they have handled this.

  17. View from 132 Says:

    It is strange to me that Trask is being talked about as if he was demoted. Like the Bucs wouldn’t have signed a journeyman QB if he was the clear starter. By the end of preseason this could be Trask’s team, or Baker’s, or a mess.

  18. Buddha Says:

    Vegas last year wrong on Buccaneers, wrong on Saints, wrong on Packers, wrong on Falcons, wrong on Jets, wrong on Giants, wrong on Falcons, wrong on Jaguars. They don’t try to get in right; they try to split the action.

  19. DmanTX Says:

    To the media pundit class, they just now Brady is gone and we struggled with Brady and thus the lack of confidence. I do think our D will be improved, our running game will be improved, and the question is at QB. With Baker likely to win and his being more mobile, I see us winning at least 8. Hopefully more.

  20. SB~LV Says:

    Bucs could have 11 wins
    Just as easily as
    5 wins
    It will all come down to QB play and Mayfield is certainly a capable NFL QB if he executes in the passing game.

  21. HC Grover Says:

    Bowles is the perfect coach to get us the #1 pick next year.

  22. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    I am an optimist when it comes to the Bucs, and think we are going to flat out surprise some teams this year.

  23. SlyPirate Says:

    BUCS ARE BETTER THAN LAST YEAR
    (SB~LV …. That’s where my heads at, too. 10-11 wins)

    OC is improved
    OL is improved
    Defense is faster
    It’s easy to throw to Evans and Godwin

    Every QB that has played with Evans has had career years. All the way back to college.

  24. Lord Cornelius Says:

    Next year seems like a better QB class so I like the plan. If we are picking late then it means Traskfield worked out. If not we will have some great options.

  25. Tony Says:

    Yeah I could see it going either way with them either having a decent year or having & a down year & yeah if it’s a down year then yep it’s gonna be either Caleb or Maye. Depending on where they’re picking.

  26. Dick LeBeau Jr. Says:

    Tired of this nonsense. The Bucs are not about to have the worst record in the league next season. The team has way too many talented players on it for that to happen. There are way worst teams than the Bucs. If anything, we wind up with a similar record or slightly better. But to just be losers, there’s no way that happens.

  27. Joe in Michigan Says:

    My prediction is that the Bucs win the NFC South again this year.

  28. Alexandre Nascimento Says:

    Ira’s listener from Sao Paulo, Brazil

  29. Tye Says:

    Seahawks starting Geno Smith was looked at as tanking BUT reality played out different….

    Mayfield may pan out for he has had some success in this league….
    Trask is just unknown and could go either way…
    Thinking a high draft qb next year is a slam dunk is ignorance for the history of high picks rarely prove to be ‘franchise’ worthy!

  30. Cobraboy Says:

    If the OL improves and Mayfield is the real deal, this team could surprise people.

    If those things happen, the one big negative is Bowles. I have *zero* faith he’s a winning HC.

  31. Cobraboy Says:

    CB checking in from high in the central mountains of the Dominican Republic in the beautiful resort town of Jarabacoa. This area is called the “Dominican Alps.”

    A 10,300′ mountain is 20 miles from where I type this.

    For another few months, anyway. We are planning a move back to the states this summer.

  32. Hehatesme1213 Says:

    Something that really confuses me.
    We’re talking about Baker Mayfield?
    This is a guy who proved haters he had the jewels to be an elite qb
    In college.
    He showed what it looks like to disrespect him and what you’ll get by doing so in that game vs Kansas.
    Gets drafted by a Team where the only time they go to the Super Bowl is the morning after taco Tuesday!
    HE turns that team all the way around and makes them playoff contenders going 11-5
    He’s definitely better than any qb that the bucs drafted in how long?
    I don’t think he’s the kinda guy who’s gonna turn into a Barbie like freeman.
    He showed that in his last year with his he browns goes out a plays messed up because he wants to win!!!
    I’ve seen bigger uglier dudes with far less injury sit the pine.
    Difference is baker is a qb that eats his steak with his hands.
    We cherish a pass rusher here in tampa that eats pizza with a fork and knife!
    The big thing here is Baker Mayfield is coming in after the goat.
    So everyone is sizing him up because the shoes some ppl think he needs to fill.
    If Brady never came to the bucs no one would have doubt with Baker coming to the bucs.
    Nor would he have gotten a dookie 1 year deal!!!!!
    Watch him blow the roof off ray hay and go to a new team next year
    Maybe the patriots??

  33. Craig Says:

    If the Bucs play as uninspired ball as last season, they won’t even do as well as Vegas predicts. If they find some energy and joy in team play they will tie the Vegas prediction easily.

    If either QB works out, and I have faith in Trask, 8-10 wins is a very good probability.

  34. rrsrq Says:

    Mock drafts right now are crazy, what if the J-E-T-S falter this year, or the Packers, what if Baker brings the moxie that fuels the Bucs this year, no body knows. All we can possibly predict, if healthy, Mahomes will be Mahomes and the Eagles should be really good. That all I got

  35. Brandon Says:

    This is why McShay’s an idiot… let’s say Baker Mayfield is exactly who everyone thought he was. A career record of 31-38, 29-30 with the Browns. That’s a just under .500 QB, folks. Not great… but not really awful, is it? He was basically .500 with the Browns… a team with far less talent on both sides of the ball than the Bucs… and he was .500 and took a terrible franchise to their first postseason win in decades. Then he went to the dumpster fires of Carolina and LA… with little around him in either place. So if Mayfield is as bad as he’s been (which isn’t that bad), the Bucs could be 8-9 or 7-10 at worst. If the extra talent around him makes a difference, plus the weak division, I can see the team getting to 10 wins rather easily. Baker won 11 games a few years back, plus one in the postseason, who’s to say he can’t do the same here?

    Us having a losing season is very much a possibility, us being awful, despite having tons of talent on the team, seems especially unlikely.

  36. Rand Says:

    too much negative garbage

  37. MadMax Says:

    LOL, Mauch picks 69 as his number…that guy is a trip!!! Love it!!! HAHAHAHA!!!

  38. SB~LV Says:

    Mauch is going to do very well in the local advertising market

  39. MadMax Says:

    Just getting rid of OC leftwich should net us 2-3 wins.

    I think we win 7-8….

  40. anderson Fa Gonzalez Says:

    bucs play in the nfc south, so its wide open. i dont know about any of you but neither the saints,panthers, or falcons scare me at all.

  41. Who Says Says Can't Say Says:

    Nationally, there is an overwhelming groupthink that without Tom Brady the Bucs have nothing. Tom Brady really retired? Okay well then they’ll have to be bad.

  42. TF Says:

    The reality is we are in a “complete” rebuild even though some Bucs brass would like to paint a differant narrative. We have a second year HC, first year, FIRST time O.C., no cap space,the oldest roster in the league AND playing a division winning first place schedule this year. Not a knock on Baker or Kyle but 5”the REALITY is Top 5 is CERTAIN. Furthermore, a couple of injuries and having the exact same amount of coaching blunders by Mr Bowles then yes Top 3 is in play. So that entire article and take has legs.

  43. TF Says:

    We are NOT in a weak division this year after the other teams draft. We had Brady last year in a true “weak” division last year and stunk up the field week in and week out. This year will be tougher for us. Reality!

  44. Brazilian fan Says:

    I expect a positive campainha with Mayfield, 11 x 6

  45. Obvious Says:

    Well Brandon sure. Good Ole in the middle of nowhere. Just like this last season.

    I’m just NOT INTERESTED in a QB with a record that has been on the losing side most of their career. I’m just not.

    And let’s be PERFECTLY HONEST. OK. If Maybe’s QBing was so great in Cleveland, why was he thrown OFF the team? It’s not going to take a genius to figure that out.

    Also, if he where worth his salt, Why has he failed on every team he’s been on since then if he’s capable of delivering a game? Because he’s average like the rest. That’s why.

    I’M NOT INTERESTED IN TRYING TO REMAKE A HAS BEEN OR EVEN BETTER A NEVER WAS’ career on MY football Sundays.

    I’d DEFINITELY rather start fresh with OUR OWN from scratch QB.

    ALLLLLLL Teams that STAY in Contention YEAR AFTER YEAR didn’t do a short term lease on a QB. NO. They got theirs and Developed theirs FROM THE GROUND UP…..

    You see, a “Franchise” QB keeps you in it EVERY YEAR. They Are Known as “DYNASTIES”
    And to be HONEST with you and every other person that’s DESPERATE for Maybe to be the answer. He’s not. There is a A REASON why Vegas has MUCH SMARTER people making the bets than you and me. Actual Genius around ALL OF THAT MONEY.
    And it’s STUNNING to me that ANY OF YOU would doubt it. Sure, Maybe we’ll win 7 games and you’ll beat the odds! Sure. Maybe. Probably not.

    But the ONE THING THAT IS GUARANTEED is that Baked Maybe IS NOT GOING TO TAKE US TO THE PROMISE LAND, YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT “Much less even once”.

    What you people are saying IS NOT THE SMART THING. But IT IS what YOU’RE saying! Dream on little buttercup. But you just remember that “a fool and his money are SOON SEPARATED!” And THAT goes for hopes, dreams, and aspirations as well….

    How about you “JOURNEY MAN” FAN BOYS AND GIRLS WAKE UP!

    How about a Franchised DYNASTY Quarterback! How about some NON LOSER BLOOD injected into this Franchise Veins! We need to start by getting TRASK up there IMMEDIATELY to see if HE is the answer. And I’f not, IT’S TIME TO DRAFT OUR FIRST FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK IMMEDIATELY!

    Go ahead and TANK with the lovable loser SO THAT WE CAN FINALLY GO TO THE PROMISED LAND! A DYNASTY!

    And I’f you’re wondering what that looks like, take a look at the CURRENT SuperBowl Champs! That have been in the what? Last 3 Super Bowls out of 4 and WON 2!

    THAT IS WHAT A FRANCHISE QB LOOKS LIKE AND THAT IS WHAT A DYNASTY LOOKS LIKE!

    It DOESN’T look like MAYBE winning 6/7 games sort of MAYBE and PRETENDING OTHERWISE!

    Life is too short people. WAKE UP!!!

  46. Joe Says:

    Brazil checking in!

  47. Power of Pewter Says:

    Given the Buc’s salary cap situation, they didn’t have many options at QB. Prob lucky to to have Mayfield. If neither Mayfield or Trask pan out, the 2024 Draft will be loaded with QBs.

  48. Oneilbuc Says:

    Obvious. I hear you but for the bucs every time we have tanked we suck for the next 10 years or more. That 2020 super bowl was a all-star team of veterans that still had something in the tank. But what happened when 2 of them left we sucked on offense. The bucs need to try at least make the playoffs this year because it’s only one Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. I will always believe tanking is for losers. And I hope one day the NFL do what the NBA does a lottery for the top 8 picks at least. And what makes you believe that they would develope Caleb Williams or Drake May or any quarterback next year when we have a guy who set behind Brady for 2 years and they still don’t know what if he’s good or not because they didn’t let him get reps with the starters?? Regardless how you feel about Trask facts or facts on how good he done in college and people can down talk his stats all they want. But he threw for more touchdowns and yards than Travor Lawrence and Justin Feilds and had a higher completion rate as well . And he played against better competition than both of them he played in the SEC . All of that is facts and the reason why any quarterback is drafted number one overall is because of how they played in college that’s all we have to go by . Now I’m not saying he’s going to be good because how he played in college but at least give the guy a chance and see what he can do. So far this franchise has done nothing but killed the careers of young quarterbacks that they drafted and that’s not a opinion it’s a fact. So I’m hoping that Trask shock everyone and he becomes our franchise quarterback for the future. I’m not hoping he fail like the rest of the so call bucs fans who wants to tank.

  49. Oneilbuc Says:

    Come on Joe that was a lot to type on a cell phone brother!! Lol 🤣

  50. stpetebucfan Says:

    OK again…my son lives in Columbus…huge Browns fan…told me Mayfield showed real potential but the franchise has sucked since Jimmy and Dee Haslam took over along with the bad coaches he hired. He felt Mayfield didn’t have a real chance in that environment.

    The duo came in with one mission in 2012: To bring winning football back to Cleveland. So far, that mission has resulted in just one playoff appearance(MAYFIELD!!) mixed in with some of the worst seasons in franchise (and NFL) history.

    Mayfield reminds me of Jeff Garcia with a far better arm. Smallish but athletic.
    Garcia wasn’t great but on the right team he could win. That’s Mayfield. On the right team he can win. If the Bucs play up to “potential” Mayfield can lead them to the playoffs just as he did the HORRIBLE Cleveland Brown franchise.

  51. garro Says:

    Vegas preseason predictions be damned! If we tank I will lobby the NFL penalize us worse than the Fing Dolphins this year!
    I live in Thailand BTW Raised in Tampa and I obviously have more pride in that fact than many so called Bucs fans!

  52. garro Says:

    People who go to bucs games and buy season tickets pay through the nose for a decent seat. One thousand dollars per year at least and its probably more now just for the privilege of sitting in the heat drinking overpriced pisswater and…
    Tanking? Folks that is criminal!

  53. Goatfarmer Says:

    Easy prediction.

    New Buccaneers head coach in 2024.