Jason Licht Says There Will Be “Legit” Backup QB Competition
May 14th, 2026
“It’s a tough league, Kyle.”
Joe can’t recall the last legitimate Bucs offseason quarterback competition. Sorry, 2023 doesn’t ring a bell.
But it seems a fresh one already has started at One Buc Palace.
While the Bucs signed veteran Jake Browning (10 NFL starts) in free agency to replace Teddy Bridewater, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht says Browning will be battling for the main backup QB gig with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels and returning practice squad QB Connor Bazelak.
“Really excited to have [Browning]. I would say it’s too early [to name a No. 2 quarterback]. We signed him to be our backup and we also signed Daniels to, you know, give competition and we really like [Connor Bazelak],” Licht told the Pewter Report Podcast. “I think it’s going to be a good competition. We’ll see how it goes but I think it’s going to be a good competition. It’s always good to do that.
“We always haven’t had that here — where we’ve had several [quarterbacks] that we feel excited about and feel good about and have positive attributes about all of them that our competing. So, I think that’s one to watch for Bucs fans during training camp and during preseason. And I think it’s legit.”
Daniels showed in rookie minicamp that he doesn’t have a noodle arm, and he’s mobile.
Joe wouldn’t put money on Daniels being legit competition for Browning, but it certainly could happen. Daniels wouldn’t be the first undrafted QB to excite coaches and wow in preseason.
May 14th, 2026 at 11:43 am
There needs to be legit competition at every position, not only backup QB. This team was so bad down the stretch Wirfs should have the only guaranteed spot.
May 14th, 2026 at 11:48 am
For the most part I think Jason has done a great job as GM. But pulling Bridgewater off a high school sideline and trotting him out as back up QB was a seriously boneheaded move.
I hope the Glazers addressed that sternly with Jason
May 14th, 2026 at 11:51 am
I gotta imagine it will be much better than a Bridgewater coming aboard midway through the FN preseason situation. So we got that goin’ for us!
May 14th, 2026 at 12:01 pm
I agree Bee.
Zyon shouldn’t be gifted anything.
Some DTs that can make noise too.
I would say Yaya and Bain and Vita and Kancey are solid.
So is Winfield and Tykee.
Outside of that who knows on defense.
May 14th, 2026 at 12:04 pm
The good ones know it’s a competition every day. These jobs in the NFL pay well. Probably an A+ benefit package. Challenging work, but it’s really just a game. But somebody out there is willing to take your job. In a heartbeat. The good ones compete every minute because they love their jobs. And competing is the only way they get to keep it.
May 14th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
Bee Says:
May 14th, 2026 at 11:43 am
There needs to be legit competition at every position, not only backup QB.
BINGO!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
May 14th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
What about competition for the starting QB position?
I’m not gonna hand the starting job to a guy that wet the bed the previous year
He will have to win it in training camp
May 14th, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Lakeland Says:
May 14th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
What about competition for the starting QB position?
PREACH!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
May 14th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
Browning vs. Bazelak vs. Daniels
It’s like “who wants to be a hundredaire?”
We really let Jack Strand goto the stinkin Falcons
May 14th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Jack Strand is competing with Tua and Penix
Matt Ryan has made it clear, jobs are won in training camp
Jobs are not won on paper, salary, draft status etc
And that’s the way it should be
May 14th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Browning got benched last year I believe. Unless he does much better in this system it seems like he is a very low end backup.
May 14th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
Benched and replaced for Joe Flacco after 2 or 3 starts, but I think it was 3
Lakeland, Strand has plenty of potential to be a steal. Just up to he and that staff to get him up to speed and bridge to gap in terms of the spike in the level of competition. Big, strong, ACCURATE, and can make any throw without needing to move the pocket or boot him out into space because he’s 6’5.
I’d take Strand over any of our backups on hand every day ending with “day”
May 14th, 2026 at 1:47 pm
Ballsack’s college tape was so bad, I still have no idea how he got an invite. He was incredibly inaccurate – and in the Bucs preseason last year, outside of one throw that he threw over and over again (was like an 8-yard pass on the right has mark if memory is correct), Ballsack was wild. He does have good size and a strong arm, but I really don’t see how he’d be considered for an NFL roster unless he’s made huge strides. And I mean YUGE strides.
May 14th, 2026 at 1:51 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
May 14th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
Benched and replaced for Joe Flacco after 2 or 3 starts, but I think it was 3
———-
In fairness to Browning, that Bengals offensive line was horrid. People who think the Bucs o-line was bad last year, they have no idea what a bad line looks like.
Flacco came in and basically sped everything up, got the ball out faster, and the offense looked a lot better. But it’s also worth noting that Flacco said he didn’t know the playbook, so it was just read and react – so it’s possible that Browning, following the coaches instructions, was getting sandbagged by a terrible scheme, and things only worked when Flacco came in and ignored the scheme.
Browning did look a lot better in previous seasons when he got a chance to play.
None of that is to say I’m a fan of Browning, but he wasn’t given much of a chance last season.
May 14th, 2026 at 2:04 pm
“None of that is to say I’m a fan of Browning, but he wasn’t given much of a chance last season.”
125 attempts, 81 completions, 771 yards, 6 TDs and 8 ints in 3 games last year, Rod.
He played 0 reps in 2024, but was decent as a rookie in 2023.
Browning was given enough of a chance for it be realized he was cheeks and Cincy promptly traded for Joe Flacco.
May 14th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
Yeah, heard that also when Licht signed Baker to allegedly compete with Kyle Trask too. Nobody ever believed it
May 14th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
Jason Light says “and, we really like Conner Bazelak”. Translation: Daniels already took your qb3 gig. Sorry Conner, thanks for stopping by. Maybe Teddy B can hire you to help coach the HS team??
May 14th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
Wait! So “The Fix” isn’t in? Now that Just Doesn’t sound like the last four years prior At All!
Wink.. Wink… (from J. Licht to T. Bowl)
“TRUST” is a Daam Hard thing to come by when these guys open their mouths and make claims!
I’m SURE we can absolutely Believe Licht’s word. It is as soft as wet noodles. O. O. I mean his Word is as Solid as Oak! Just like the last few times he’s made a promise or prediction…. you can count on it! “That’s what we’re supposed to say, right?”
And full disclosure, I actually Like J. Licht! Futher disclosure, I’m NOT exactly buying everything he’s selling however….
May 14th, 2026 at 2:35 pm
Bengals O-Line was hot garbage. If our struggles after the OL injuries last season was a jailbreak, then Cincinatti was Attica.
May 14th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
Browning was 0-3 in Cincy last year, but Flacco was 1-7 after he replaced Browning. Burrow was 5-3 before he was injured and replace by Browning.
Browning threw 8 INTs vs 4 TDs; Flacco did turn that around. But, it doesn’t look like either QB was exactly set up for success at Cincy.
Browning was 4-3 in 2023 in Cincy, competitive in almost every game, and pretty much carried the team to at least one victory.
On a smaller scale, it kind of reminds me of some of Baker’s ups and downs with the Browns. If he is used in a game, the OC had better run the ball and think carefully about the pass plays he calls. After an extraordinary HS and college career, Browning has shown that he can at least win a few NFL games.
As a backup, he’s not nothing. How much more than that he is may depend a lot on the health of the OL and the OC.
May 14th, 2026 at 2:50 pm
I gotta say that 813 states it best by saying that there “Needs to Be” competition at Every position.
I’m not running a thing on the team but on “If” I was blessed to have the job, I’d change that to there “Must Be competition at Every Position”. It’s the ONLY WAY to ASSURE you have the Best Team you’re going to have with the guys you have. “YOU WILL WIN MORE GAMES!” Or if you prefer, “YOU WILL LOOSE FAR FEWER GAMES”
However you like to see it…
I Know it’s not the Bowles Way of running a team but his buddy, or buddies kids, or cousins friends, or flat out Lying to All about “fair competition” HAS NOT been very effective WHAT SO EVER! No Challenge? No Need to Excell, No “Need” TO WIN!
May 14th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
I think Daniels will be our QB2, and possibly our QB of the Future.
Purdy was only 1 pick away from being undrafted and he’s a Franchise QB. So, it’s not insane to think that Daniels could be a legit NFL Starting QB someday.
May 14th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Joe watches PRs podcasts?
May 14th, 2026 at 5:27 pm
Called it a few days ago.
I said all the QBs but Bayer will compete for the #2
May 14th, 2026 at 5:27 pm
Baker
May 14th, 2026 at 7:12 pm
Purdy was 1 pick away from being an ufa. Stranger things…