After a strong showing as a backup, Josh McCown might be getting exactly what he is looking for in the 2014 season. The backup quarterback increased his value while filling in for the injured Jay Cutler. He found himself the target of every team in free agency in need of a veteran quarterback and now has the chance to be a starter after signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
McCown told reporters that his goal in free agency was to sign with a team where he stood a chance to be the starting quarterback. A return to the Chicago Bears was ruled out, but a reunion with former head coach Lovie Smith was the best opportunity. Now with the Buccaneers after signing a two-year contract, McCown is being referred to as a starter instead of a backup.
When asked if McCown was his new starting quarterback, Smith said yes despite already having former starter and second-year pro Mike Glennon on the roster. "There has to be a starting spot, a starting point, a starting person to out there first. And that would be Josh," smith said, via the Tampa Bay Times.
Smith has never appeared committed to Glennon. The young quarterback was Greg Schiano's guy and Smith wanted his own man. His familiarity with McCown made the signing perfect and now the quarterback will see if 2013 was simply a rare blip on the radar or not. He put up 1,829 yards and 13 touchdowns with just one interception in five starts.
The Buccaneers are still a favorite to draft a quarterback this year, but with McCown now on the roster, they can hold off using their first-round pick for one. Some draft experts believe the bottom half of the quarterback pool could actually turn out more successful than first-round options like Blake Bortles or Johnny Manziel.
Tampa Bay could easily target players like AJ McCarron or Aaron Murray in the third or fourth rounds of the draft to help round out their quarterback rotation. Having McCown buys the team some time. Either player come highly rated and could take their time developing while McCown holds the team down for a season or two.
If all else fails, the 2015 draft will have strong options. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. suggested that Tampa Bay could be leading a candidate to land either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota in 2015 after signing a stop-gap quarterback this year. McCown can certainly keep the Buccaneers competing for a year if that is the case.