When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Josh McCown in free agency, new head coach Lovie Smith was adamant in calling the quarterback the team's starter for 2014. Despite having Mike Glennon who started most of 2013, Smith was putting faith in his former player to carry the team next year. However, what about when McCown is gone? Could Teddy Bridgewater be the future of the franchise?
The Buccaneers will make their first pick at No. 7. They have been projected to either draft a quarterback or a wide receiver with the first-round selection. The Buccaneers then traded away wide receiver Mike Williams to the Buffalo Bills further strengthening the argument that Tampa Bay would try and grab Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans to replace him on the field. However, could doubts in McCown's long-term future have a quarterback going in the first round instead?
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Bridgewater is flying down to Tampa Bay to take a visit to the team and Smith is very high on the former Louisville quarterback as a potential draft pick. Having the No. 7 pick likely puts Tampa Bay in perfect position to grab Bridgewater considering Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles will go ahead of him.
With McCown under contract and Glennon having proven success in the league, the interest in a quarterback is certainly odd for Tampa Bay. Could McCown's success be in question? The quarterback's stock skyrocketed last season when he filled in for Jay Cutler with the Chicago Bears. He played extremely well and had the attention of every team in free agency. However, McCown was set up well in Chicago. He had two of the best wide receivers in the game. Matt Forte was running well. The offensive line was solid. Those things are not in Tampa Bay, so will McCown find a way to succeed?
Smith has never been invested in Glennon. The second-year quarterback was Greg Schiano's guy and Smith wants his own quarterback. Glennon showed promise, but not enough to lead a team to the postseason. If Bridgewater gets drafted by Tampa Bay, Glennon certainly risks getting traded in the near future, especially if the rookie is quick to develop.
