Though Tampa Bay is expected to draft FSU QB Jameis Winston, they are keeping their bases covered by working out Marcus Mariota.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are working out Oregon Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota today and have sent a large contingent of top executives to observe him.
Tampa Bay’s official Twitter account posted images of the Buccaneers’ scouting department along with head coach Lovie Smith and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. The team is in heavy need of a QB after allowing former star Josh McCown to leave in free agency during the offseason.
Buc scout team headed to Eugene for private workout with Marcus Mariota. pic.twitter.com/UlFkgEgmhn
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) April 7, 2015
Settling in for a 5-6 hour flight to Oregon. Long but productive day ahead. pic.twitter.com/plpS3ojLfc
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) April 7, 2015
The Buccaneers own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, and most draft experts have predicted that the Buccaneers will choose former FSU QB Jameis Winston to become the team’s QB of the future. Mariota is widely considered the No. 2 QB prospect in the 2015 NFL draft but unlike Winston, Mariota does not have any of the questions of character that have plagued Winston’s draft stock for over a year.
Though Winston is likely the team’s favorite to be their No. 1 draft pick, showing a significant interest allows Tampa Bay to: A) Cover all of their bases in case of the unforeseen, B) Increase their chances of a trade offer, C) Determine if Mariota would be a better ambassador for the team than Winston might be.
It ought to be a win-win situation for them.
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