NFL Draft: Buccaneers Pass on Top Quarterback Prospect in First-Round Mock

Will Levis was once projected to be the first quarterback selected in the NFL Draft, but is it possible the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would pass on him at No. 19 if he was there?

David Harrison | Mar 30, 2023

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to find their quarterback of the future following Tom Brady's retirement.

With 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask waiting in the wings for two years he's looking to compete for the Bucs' top job.

However, free agent Baker Mayfield's arrival has tilted opinions toward thinking Trask will remain a backup quarterback for a third year.

Still, with both men carrying more potential than proven value, the Buccaneers could add to the room in the NFL Draft if the right prospect is available at the right time.

The question that Bucky Brooks' latest mock draft for NFL.com presents is whether or not Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis is the right man at pick No. 19.

And the answer is a resounding 'no'.

"Fixing the offensive line is a top priority for the Buccaneers," Brooks writes as he projects the team will pass on the surprisingly available Levis in favor of Tennesee Volunteers offensive lineman Darnell Wright. "Wright is a natural right tackle, so Tristan Wirfs would need to shift to the blindside spot vacated by Donovan Smith to make this move work."

Not only did Tampa Bay pass on Levis, but so did every other team as Brooks has the once top-level prospect falling completely out of the first round.

What might surprise some here is that not only did the Bucs pass on Levis they also passed on Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson who fell to No. 20 and the Seattle Seahawks.

Richardson has been on a somewhat meteoric rise since late January while Levis appears to be falling in the eyes of draft experts everywhere.

Both quarterbacks fall below recent projections but don't present enough of an enticement to take the Buccaneers away from their top need on the offensive line.

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82

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Published Mar 30, 2023

DAVID HARRISON

David Harrison has been in sports media since 2015 using written, audio, and video media to cover athletes, coaches, and games. In addition to covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for BucsGameday and Locked On Bucs he also covers the Washington Commanders for Commander Country and Locked On Commanders and the Washington Wizards for Inside the Wizards. David also covers the NFL as a whole as one of the Friday hosts for Locked On NFL. He is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and previously spent 20 years as an active member of the United States Army. Contact David via email at david.w.harrison82@gmail.com or on Twitter @DHarrison82.