Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Last offseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed quarterback Josh McCown with the hope that he’d be able to elevate their offense above the mediocre level it was currently at. Unfortunately, that was far from the end result, as McCown struggled before injuries paved way for a pitiful end to his 2014 campaign.
After only one year of his two-year, $10 million deal, McCown is headed for the free agency pool, as the Buccaneers have severed ties with the underwhelming veteran.
Tampa Bay’s decision to dump McCown makes sense for a few reasons.
First, McCown’s play in 2014 certainly didn’t warrant being paid $5.25 million in 2015. The career journeyman who saw a flukish rise in his stock after the 2013 season played miserably for the Buccaneers, completing only 56.3 percent of his passes for 2,206 yards, 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. After missing five games early in the season due to injury, McCown floundered down the stretch, all but ensuring he would be relieved of starting duties in 2015.
The second reason is that the Buccaneers could very well be targeting a quarterback via the upcoming 2015 NFL Draft. With the first pick, they can grab any player available, including their choice of quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston. They’re rumored to prefer Winston, but there’s still two months (and the NFL Combine and Pro Days) before the big day for them to decide.
Moving forward, the Buccaneers only offer Mike Glennon and Seth Lobato at quarterback. With the draft just around the corner, expect them to fill the top spot on the depth chart with the No. 1 overall pick. Meanwhile, McCown is headed for the unemployment line.
