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5 Reasons Why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Should Not Draft A QB No. 1 Overall

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Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

5 Reasons Why the Buccaneers Should Not Draft A QB No. 1 Overall

Lovie Smith Mike Glennon Buccaneers
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

After releasing Josh McCown, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem poised to take a QB with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Although the team has an obvious need at the position, selecting Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota at No. 1 is not the way to go. Here are five reasons why the Buccaneers should not draft a QB with the first pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

5. Lovie Smith's Background

Lovie Smith Rex Grossman Bears
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5. Lovie Smith's Background

Lovie Smith Rex Grossman Bears
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Lovie Smith has had a fairly successful career as an NFL head coach. He's compiled a career record of 83-77 and has had more winning seasons than losing seasons. In the playoffs, he's started Kyle Orton, Rex Grossman and Jay Cutler at QB. Simply put, Smith doesn't value the QB position as much as other coaches. He has a defensive mindset and wants to win on that side of the ball. As a head coach, he hasn't drafted a QB in the first three rounds.

4. Roster Has Several Holes

Leonard Williams USC
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4. Roster Has Several Holes

Leonard Williams USC
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The Buccaneers were near the bottom of many offensive and defensive statistical categories in 2014. In addition, several key defenders are free agents. With so many holes on the roster, it doesn't matter who the QB is in 2015. No QB, especially a rookie, is going to have success with the pieces currently in place. The Buccaneers need to either draft the best player available (USC DL Leonard Williams) or trade back for more picks.

3. A Poor Offensive Line

Buccaneers Offensive Line
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

3. A Poor Offensive Line

Buccaneers Offensive Line
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Even after bringing in four new starters for the 2014 season, the Buccaneers allowed 52 sacks. Only the Redskins and Jaguars allowed more. A rookie QB starting behind the Buccaneers' offensive line could result in David Carr 2.0. Carr was known for his strong arm and quick release, but the No. 1 pick in 2002 wasn't quick enough to survive in the NFL behind an awful offensive line in Houston. Mariota or Winston could suffer the same fate in Tampa.

2. Teams Don't Need A First-Round QB To Be Successful

Tom Brady Russell Wilson Super Bowl
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2. Teams Don't Need A First-Round QB To Be Successful

Tom Brady Russell Wilson Super Bowl
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For every Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck, there's a Tim Couch and JaMarcus Russell. The No. 1 pick doesn't guarantee success in the NFL. As this year's Super Bowl proved, teams don't need to draft a QB in Round 1 to win. Russell Wilson was a third-round pick and Tom Brady, arguably the greatest QB ever to play the game, was drafted in Round 6. In the 2014 playoffs, quarterbacks drafted in Round 1 were 5-7. Those drafted after Round 1 were 6-4.

1. Top QB Prospects Have Serious Question Marks

Jameis Winston Marcus Mariota
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1. Top QB Prospects Have Serious Question Marks

Jameis Winston Marcus Mariota
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Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are not sure things at the next level. Neither QB is at the level Andrew Luck was when he entered the league. Winston played more like an undrafted free agent in the first half of several games last season. He's also been involved in several incidents away from the field. While Mariota's character isn't in question, his arm strength, accuracy, field awareness and ability to run an NFL offense are.

Shawn Spencer is an NFL Draft writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Spencer_NFL, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

Related:
 Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 5 Biggest Draft Needs
 Predicting the Top Performer of Every Workout Drill at the Combine

Shawn Spencer is a writer for RantSports.
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