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NFL Draft 2009 Review: QB Josh Freeman

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers collect quarterbacks the way most people buy cereal.  They pick one that looks good but before.....

OK, this analogy blows.  I got nothing.  I can't figure out what they're doing.

They start the off-season with Brian Griese as their backup QB.  OK, fine, Griese has 83 career starts, he's certainly a decent backup. 

Then they sign third string QB Luke McCown to a contract.   Hmmm.   Why? 

New Bucs coach Raheem Morris and general manager Mark Dominik envision McCown as their quarterback of the future. That's why they signed the 27-year-old to a two-year, $7.5 million contract, announced Monday, that will guarantee him $5 million in 2009.

Really? Guaranteed $5 mil?  QB of the future?  Huh.  That's fine I guess.

Then they tell Jeff Garcia he's not wanted anymore.

That seems like a bad idea to me, but nobody asked me and McCown is apparently the QB of the future.  Now they have Brian Griese and Luke McCown.  And somebody named Josh Johnson. Fine.

Then they sign free agent Byron Leftwich. 

Why?  To be the starter, apparently.  At least, I thought he had a good chance to be the starter.  I guess Griese and McCown weren't good enough.  Fine!

Then they trade up to draft Josh Freeman

So at this point, I have no idea.  Will Freeman start?  I don't think so, at least not every game.   Leftwich will probably start the first game, but we could see Freeman before too long.  Or McCown.  He's the QB of the future you know.

The Buccaneers haven't had a single QB start all 16 games since Brad Johnson did it in 2003  -- and for all we know the Bucs could sign Brad Johnson this week.  If a single QB was going to start all 16 games in Tampa, they would be a solid fantasy option -- no matter who it was.   I don't think you can expect 16 games from any one of them, so I'd recommend staying away from all of them for now.