Bucs move up two spots to No. 17 to select QB Freeman

The Bucs traded up two spots to No. 17 overall to select Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman.

It's the first time a quarterback was selected by Tampa Bay in the first round since Trent Dilfer was taken sixth overall in '94.

"I'm going to bring all I've got,'' Freeman said. "I'm going to bring a big, athletic quarterback, I'm going to bring hard work and leadership. Hopefully, it'll be something big.''

Former Bucs coach Jon Gruden, who was working the NFL draft for the NFL Network, was bemused by the pick. 

"I've been accused of collecting guys, but that's the hardest position to find,'' said Gruden. "You got to admit, he is one big, good looking athlete.''

"I wish I was in that war room to congratulate all of them.''

Freeman will be reunited with Bucs coach Raheem Morris, who was the defensive coordinator at Kansas State in 2006.

The Bucs traded a sixth-round pick to the Browns to move from No. 19 to No. 17 to take Freeman.

The move leaves the Bucs with five quarterbacks on their roster -- Luke McCown, Brian Griese, Byron Leftwich and Josh Johnson.

Gruden, who was fired in January after his team failed to make the playoffs following a 9-3 start, was accused of collecting quarterbacks during his seven seasons in Tampa Bay.

The Bucs never took a quarterback higher than in the third round when they selected Chris Simms in 2003 while Gruden was in Tampa Bay.

But the Glazer family believed one of the failures of the Bucs under Gruden was the inability to develop a young, franchise quarterback.

The Bucs had plenty of needs on defense and there were some top-flight defensive players on the board when they jumped the Denver Broncos at No. 18, fearing the Broncos might want Freeman after trading quarterback Jay Cutler to the Bears.

But new general manager Mark Dominik has been focused on the quarterback situation ever since taking over the job.

He re-signed McCown as a free agent to a two-year, $7.5-million contract. Dominik also attempted to complete a three-way deal with Denver and New England for Cutler.

Less than two weeks ago, the Bucs signed Leftwich, the Steelers free agent, to a two-year deal.

Morris has said it will be an open competition at quarterback this off-season. It's uncertain whether the plan is to play Freeman right away. Last year Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco led their teams to the playoffs as rookies.

Freeman was the third quarterback taken in the NFL draft Saturday. Georgia's Matt Stafford was taken No. 1 overall by the Lions and Mark Sanchez went No. 5 overall to the Jets, who traded up with the Cleveland Browns.

The selection of Freeman could mean that Johnson, a fifth-round choice from San Diego last season, could be the odd-man out.

   

Comments

[aj]

Please. No Freeman. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[John P]

They would only move over Denver to take Freeman, I think.

That's just a rotten pick.

[John P]

And there it is. Freaking nuts to pick a developmental player when you have so many other needs.

[Valrico Rick]

Yes, the smart call! Let's now here from the CLOWNS!!!

[Chris]

Please tell me why we signed Leftwich then? This makes Gruden look sane!!!

[John P]

Hey, speaking of which - how much did we give up for that 1st rounder?

[Ray]

Are you kidding me? Where are the Gruden bashers now? Gee now we have 5 QBs on the roster. On top of that we now don't have a 2nd and 6th rounders.

[DR]

I kinda agree, but the Bucs have mediocre at best talent at QB. Say good bye to Griese, and say good bye to Johnson. Right now, it is Leftwich, McCown, Freeman on the depth chart.
Worst part, Johnson could outplay Freeman, but the Bucs will protect their first round investment just like any team would.

[conradbuff]

looks like josh johnson is gone as well as griese im shocked by the pick with so many other needs he could be a good player in the future tho

[DR]

JJ would be better off asking for a release to get a legitimate shot. I think JJ, in the end, will have a good career in the CFL.

[galloway84]

I hate this pick with a passion. I almost threw up when I saw Freeman's name getting called with pewter and red. I wanted Clay Matthews or DT. BUSTER WRITTEN ALL OVER FREEMAN. What was the purpose of drafting Josh Johnson? I like QB's as it is.

[aj]

Can anyone say Trent Dilweed? So disappointing with a choice selection of defensive ends left. And trading up for him? That is very questionable.

[Turk]

Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!

[TheBucStop.Net]

Of all the stupid things to do waste two picks on a player that will never be anything in the NFL

[John P]

The defense is going to get killed next year. Why they didn't give them any help is totally beyond me.

[DR]

C'mon aj. Dilfer threw to Gator busts his entire tenure at TB. He played better when went elsewhere. Trent Dilfer would be a starter for the Bucs right now when in his prime.
Johnson was a project at his lower selection, but like I said, he will have a good career in the CFL. He is not NFL talent.

[Chris]

I can't believe this...we are so weak at DT and OLB. I would have even been happy with Maclin

[TheBucStop.Net]

Already I am wondering the IQ of our new HC

[conradbuff]

well thats it till 2moro unless they somehow trade back into the 2nd for either johnson or smith they really dont have anything to offer tho so guess josh freeman is all for today

[John P]

Freeman was an interception machine at K-State. I had the pleasure of watching him live and in person. He has the arm of Elway - but the brain of Rex Grossman.

[DR]

They didn't need to reach for a DL right now. There will be players in the 3rd that will be just as good as they the players being drafted now. Not a bad pick, not nearly as bad as you all make it to be.

[Sir Pritam the Great of England]

I would rather have Josh Johnson than Josh Freeman ANY day....

[Larry]

Nothing against Freeman, but with the needs on the defensive side of the football WHAT WERE THEY THINKING???

Trade away the 1st and 2nd round picks to move up a whole two spots in the draft to select a player who plays a position where there isn't a screaming need - Brilliant! Mark Dominik, this isn't the way to start your career.

[conradbuff]

wow cleveland is just racking up picks today

[Opinion Master]

hoooo hummmm

thanks for the encouraging words there John P.

[Opinion Master]

Vinny, Dilfer, and now Freeman

[DR]

Detroit has it made right now, they couldn't go wrong with any pick. Nicks or Wells is my guess.

[tbuc70-scooter]

HOW MANY QB'S DO WE NEED!!!!! WHY DID WE SIGN LEFTWICH THEN!!!!I HAVE NOT AGREED WITH ONE THING THIS STAFF HAS DONE FROM DAY ONE. FIRE RAHEEM AND DOMINIK THEY ARE CLUELESS AND OVERWHELEMED. JUST BECAUSE U KNEW THE GUY FROM KANSAS ST DOESNT MEAN YOU DRAFT HIM. I GUESS JOSH JOHNSON AND BRIAN GRIESE ARE PLAYING DEFENSIVE TACKLE FOR US, BECAUSE THE BUCS HAVE NO ONE ELSE...AND WE DONT PICK UNTIL ROUND 3...THANKS AGAIN DOMINIK....MORONS

[Jon]

I will say this:

I bet that Freeman has a better NFL career than Stafford or Sanchez.

If you watched the combine, and if you watched the pro days, Sanchez and Stafford looked like 7th rounders compared to Pat White and Josh Freeman.

The difference between the 4? Sanchez and Stafford were on two of the four most talented teams in the NCAA. Freeman.... was not. He was throwing to people who did not, nor will ever sniff the draft. Take things into perspective before you flip out over the man that is our "franchise qb."

The question now, is.... when he gets handed the keys. I'd laugh if we had a Derek Anderson/Quinn scenario with McCown/Leftwhich having a career year and Freeman waiting in the wings.

[DR]

The defensive players available aren't much better than the players that will be available in the later rounds. Thats the thinking. JJ doesn't have it, Griese is pretty much gone and done, and McCown is an obvious question mark. The bucs really had no choice in the matter, and in my opinion, Freeman is better than Sanchez.

[John P]

I'm sorry folks - but I've been a fan for decades, and I've just had enough stupidity. I can't spin this inside my brain in a positive way at all. There's no way this kid is going to be ready as a starting NFL quarterback for a couple of years. I'd like to see them at LEAST make an attempt to field a competitive defense next year. They're not going to do that, and we're not going to outscore anybody.

[Vincent]

I'm THRILLED!

[RustyRhino]

well this SUX why take a 3rd round QB in the first round? with all that we need and the QB's that will be available next year we take THIS QB??? a career 59% passer who only played 2.5 years??? oh yeah!! not that we don't already have enough QB's that need to learn to play so we take another one... when there will be several GOOD QB's next draft. I have been in support of the new Staff and i am seeing the same SH*T as the last Staff... looks like a dumb move to me. but what do i know ?/ nothing we will see next year... we still did not get a 2nd rd Pick and lost a 6TH ? for this guy... CRAZY

[conradbuff]

i agree freeman has more upside than dirty sanchez and i think he could be a good player just suprised by the pick with soooo many needs on d and the releasing of all the vets

[Opinion Master]

glad detroit is still... detroit. lol!

[Jimmy Tuck]

When you have a coach with inferior intelligence, you get inferior picks. Simple.

[John P]

Jon,

If people made sound judgements coming out of the combine, then Tony Mandarich, Andre Ware, Akili Smith and many others wouldn't have been drafted at all. Combines don't tell a thing about future performance.

[Sir Pritam the Great of England]

Jon,

The Combine doesn't test a quarterback's decision-making! It tests their ability! Of COURSE Freeman is gonna light up the Combine! But Freeman's decision-making is atrocious and his football knowledge is limited, from what I've read. McCown & Freeman = bad decision-makers, Leftwich = inconsistent, Josh Johnson = no one knows

Fantastic set of 4 quarterbacks (sarcasm)

[Opinion Master]

may as well grab Graham Harrell with the 3rd round pick ..... never can have too many QB's.

[Frank Drebin]

Hey, FIRE GRUDEN turncoats, what do you think now? Same types of picks, but something tells me that that Raheem won't coach 'em up the way Chucky did. Way to go losers. We may not have won playoff games but at least we had a winning club. Welcome back to the 80's guys. Oh, that's right. You were probably Dolphins fans back then.

[Jimmy Tuck]

My favorite part is when they wasted a 6th round pick to move up to spots to grab a guy who wouldn't have gone in the next 20 picks.

Just because a coach can yell and wave a towel doesn't mean he's ready to captain the business aspect of a football team.

[bucfanner70]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I officially hate the bucs!

[RustyRhino]

LOL it looks sad but true Frank

[kiel26]

I Cannot Believe this pick here i thought when tha bucs moved up here wed take either Jeremy Maclin Rey Maruluga or someone else but know what do we do we draft Josh Freemen what tha heck we give Mccown a new contract we Sign Bryan Leftwich we have Griese And Johnson so oh yeah lets go out and get another qb. Tha Bucs needed Maclin to help out our Wide Recievers or we couldve Drafted Maraluga to boost our linebackers does anyone else out there agree with me

[TheBucStop.Net]

Man what a waste I just cant get over it

[HarshRealities]

The draft choice of Freeman makes it official, the Buc's are being run by the 3 stooges.

[Valrico Rick]

It is really funny to read how you clowns sitting around in your underwear drinking beer and hating your life know so much about the game of football! You can see things in the future that the "real experts" can't. The Bucs are looking for big QBs with big arms, and this was a good call. As I have said, I am sick and tired of having a good defense and bad offense! ESPN, as well as others, pays Mel Kiper big money to figure the draft out and he called it months ago, but as you sit and scratch your butt and complain why doesn't ESPN pay you clowns the big money?

[DR]

The irony of it all!!! John P, you hate this pick but were you satisfied with a McCown at QB, who would have been a 4th round pick in this draft? You guys want hang a guy like Freeman, which I agree with Jon, will have a better career than the other 2 QBs. He has proven much more with less in college. This is a much better pick than Dexter Jackson.
I wouldn't be surprised if McCown doesn't make the roster.

[Greg285]

This was a great pick for the Bucs! Anyone who doesn’t see that doesn’t understand the NFL. This is a quarterback league, just look at all the Great teams in the NFL. The Bucs needed a young QB for the future and Freeman it that pick! He’s more talented than McCown or Leftwich and will give the Bucs stability for the future. The failures of Gruden to draft and groom a QB for the future put the Bucs in this position in the first place. You have a very good offensive line, talented RBs, now you get a trigger man and Freeman is that trigger! With the weapons on offense, the Bucs will now score points and gave focus on the defensive side of the ball with their remaining picks

[DR]

Frank, the Bucs have been wearing the orange jerseys the last 5 years with Gruden. Don't ever think think different, the Bucs have been bad for a while. They are gettin better.
I have told my friends all week, that the Bucs could go 6-10 with the toughest schedule in the league, but would still have the best Bucs team in the last 5 years. Going 9-7 with 7 wins against losing teams in a very bad division means nothin. Morris will lead us to better times for sure!