Former Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians gives Michael Penix rave reviews

The negotiations between the Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield will be heating up soon. But Tampa Bay also may be eyeing a certain quarterback in April’s NFL Draft. And that’s Michael Penix Jr.

Bruce Arians is the former Buccaneers head coach who now works as a senior advisor to General Manager Jason Licht. Arians is helping with the draft. And through his prep work, he’s high on Penix, the former Washington star. Coincidentally, Penix is a local kid who attended high school in Tampa.

So far, Penix isn’t in the elite tier of quarterbacks for this year’s draft. Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels are the top three. Their order of preference may change, but they are the consensus. Analysts believe the trio will be among the top five picks in the draft. Then there’s another group of quarterbacks who will contend for first-round spots. That group includes Penix, J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix and Michael Pratt.

Penix is an older prospect having played six seasons. He suffered a couple of severe knee injuries while he was with the Indiana Hoosiers. But he put together two spectacular seasons at Washington and was the Heisman runner-up in 2023. Arians appreciated the fact that Penix responded so well after the injuries.

“I think that says everything about the kid, how tough he is to overcome all that,” the former Buccaneers head coach told the Tampa Bay Times. “Then to play like he did this year. Now, the medical experts, when you get to the combine, they’ll tug and pull and do all that stuff. You’ll get the medical grade.

“But as far as the football grade, I love him because he does things I love to do,” Arians said. “He puts it up the field. He’s as accurate on throws up the field as anyone I’ve seen in 15 years Just to fight through that last game after he had that ankle tore up. But what he did to Texas (in a 37-31 win in the Sugar Bowl) was unbelievable.”

The Buccaneers own the 26th pick of the draft. So Penix could be available when they’re on the clock.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers certainly are acting like a team wanting to keep Mayfield, who led them to the NFC South division title and the second round of the NFL playoffs. Tampa lost offensive coordinator Dave Canales to the Panthers. But they hired Liam Coen, who worked with Mayfield when Mayfield played for the Rams.

Mayfield becomes an official free agent next month. Word is that negotiations have yet to start up in earnest. But he also acknowledged that there is “mutual interest” between himself and the team.

“The ball is in [Tampa Bay’s] court right now,” Mayfield said on the Dan Patrick Show late last week. “I’ve been vocal about the mutual interest. I was very appreciative of the opportunity I had there. How they run the organization, everything they’re all about, how do we put our guys in the best position possible to win, I’ve been vocal about that.”

By next month, Kyle Trask could be the lone quarterback on the roster. Mayfield talks as if he wants to stay with the Buccaneers. However, the finalist for NFL Comeback Player of the Year, should get interest from other teams.