Getty
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a miserable situation at backup quarterback for what seems like time immemorial — a succession of “We Will Certainly Lose If This Dude Goes In” backups who inspire zero faith.
If the Buccaneers go with a prediction from ESPN’s Matt Miller, it will certainly only continue down that road.
In Miller’s latest 7-round mock draft, he has the Buccaneers taking Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer in the 7th round (No. 229 overall) — a player who should almost certainly not be taken in any draft in any year, ever, at any time in human history.
“Altmyer has experience in pro passing concepts and shows decent eye discipline/patience to give the play a chance,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. “He throws with adequate anticipation into zone windows but a slower operation time and lack of arm talent hurt his chances of beating tight man coverage. Edge pressure sneaks up on him and he hasn’t learned to avoid sacks often enough. Altmyer could have a tough time beating out pro backups for a roster spot … below-average size, arm talent and drive velocity.”
Sounds like the kind of player the Buccaneers would probably bring in, unfortunately.
Transfer From SEC to Middling Big Ten Program
Altmyer, 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, was a backup to Matt Corral and Jaxson Dart in 2 seasons at Ole Miss before transferring to Illinois, where he became a 3-year starter.
In 35 games over 3 seasons at Illinois, Altmyer went 19-7 over his final 2 seasons and even got the Fighting Illini into the Top 10 in his final season as he posted career highs in passing yards (3,007), touchdowns (22), rushing touchdowns (5) and completion percentage (67.4).
Bucs Sign Miserable Option at Backup QB
The Buccaneers signed longtime Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback Jake Browning in free agency — a miserable option to back up Baker Mayfield in 2026.
“Free agent QB Jake Browning plans to sign with the Tampa Bay Bucs on a one-year deal, per source,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on Wednesday. “From backing up Joe Burrow to Baker Mayfield.”
Browning backed up Joe Burrow on the Cincinnati Bengals the last 3 seasons, including going 4-3 as a starter and leading the NFL in completion percentage (70.4) in 2023.
From NFL Researcher’s official X account: “Jake Browning went 4-3 in 7 starts for the Bengals in 2023 (as starter): 71.5 comp pct (led NFL), 266.9 pass YPG (6th in NFL), 8.2 pass yds/att (4th in NFL), 99.1 passer rating (7th in NFL).”
In 3 seasons, Browning is 4-6 starting in place of Burrow.
“Bucs plan to sign QB Jake Browning to a one year deal,” Tampa Bay Times NFL reporter Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account. “Baker Mayfield has his backup.”
Browning Played Out 2-Year Contract With Bengals
Browning, 28, was an exclusive rights free agent who went 4-3 in 7 starts in 2023, throwing for 1,936 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions as he won 3 of his first 4 starts — the first Bengals quarterback to do so since Boomer Esiason in 1984.
That landed him a 2-year, $1.975 million contract with the Bengals before the 2024 season. He struggled enough in 2025 with an injury to starter Joe Burrow that the Bengals brought in veteran Joe Flacco to try and save the season.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
More Heavy on Buccaneers
Loading more stories