That rough finish has the Buccaneers at least considering a quarterback change in the near future, with the 2026 NFL draft seen as a potential source for a long-term solution in the early rounds. 🧭🔮
Mayfield’s contract situation anchors the storyline. He enters 2026 in the final year of a 3-year, $100 million deal signed before 2024, meaning there won’t be a quick extension payoff if his play doesn’t rebound. Late-season turnover was a concern—3 interceptions in the first 10 games, then 8 in the final 7, including two-interception defeats to the Rams and Dolphins. Bowles has been vocal about needing better quarterback play, signal-calling, and blocking. He’ll also be working with his fourth offensive coordinator in four seasons after Josh Grizzard was fired; Canales and Coen, his first two OCs, both moved on to head coaching roles after brief stints with Mayfield. 💼⚖️🔄
That multifactored landscape—performance on the field paired with coaching instability—strengthens the case for the Buccaneers to look to the 2026 draft for a future passer. The organization could pursue an early-round quarterback with high upside to anchor the post-Mayfield era. 🗺️📈
One intriguing name at the top of the discussion is Trinidad Chambliss, the Ole Miss quarterback who rose from Ferris State’s Division II championship run to star at Ole Miss in 2025. Chambliss threw for 3,937 yards and 20 TDs with only 3 interceptions, added 527 rushing yards and 8 rushing TDs, and carried a backstory that includes a 25-3 as a starter record over the past two seasons and a 1,000-yard rushing season at Ferris State in 2023. ESPN/ Mel Kiper Jr. currently list Chambliss as the No. 3 quarterback on their board, with expectations he could be available in the second or third round, making him a plausible early-round target for the Buccaneers in 2026. 🔥🏈✨
