Is Josh Freeman better than any QB in the 2013 class?

[Jack the Ripper]

Word is that the Bucs won't be renewing Freeman's contract after next season. I'll qualify this post by saying that I am a Josh Freeman supporter. He showed flashes of returning to his 2010 form this year. I still believe in him. He's still only 24, worth a redemption shot on a change of scenery.

[Pass the Blount]

Yes, and if the Bucs let him go they are stupid.

[steelcityroller]

This is a very weak draft class for quarterbacks. There is no way that I would just give up on Josh Freeman for anybody in this draft class.

[sabres11]

Word is that the Bucs won't be renewing Freeman's contract after next season. I'll qualify this post by saying that I am a Josh Freeman supporter. He showed flashes of returning to his 2010 form this year. I still believe in him. He's still only 24, worth a redemption shot on a change of scenery.

Im surprised Tampa would let him walk. He would look good in a Buffalo uniform.

[marcre]

I can't believe they would just let him go. Is there any link to this story?

[Jack the Ripper]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...mans-contract/

Let’s see if we understand this one.

Mark Sanchez, the fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft, already has received a second contract. Josh Freeman, taken in the teens that year, hasn’t.

And Freeman, at least for the coming season, won’t.

According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Bucs won’t be extending Freeman’s contract, which expires after the 2013 season. And as Stroud explains it, the decision not to sign Freeman to a new deal could be part of a plan by coach Greg Schiano, who inherited Freeman, to get his own quarterback. And Freeman may change Schiano’s mind only by playing so well this season that Freeman leaves the Bucs with no other option than to use the franchise tag or sign him to a long-term deal.

One possibility would be to apply the non-exclusive tag and to see if anyone is willing to sign Freeman to an offer sheet and give up a pair of first-round picks. That would enable the Bucs to pull a reverse Keyshawn, giving up a player and getting two first-round picks 14 years after they gave up two first-round picks to get Keyshawn Johnson from the Jets.

The Bucs likely would settle for less, since the alternative will be to let Freeman walk away.

[marcre]

That's shocking to me… Seems like a pretty decent QB. I definitely wouldn't give up a lot for him though.

Thanks for the links.

[Old Smuggler]

I recall hearing about this a couple days ago, seems more like 2 things to me.

One, a motivational play for Freeman, who has not met expectations since that one year where he had, like zero interceptions; and two, Tampa being afraid to be in the same type of situation the Jets are in contract-wise with Sanchez getting an extension, and then completely crapping the bed.

I am not sure if he could play in the cold of Buffalo. I really hope we don't reach for a QB this year. Aaron Murray seems like a good choice next year.

[Jack the Ripper]

Freeman grew up and played college ball in the midwest. I doubt the cold will bother him much.

I think this is more likely a case of a new coach wanting to choose his guy at QB. Freeman falling out of favor with the Bucs organization is reminiscent of Lynch, who cost a 4th in 2011 and a 5th in 2012 and he had a more successful track record to boot. Despite what Tampa may ask, I see the price eventually coming down to totally reasonable. He's worth the shot.