Bucs Shake Up QB Depth Chart Once Again

The Buccaneers bolster their quarterback depth by adding experienced veteran Easton Stick to the practice squad, reinforcing their roster behind starter Baker Mayfield.

The Buccaneers have filled their veteran quarterback spot, and they did it with a familiar name to their offensive coordinator.

On Monday, Tampa Bay agreed to sign Easton Stick to the practice squad, according to Greg Auman of Fox Sports, pending a physical. The move gives the Bucs the experienced depth they were looking for behind Baker Mayfield and Jalon Daniels after Jake Browning declined to stick around on the practice squad.

Stick, 30, arrives with a long NFL resume and a clear connection to Buccaneers offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. He also spent time with the Falcons last year, working with Robinson and T.J. Yates, and had been in camp with the Colts before becoming available after missing Indianapolis’ 53-man roster.

At North Dakota State, Stick built a decorated college career that included four FCS national championships and a 49-3 record as a starter. He completed 61% of his passes for 8,693 yards with 88 touchdowns and 28 interceptions, while also running for 2,523 yards and 41 scores. His time with the Bison also overlapped with Buccaneers right guard Cody Mauch, with the two playing together in 2017 and 2018.

Stick entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick by the Chargers in 2019 and spent most of his years in Los Angeles in a limited role. His first real action came in 2023, when Justin Herbert was sidelined by season-ending surgery. Stick started four of five games late that season, finishing with 63.8% completions, 1,129 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception, plus 144 rushing yards and a rushing score.

He stayed with the Chargers in 2024 before moving on to Atlanta, where he reunited with Robinson. That relationship stretches back to the pre-draft process, when Robinson helped train Stick and later drew Sean McVay’s attention during his own coaching rise with the Rams.

That familiarity made this an easy fit once Stick became available. Tampa Bay needed a quarterback who understood Robinson’s system and had real experience in an NFL room, and Stick checks both boxes.

The Bucs had kept undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels as Baker Mayfield’s backup after an impressive camp and preseason, while Browning chose not to wait on the practice squad. With Stick now in place, Tampa Bay’s quarterback group is set with Mayfield and Daniels on the active roster and Stick on the practice squad.

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