Since the retirement of Tom Brady in late January, the Bucs have been peppered with quarterback questions. With the number of available options dwindling, Tampa Bay might be resigned to Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask as their 2022 quarterbacks. But NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport went on the Rich Eisen Show this week with some interesting insight.

“I would expect them to be looking around and taking a big swing elsewhere, like Deshaun Watson,” Rapoport said. “Russell Wilson said on The Today Show he wants to play on the West Coast. So it sounds like no Russ. I would think they would take a swing at Deshaun Watson if his legal situation clears up. So I would kind of keep an eye on that as well.”

Watson’s NFL future is obviously in question due to his significant off-the-field legal issues. In fact, NBC Sports’ Peter King wrote on Monday, “I had one GM at the combine tell me he thinks there’s a good chance Watson will not play in the NFL in 2022”.

As for the Bucs, there is no question they want to be major players in the quarterback market. The problem is there really hasn’t been much of a market. As long as Watson’s legal situation exists, the Bucs are unlikely to trade for him. The Texans asking price has also been rumored to be insanely high, asking for three first rounders and several day two picks late last year.

At the NFL Combine, Bucs GM Jason Licht and HC Bruce Arians were clear that a quarterback trade seems unlikely.

“There’s always some chatter,” Licht said when asked about the QB trade market. “There’s always some talk. It’s usually a little more talk than it is action.”

Arians was even more demonstrative.

“Trades are just out of the question,” Arians said. “You have to have a partner. These guys aren’t just willing and calling. ‘Hey you want my guy?’ Who is behind door No. 2 for them? So I don’t see very many of these guys moving. There might be one. Max two. Guys that we think could take us to the Super Bowl. I like about eight of them. But they’re all playing for somebody else. I don’t see teams giving up quarterbacks.”

Still, it’s worth noting that Arians and Licht are speaking about the current quarterback market. In a month or two, that could change. And we know that Arians and Watson have an affinity for each other based on their past. If the quarterback’s legal situation is rectified, I do think the Bucs would be contenders for his services. But they won’t be the only team, so Watson would have to desire to be a Buccaneer as well. The quarterback’s no trade clause could be what this all comes down to in the end.