Ex-Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians a fan of QB prospect Michael Penix Jr.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won five of their final six regular-season games to make a playoff run behind a resurgent season from quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Mayfield, a free agent, has expressed interest in returning to the Bucs this offseason. The interest is mutual, too.

But that doesn't mean the Buccaneers aren't also considering other QB options.

Bruce Arians, once Tampa Bay's coach and now listed as a senior advisor to GM Jason Licht, recently told the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud that there's a college quarterback who has piqued his interest.

Washington's Michael Penix Jr. is coming off a brilliant season, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy Award balloting and leading the Huskies to a spot in the National Championship Game, where they lost to Michigan. And though Penix had some struggles in that game against the Wolverines in addition to suffering an ankle injury, he was terrific in the Sugar Bowl semifinal vs. No. 3 Texas, completing 29 of 38 passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns, with 31 rushing yards on three carries, earning game MVP honors.

Arians, who is helping Licht prepare for the 2024 NFL Draft, sat up and took notice at Penix in that game -- and seemed fascinated by his potential.

"As far as the football grade, I love (Penix) because he does things I love to do," Arians told Stroud. "He puts (the ball) up the field. He's as accurate on throws up the field as anyone I've seen in 15 years Just to fight through that last game after he had that ankle tore up. But what he did to Texas was unbelievable."

Penix is a complicated evaluation, however. He's going to turn 24 shortly after April's draft, which is a bit on the older side for a QB prospect. But more concerningly, Penix has a lengthy injury history that