2020 NFL mock draft: Tampa Bay Buccaneers take Jalen Hurts at No. 6

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers replace Jameis Winston with Jalen Hurts in a recent 2020 NFL mock draft.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston will be a free agent this offseason and with his continued struggles on the field, the Bucs would be wise to let him walk. Instead of bringing Winston back for another run, Tampa Bay should be looking to grab one of the premier quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL draft class and move forward with them as the leader of their franchise.

With the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Redskins losing games at will, the Bucs are unlikely to get in position to land Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow may be playing himself out of their range as well.

That being said, there is a ton of quarterback talent in the 2020 NFL draft class and as long as the Bucs end up picking in the first half of the first round, they should be in a position to land themselves a new franchise signal-caller.

In a recent 2020 NFL mock draft by Randy Gurzi of NFL Spin Zone, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold the sixth overall pick. With that selection, they bring in Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts.

"“Hurts can do damage with both his arm and his legs and is quickly climbing up draft boards,” Gurzi wrote. “Here, he moves into the top-10 thanks to his continued growth as well as the fact that the third quarterback-needy team is on the clock as Tampa Bay makes their selection here.”"

Hurts has been one of the most interesting stories in college football this season. He was a two-year starter and consistent winner at Alabama but lost his job to the supremely talented Tagovailoa. Instead of sticking around to be Tua’s backup for another year, Hurts transferred to Oklahoma and has taken his game to another level.

More from Mock Drafts

• 2024 NFL Mock Draft Journal: Cardinals, Falcons tank for USC QB Caleb Williams
• 2024 NFL mock draft: Cardinals land Caleb Williams, Brock Bowers goes top five
• 2023 NFL Draft: Vikings Land QB of the Future in 7-Round Mock Draft
• 3-Round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Vikings, Titans Shake Things Up
• Washington Commanders 7-Round Mock Draft: Corner In The First

Under the direction of Sooners’ head coach Lincoln Riley, Hurts looks much more comfortable and under control in the pocket. He reads through progressions well, has learned to put touch on his passes when needed and has drastically improved his accuracy. Hurts has been a consistent playmaker for Oklahoma this season and has drastically improved his NFL draft stock.

A year ago, saying Hurts should go in the top ten would have been crazy, but now, it seems perfectly acceptable. Through seven games, Hurts has completed 74 percent of his passes for 2,074 yards, 20 touchdowns and only three interceptions. On top of that, he has carried the ball 84 times for 705 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Simply put, Hurts has been incredible for Oklahoma this season and is an obvious threat to take home the Heisman Trophy at the end of the year. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a change at quarterback and Hurts could be just the kind of player that they need. Taking him at number six may seem like a reach by some, but Hurts is proving himself as a playmaker and legitimate NFL prospect. He should be considered a prospect worthy of being taken in that range.