Bucs Add Veteran QB John Wolford
May 9th, 2023
The Bucs signed a veteran quarterback who played for Todd Bowles and owns a Super Bowl ring.
John Wolford is in the house as of today. He was an unsigned free agent of the Jets in 2018, Bowles’ final season in New Jersey.
Wolford was cut by the Jets after the 2018 preseason. He landed in the defunct AAF and then resurfaced the following spring with the Rams, where he stayed for four seasons.
The Wake Forest star is a small dude a fraction under 6 feet tall and about 200 pounds. He was 1-2 as a starter last season in Los Angeles, where he was a teammate of Baker Mayfield. In 2021, Wolford was the Rams’ No. 2 quarterback behind Matthew Stafford when Los Angeles won the Super Bowl.
Probably the most important Bucs-related connection is Wolford played for Rams head coach/offensive guru Sean McVay. Elements of McVay’s offense are a big part of the Seattle offense under Seahawks playcaller Shane Waldron, the former Rams QB coach. And new Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales is bringing that offense to Tampa with his own spin.
No, 27-year-old Wolford will not be competing for the Bucs’ starting QB gig.
May 9th, 2023 at 1:32 pm
WHO??????????
May 9th, 2023 at 1:34 pm
1td, 4 ints. the race to the bottom starts here.
May 9th, 2023 at 1:35 pm
Not great but not bad for a 3rd string QB who is being signed by a crash stapped franchise.
I know some of you are already hating on this guy but at least he has prior experience in a similar offense.
Would you rather have Ryan Griffin back? Who has ZERO NFL experience after nearly a decade?
May 9th, 2023 at 1:36 pm
Come on JOE…
ENOUGH WITH THE MODERATION BULLSPIT!!!!!!!
May 9th, 2023 at 1:37 pm
Finally backup competition for trask
May 9th, 2023 at 1:39 pm
been there, done that is our Bucs new QB. Been to the playoffs, been to the Super Bowl, potential familiarity with the offense… Trask better come with it, he will need to block out the noise – but may the best QB win, I am expecting playoffs with a shut down defense and an offense that can score more than 18 ppg…
May 9th, 2023 at 1:40 pm
Lovely, we have a backup who played in the aaf. Guess it’s better than the cfl
May 9th, 2023 at 1:40 pm
lol
PT Barnum
May 9th, 2023 at 1:41 pm
This guy is the veteran, mentor-type quarterback they were talking about bringing in?
May 9th, 2023 at 1:43 pm
Uninteresting.
May 9th, 2023 at 1:44 pm
So Kyle Trask is almost out the door…
May 9th, 2023 at 1:48 pm
We are about to find out how quickly Kyle can learn this offense.
May 9th, 2023 at 1:53 pm
Idk why everyone seems surprised by this signing. Did some of you think we were going to be trading for a QB? We were going to have three QBs and this guy has connections to the Bucs coaches and some aspects of the offense. This could also be a confidence building move by the Bucs for Trask because with this signing Trask should be locked in to at least be the backup QB.
May 9th, 2023 at 1:55 pm
been there, done that kind of guy
actually the perfect 3rd string qb — no competition to be a starter and he’s been a backup on a championship team
if he sees the field, it’ll be a lost season
May 9th, 2023 at 1:56 pm
Baker and Wolford are the same QB type.
Kyle being painted into a corner?
Regardless, Trask will get a shot, just curious if the OC will give him a game plan built around his skill set.
May 9th, 2023 at 1:59 pm
One team’s trash is another team’s treasure….
…Let the tank begin!……*sigh*
May 9th, 2023 at 1:59 pm
So basically a nobody…
May 9th, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Camp meat.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Been there, done nothing type of a guy.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:03 pm
I actually like this signing, since the news broke a little earlier I looked at Wolfords Wake Forest tape and some of the tape where he got some burn because of Jared Goff was hurt in 2019. If you can find the game Wolford played against the Cardinals it gives a decent glimpse of his capabilities. Pleasantly surprised tbh and getting someone who worked with Waldron before he got to Seattle and left w/e impression he had on Canales.
Not saying he’ll push to start or that I’d want him to, but this addition makes a lot of sense. So now, Traskfield has a guy familiar with the nuances of what will be our new playbook to potentially draw from in the QB room. Plus, he’s only 27. I’d take Ryan Griffin back in an asst. QB Coach role if he doesn’t wind up anywhere else. Other media outlets that cover our Bucs have been floating that idea around about Griffin every offseason the last 2-3 years.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Not a good sign–for Trask ,,or the BUCS
May 9th, 2023 at 2:07 pm
LFG…..6-11 moves
May 9th, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Trask needs to show he is a fast learner as he has two QBs now with more experience at the NFL level and also have experience in a Waldron/McVay system.
If Trask can succeed he will be at least an NFL average player moving forward with room to do so much more in terms of potential. If Trask fails he may have to find his shot elsewhere IMO.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Not sure what people expected! If the signing of a third quarterback is the sign of tanking maybe you shouldn’t be watching football. We were a quarterback away from tanking last year. Brady somehow avoided injury
May 9th, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Do some of you guys understand that this is a third string quarterback that we signed? We did not sign a starter and you guys are still complaining. I think some of you guys come on here and post just to be able to read your own posts.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:17 pm
Has knowledge of the offense…and was the backup for the Super Bowl. His knowledge of the system is the important piece of the puzzle. The Bucs didn’t bring him in to win a starting job. But his understanding of the scheme…so please relax…it makes sense.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:22 pm
Who?
May 9th, 2023 at 2:24 pm
Who? Exactly who they said they were signing someone with experience not a starter.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Licht counting out the pennies at the contract table: “thirty four, thirty five, thirty six…that should do it. Welcome to the clipboard holding gig with the Bucs”
May 9th, 2023 at 2:37 pm
I would like to be a backup QB for Tampa Bay.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:45 pm
I can’t imagine looking at the Rams QB situation last year and being like “let’s make that our QB situation.”
May 9th, 2023 at 2:45 pm
What a clown show.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:47 pm
We signed another UDFA RB, Ike Irabor who I know absolutely NOTHING about. Watching his tape rn from Union College(?) who accepted an invite to NYGs’ rookie minicamp, but Irabor saw a better shot in Tampa so he’ll be with our guys this weekend.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:50 pm
Smart move, a cheap vet who knows the system and can help teach it.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:53 pm
They needed another back up QB for insurance. The team is broke so they pulled trigger! There’s allot of fans on this site that are either really bad at math and/or delusional.
May 9th, 2023 at 2:54 pm
It’s not a third stringer. This dude is our backup. Mark it. Trask isn’t an NFL QB
May 9th, 2023 at 2:56 pm
He stinks. Anything over league minimum is too much $$$
May 9th, 2023 at 3:04 pm
Bowles next job…HC of the Puppy Bowl. Salary 100 dog biscuits.
May 9th, 2023 at 3:12 pm
Wolford’s career stats ; 58.7% completions , 1 TD & 5 Int’s ..
I don’t understand this fascination with Seattle / mcVay offense style –Seattle won a SB 9 years ago ..!!
And McVay after 6 seasons has been in 2 SB’s ; lost one & won the one Bowleszo helped them toward ??
May 9th, 2023 at 3:16 pm
If Trask doesn’t have what it takes to start and play well after watching Tom Bradys every move for 2 plus years then he’s toast. And Jason Licht will have totally wasted a valuable 2nd round pick. I can’t wait to find out.
May 9th, 2023 at 3:22 pm
Come on guys!!! Beggars can’t be choosers…..he’s a better alternative than $8mil for Jameis “America’s Quarterback” Winston.
May 9th, 2023 at 3:27 pm
And just like that we start to realize what this team is going to be like. Wolford is an Handoff Up the Gut Specialist. Smooth as silk. What a season we are in for.
May 9th, 2023 at 3:28 pm
HC Grover Says:
May 9th, 2023 at 3:04 pm
Bowles next job…HC of the Puppy Bowl. Salary 100 dog biscuits.
**********************************************************
That’s only if he wins
More likely to walk away with the second place salary of 50 dog biscuits
May 9th, 2023 at 3:28 pm
Doesn’t seem like Licht brought John Wolford in to compete for a starting QB gig but to hold the clipboard as a third stringer.
May 9th, 2023 at 3:31 pm
He’s just a camp arm, I fully expect one more QB to still be brough in.
With our options as Baker and Trask we will want someone to compete for the #3 roll, while we keep an arm on the practice squad.
May 9th, 2023 at 3:33 pm
Perfect guy to close out those big loss games on the road in the 4th qtr.to get out of town fast.
May 9th, 2023 at 3:33 pm
So much for been there done that…more like rode the bus, DNP
Yuk
May 9th, 2023 at 3:37 pm
slow Bucs news day? No chance at impact
May 9th, 2023 at 3:47 pm
The amount of whining and negativity in these comments is amazing.
This is a solid signing for the role of #3QB … if eh ever needs to play, we’ll be talking about high draft picks in 2024
May 9th, 2023 at 3:51 pm
That should do it! Let the season begin!! lfg (please note the non caps)
May 9th, 2023 at 3:53 pm
Give him a chance.
May 9th, 2023 at 4:00 pm
It does make sense, he is here as the third string quarterback and he knows it, He is familiar with the offense that is being installed ,that is a plus, he can be helpful both to the offense ,helping teach it and as an emergency backup , and to the defense , getting them used to it by running it with the scout team against them because of the increasing number of teams that are now running that type of offense , including , Seattle, the Rams , Chiefs , and others.
May 9th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
If I had known as a youth that a 5 foot something guy could cash NFL checks for years… man… the pre-Internet NFL coverage made all these guys out to be super heroes. There are way more Robins than Batmen out there making cash as “players” – professional meeting attenders and practice teamers.
May 9th, 2023 at 4:21 pm
With Trask being a “slower learner”, I don’t expect him to seriously compete for the starting spot. Mayfield has at least proved he is a very quick learner – starting and winning a game for the Rams with about zero practice.
May 9th, 2023 at 4:25 pm
This signing had nothing to do with competition for Trask. They need three Qb’s to run an effective practice. I wouldn’t be surprised if they bring in another Qb.
May 9th, 2023 at 4:46 pm
2023 Bucs QB room = Woeful, Traskcan and Buster Mayfield.
(I just threw up in my mouth a little)
May 9th, 2023 at 5:10 pm
catcard202 Woeful, Traskcan and Buster Maybefield. Bwahwahwahwah!
May 9th, 2023 at 5:18 pm
And then there are the chicken little, sky is falling , all is lost, “fans”, fans for who? Nobody knows.
May 9th, 2023 at 5:19 pm
This is a good signing. A mentor veteran QB3. That’s what he was signed for, to be QB3. Baker and Trask will be competing but they will be QB1 and QB2. With the undrafted rookie QB they have in camp, they now have enough arms for reps. They got 4 qbs in camp. The only question is if the rookie is good enough for the practice squad.
May 9th, 2023 at 5:31 pm
Trask is ready to rise to the challenge. Go Bucs and may the best man win.
May 9th, 2023 at 5:44 pm
Its a 3rd string qb relax
May 9th, 2023 at 5:51 pm
This, in reality, is the battle for QB2! If Trask does not grasp the system by preseason, he will be our QB3 for a while.
May 9th, 2023 at 5:53 pm
A-holes gonna a-hole.
3rd string QB. I don’t know who they thought would be an exciting name to come in as #3… Beeeyaaatches gonna beeeyaaatch.
May 9th, 2023 at 5:58 pm
So that’s the been there done that vet hmmm
May 9th, 2023 at 6:31 pm
TRASK WILL SAVE US
May 9th, 2023 at 6:37 pm
I like this abstract strategy of signing the 2nd and 3rd string QBs of a 5-12 team.
May 9th, 2023 at 6:45 pm
If you do a little research on Wolford, the signing might make sense. Odds are he’ll probably be running the scout team come Sept (in addition to being an emergency backup). His last 2 years at Wake Forest, he compiled 1200 rushing yards & 16 rushing TDs. With the Bucs facing a number of very mobile QBs this season, might be beneficial to practice against someone like Wolford to teach our young defenders what the word ‘contain’ means.
May 9th, 2023 at 6:50 pm
KT is the unknown commodity in this scenario…
May 9th, 2023 at 6:56 pm
This was best 3rd QB signing Bucs could make! Needed someone that can function in the system with little reps in training camp.
May 9th, 2023 at 7:07 pm
It’s a really good signing. To the guy who can’t understand the fascination with Seattle / Rams offense? It’s written right there in the article. It’s the new OC’s system. Bringing in a Qb who already has familiarity with it makes sense.
May 9th, 2023 at 7:13 pm
Training camps require 4 QB’s typically to function well
May 9th, 2023 at 7:30 pm
HOLD ON …
John Wolford played for the Rams and so did Baker. That might help both assimilate to the new playbook faster. It’s a stretch but they’ve shared the QB room which has to count for something.
May 9th, 2023 at 7:51 pm
Good signing, he’ll give Trask a run for his money for 3rd string.
May 9th, 2023 at 8:38 pm
Trask is going to win the job.
May 9th, 2023 at 8:55 pm
If you have to worry about who your 3rd string QB is, chances are strong that your season is already done. You can count on one hand the number of times a 3rd string QB made a difference on a team. Last year’s Mr. Irrelevant (Brock Purdy) was truly an aberration. Bucs (and their fans) have a lot more to worry about than whatever stiff they make 3rd string QB.
May 9th, 2023 at 9:03 pm
CaptivaJim, the fascination with Seattle (and Canales, and this Wolford signing is part of it) is clear when you look at the many connections between Bowles, Jeremy Bates going back to Pete Carroll at USC.
May 9th, 2023 at 9:13 pm
All new coaches like to have a guy who knows the system. Reid took the Packers backup when he went to Philly.
Brady liked Gabby because he would do all the grunt prep. I expect Wolford will be able to operate in a similar fashion. Time will which QB he’s preparing.
May 9th, 2023 at 9:52 pm
Foles, Wentz, even Marriotta. Those guys are experienced vets. Wolford was not what I was expecting based on Jason’s comments. With this QB trio, the season is going to be very disappointing.
May 9th, 2023 at 10:09 pm
Never heard of him. I assume he makes vet minimum, and impacts the cap situation very slightly.
May 9th, 2023 at 10:18 pm
bowles want some of McVays playbook because he can’t figure out his own lol
May 9th, 2023 at 11:25 pm
Excellent. Norm Snead, King Hill or Jack Concannon. We’ll be lucky to do as well as those 67 Eagles. Except no one runs as well as Concannon on the Bucs.
May 10th, 2023 at 12:17 am
Trask is going to save us……when he becomes the financial associate for boobs that love him for no good reason. What a fargin joke. He’s not been cutting it. Maybe a switch flips and he has an “ahaa” moment. Or not.
But either way, the Trask Love Fanboi Club will claim he’s the Andrew Luck who got away.
May 10th, 2023 at 12:48 am
Better than nothing, I mean Matt Ryan isn’t going to sign for free.
May 10th, 2023 at 6:47 am
He will help both of our guys with the new offense….presumably.
If he sees the field even in preseason I wil be surprised.
May 10th, 2023 at 9:22 am
All of the JBFers wana be GMs. He was the Ram’s #2 QB on their Super Bowl Championship team behind Stafford. So he must have some skills.