New Season, New Battle & Old Habits For Kyle Trask
July 29th, 2024BY IRA KAUFMAN
A year ago, Kyle Trask had every reason to believe he had a legitimate opportunity. He wasn’t about to throw away his shot.
Buc coaches and management took great pains to announce a wide-open quarterback competition in training camp between Trask, a former second-round pick, and Baker Mayfield, who had been signed as a free agent after failing to attract many suitors.
Despite showing improvements in all facets of his game, Trask lost out as a starter to Mayfield, who went on to have a strong 2023 season as the Bucs reached the divisional playoff round.
The current competition is now between Trask and John Wolford to become Tampa Bay’s No. 2 behind Mayfield. That’s a humbling development for an ex-Gator standout who could be an unrestricted free agent next spring. But if you’re looking for signs that Trask is pouting or feeling sorry for himself, keep looking.
“I’ve been in that situation … and it’s not easy,” Mayfield says. “Only one guy can play. The quarterback room is so important in terms of how the chemistry is in there and how we all get along. Kyle handles it the right way. In that position, you have to stay ready. You might not get as many reps, but you have to be professional about it. All you can do is put the work in.”
Through three seasons, Trask hasn’t started a single game that counts. He has thrown only 10 NFL passes, still looking for his first completion in the end zone.
Heck, he hasn’t even felt what it’s like to be sacked at the pro level.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of things that can happen in the near future, career-wise,” Trask says. “That’s pretty known, but I’m really trying to focus on getting better every day because whatever happens, wherever any of us end up, we have to focus on getting better. That’s all that matters at the end of the day. I’m not looking that far into the future because we’re one team, trying to get ready for a new season.”
Wolford spent part of last season on Tampa Bay’s practice squad, but he has experience working with new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Wolford went 1-2 as a starter for the 2022 Rams while Coen orchestrated the Los Angeles attack.
Trask’s edge in this new competition is his familiarity with Buc coaches and teammates. Losing out to Mayfield last summer was surely deflating, but Trask continues to impress Todd Bowles with his professionalism.
“Kyle’s one of the more mentally tougher guys I’ve seen, especially at quarterback,” Bowles says. He grasps it, he understands it, he competes when he gets in. No moment is too big for him. I’m proud of the way he’s handled things and the way he’s come back in shape and picking up the offense.”
Early in camp, Trask’s play has been a bit uneven. He knows his reputation as a hard worker and good teammate will serve him well — either in Tampa or with a new team in 2025.
With Mayfield understandably receiving the bulk of the snaps, Trask and Wolford need to capitalize on a streamlined workload.
They should both see extensive action in the preseason before a decision is made on the primary backup to Mayfield.
“I understand the snap situation, it’s the NFL,” says Trask. “This is the best of the best. I’m aware of how the NFL works, but at the end of the day, I still had a role on the team. I’m blessed to even have that. God’s blessed me with the talent to be here.
“I think Baker and I have a great relationship. He’s awesome and he’s been looking really good in this offense. It’s a really fun quarterback room and I’m expecting great things from Liam Coen.”
Trask, 26, generated considerable support during his quest to be the starter last summer. After Trask sat behind Tom Brady for two years, his boosters were eager to see him beat out Mayfield and showcase his skills on the NFL stage.
“I’m so appreciative,” Trask says. “I feel the energy. I’m very blessed to have support from the Buccaneer fan base and a shout out to the Gator fan base. That’s a beautiful thing. For me, it’s all about improving. You have to compare yourself to what you were yesterday. No matter what happens, getting better puts you on the right track.”
July 29th, 2024 at 4:39 pm
I’m very excited to see what the occult of Trask thinks about this one Sage.
July 29th, 2024 at 4:49 pm
I’m interested to see what he does as a starter. With the Bucs or with another team. With Mayfield trying to truck LBs Trask might start this year. We’ll see.
July 29th, 2024 at 4:57 pm
Drafting Trask will go down as one of Licht’s biggest bungles.
It never made any sense. In a year where we were trying to win back to back championships, drafting a back up QB in the 2nd round was an astoundingly stupid decision.
July 29th, 2024 at 5:01 pm
It’s great to read about how he has handled the situation so professionally. At this point Kyle is the next Steve Young, the never was, or something in between.
No one will know until he’s in a position to play in real games. It’s not his time and it may never be in Tampa. Hope he gets the chance somewhere. He’s been plenty patient on every level waiting his for turn. Hope he reaps the reward.
July 29th, 2024 at 5:26 pm
Keep grinding Kyle it’s the NFL and crazy things happen so make damn sure you’re ready!!🚩☠️💯
July 29th, 2024 at 5:30 pm
The scouting staff must have thought acquiring Trask was a good gamble at the time. No one could predict where we be post Brady. Hindsight is better than foresight I guess. No GM is mistake free.
July 29th, 2024 at 5:53 pm
32nd pick of the second round, which is basically a third
July 29th, 2024 at 6:10 pm
Capable backup. A good guy and someone who could fill in admirable in a pinch. I’m cool with Trask being the #2 this year and beyond
July 29th, 2024 at 6:14 pm
Kyle Trask says everything right that a backup would say. LOL.
July 29th, 2024 at 6:16 pm
I was not a fan of the Trask pick, and I hated his college tape, all he threw was a bunch of soft rainbows and those QBs never make it in the NFL. However, each season, he’s improved greatly. The had to teach him how to throw an NFL ball, and stridges between last preseason, and the previous year, were huge in terms of getting velocity on the ball.
With his size, and a good enough of an arm, he’ll likely end up sticking around in the NFL for a long time. And who knows, he might even end up being decent if he’s ever given a chance. Also, based on Bakers injury history, it would be pretty shocking if he had it 2-years in a row without missing a game, so we might end up seeing him this year in a meaningful situation. Hopefully he’s ready to go if his number is called.
As for Wolford … give me a break. From what I’ve read he’s had some really bad practices, and Trask would have to have an all-time collapse to lose out to him, and that in turn would completely invalidate what I said above about a long career. However, I can not see that happening.
July 29th, 2024 at 6:27 pm
He’s not the worst Gator to be drafted at QB. He has going for him.
July 29th, 2024 at 6:31 pm
I THINK THERE’S A BIGGER PICTURE TO SEE …
Why the Bucs win …
The Bucs have been winning because they field the most complete team. They can playmakers and solid contributors at 22 positions because they aren’t heavily invested in a QB.
The Biggest Scam in NFL … It takes a QB to win
Teams are paying average QBs Mahomes-Money. The problem/reality is there is only 1 Mahomes. If you don’t have Mahomes you need to compete differently. Great Defense, Great Oline, Great Run Game … all the things that keep Mahomes off the field. That’s how we won the Super Bowl vs Mahomes.
Bucs + QBs + Long-term Strategy
The Bucs paid TB12 less than average QB money. The Bucs are paying Baker 3/5 of today’s starter money. If they keep developing Trask, they’ll pay him mice nuts to be the starter and they’ll be continuously LOADED at every other position while other teams have to cut costs and sacrifice talent.
This is what I think Licht is trying to do … It’s a gamble … but it’s BRILLIANT!!!
July 29th, 2024 at 6:33 pm
I thought Trask would get a start last year based on the way Baker plays and I wouldn’t bet against that this season. Although I didn’t factor in Bakers grit. The man will play through injury. Trask is a complete unknown and I’m not hoping to see him this season but something tells me that he may shine given the chance. Simply based on the fact that he has supreme talent around him and he’s obviously got some skill.
July 29th, 2024 at 6:36 pm
I’m an FSU guy when I say if Mayfield suffers an unfortunate injury pressing Trask into the starting roll, he may very well never relinquish the starting job. This has legs with regard to what Trask has done in the past. He’s always been a winner with opportunity.
July 29th, 2024 at 7:04 pm
I think Kyle has a very bright future in front of him, at the end of this year, when he is a free agent, there will only be one team out of thirty two who will be satisfied with their season, so there will be a multitude of teams looking to upgrade ,especially at the Quarterback position, if Kyle gets some playing time , and even if he doesn’t those teams will have had their eye on him and there will probably be at least half the league looking to get better, I can think of three maybe four teams in the NFC-South that could be seriously looking , every team in the NFC-East, threes teams in the West , and three teams in the North, without even getting to the AFC yet ! So pick a team, any team, that will probably be looking around and let the bidding begin!
July 29th, 2024 at 7:05 pm
Trask came to a bad situation and the bucs coaching staff and front office done a bad job with Kyle Trask. This is what happens when you make one player bigger than the team. The bucs really showed how weak they are as a organization. And now that very player who you bent over backwards for has no respect for the bucs fan base and organization. Than they created a fake competition to sale us Baker and Trask out played him and they still wouldn’t give him a chance. Even till this day no one in the front office or coaching staff said Baker was the better quarterback. That’s what I love about IRA because he was the only one that was telling us the truth about that situation and the front office actually got mad that he told us the truth. Thank you IRA for being real with us!!
July 29th, 2024 at 7:14 pm
Trask needs to move on after this season. The Bucs really never let him play in a real game which is kind of dumb if he has to come in a game when the starter is injured. Look how the Saints get their backup QBs involved in games. He is not going to get a chance with the Bucs unless Bake goes down. Even then it kind of sounds like Coen favors Wolford.
July 29th, 2024 at 7:23 pm
Trask is a good example of being the victim of bad circumstances. Had he come out a year later, he’d probably would have been first round draft pick (convince me that Kenny Pickett is better. I’ll wait). Second, he was drafted as a luxury pick by a successful team and there was no way Trask would start, let alone be a back-up. Last off season, Bowles was on the hot seat and there was no way he was going to place his career in the hands of an untested player. Finally, Mayfield produced…further cementing Trask’s place on the bench. Still, I am not of the same opinion as you Ira that if Mayfield goes down, the team is screwed. On the contrary, I believe this team is talented enough that if Mayfield did go down, Trask (if he wins the back-up job) has the talent to be a winning quarterback in the right situation.
July 29th, 2024 at 7:26 pm
Oneilbuc – As for the competition last year, from what we saw, he should have won the competition. But Baker played what, a couple of series? So what we saw wasn’t much.
I’m also not convinced that Trask couldn’t have also put up a middling season last year had he started, but we’ll never know.
But with all that said, Trask was absolutely not ready to play until last season. His first couple of years, he simply did not have NFL velocity and was still tossing soft rainbows if he was under any sort of pressure. But last preseason he finally looked like a legit NFL QB, and while his arm isn’t great, it’s certainly good enough (in the NFL you’re judged by velocity, not 70 yard rainbows that hang in the arm). In any case, I’m pretty confident he’s going to hang around the NFL for a while, and like I said above, based on Baker’s injury history, it wouldn’t be shocking if he started a game or two this year, so hopefully he’s ready to go.
July 29th, 2024 at 7:33 pm
Trask and JayMiss sound very similar.
Lots of “get betters” “at the end of the day” and “blessed”
July 29th, 2024 at 7:42 pm
The pattern in Trask’s life, the pattern in Mayfield’s life and the convergence on the Buccaneers roster of both means it wouldn’t shock me if Trask ends up starting nearly 3/4s of the season and the Bucs win 12 games. I wish both could play. I like both a lot. I hope Trask gets his opportunity next season in….Las Vegas. That’s the best bet for him, I think?
July 29th, 2024 at 7:48 pm
I can appreciate his professionalism but trash does not seem to have NFL caliber talent. Hands down lost the job last year most assumed he never had a shot and were right. Mayfield is our quarterback now and the foreseeable future. The only hope for Trask now is that he can keep developing and muster out a Brad Johnson sort of career which is not a hot commodity in today’s NFL
July 29th, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Man Oh man I wonder what the number is of how many QBs played in the NFL the same number of years Brad Johnson played in the league, but don’t have a Superbowl ring like Brad Johnson🤔?!%!\*#?👀🚩☠️
July 29th, 2024 at 8:16 pm
Trade bait….always was.
Baker haters better find a new fit
July 29th, 2024 at 9:18 pm
He was the last pick in the second round. Licht did not make a mistake drafting him. We had Brady, and Gabbert as the only QBs on the roster. Drafting a young QB at that point was the right thing to do. Chances are if they picked another player at that point in the draft he might not even still be on the team. Trask as the backup last year ran the scout team that prepared our defense every week last year. That my friends is not a waste.
July 29th, 2024 at 9:33 pm
Mayfield will get injured. He is just cursed. Wolford is an interception machine. Trask will get his break this season. It is always darkest before dawn. Keep grinding Kyle.
July 29th, 2024 at 9:45 pm
I’m just not seeing Mayfield missing a snap this season. Baker has learned how to avoid the rush with check downs and reading space in the defense to scramble towards the sidelines or slide.
He learned his lesson getting pile driven into the turf a few times. Also, the Bucs pass protect very well and they have a short rhythm passing game to suit Mayfield’s strengths.
But being a check down charlie will eventually be Bakers and Bowles undoing unless they somehow come up with a power running game which is highly unlikely.
Trask won’t get on the field and end up going somewhere else for an opportunity.
Trask is a different kind of QB in that he has very good vision and will push the ball down field. He’s a quiet guy but he’s got brass ones. Watch the preseason games. He’s not a short passing rhythm guy. He attacks the intermediate range and puts balls in good windows. The upside is definitely there and for that reason he’ll get a looksee from someone. Trask will pick a team who gives him a legit opportunity.
For us Gator fans it sucks because we would have liked to see Trask be the hometown college QB make good.
Trask will work hard, honor his contract and move on to better situation. The Bucs did him dirty. No way he stays though.
It is what it is.
July 29th, 2024 at 9:56 pm
How does bowles know trask isnt afraid of the moment. Last game he started i think hr threw 5 or 6 picks
July 29th, 2024 at 10:25 pm
This year he has the freedom to make the kind of throws and picks that Mayfield explained away as ‘finding out what you can get away with’.
If he starts the preseason like he played against the Jets and gets better each game he will have a fighting chance against the long list of free agent QB’s in 2025.
He got drafted into a situation similar to Penex as there is probably not a chance of starting for two full seasons.
July 29th, 2024 at 10:26 pm
I don’t want Baker to get hurt I hope he plays good this year because if he do that’s good for the bucs. I don’t hope Baker fail like these so call bucs fans hope Kyle Trask do . If Baker goes down and Kyle Trask has to play it’s people on here will hope he plays bad and the bucs lose every game he’s playing in. It’s just Trask out played Baker and he should be the starter because he earned it Baker was gifted the staring job that’s my whole push back on the situation.
July 29th, 2024 at 11:39 pm
DoooshLaRue Says:
July 29th, 2024 at 7:33 pm
Trask and JayMiss sound very similar.
Lots of “get betters” “at the end of the day” and “blessed”
——–
So Trask is going to pass for more than 5000 yards in a 16 game season while having a top 3 offense? I’ll take that any day of the week.
July 29th, 2024 at 11:43 pm
Hodad Says:
July 29th, 2024 at 9:18 pm
He was the last pick in the second round. Licht did not make a mistake drafting him. We had Brady, and Gabbert as the only QBs on the roster. Drafting a young QB at that point was the right thing to do.
———
It absolutely was the wrong choice. The team was in win now mode, could have used that pick on defense back depth, WR depth, offensive lineman depth, LB depth, TE depth — just about anything but QB.
July 30th, 2024 at 12:20 am
Go back and look at the third round of the NFL draft. Nobody amazing. In hindsight there is STILL NOTHING wrong with where Trask was taken and why. People trying to critique the logic of Licht taking him are wrong.
July 30th, 2024 at 12:32 am
SlyPirate Says:
“The Biggest Scam in NFL … It takes a QB to win”
I would disagree. First, we had Brad Johnson in his best year. Then it took Tom Brady.
The only reasons we made the playoffs last year is the horrible division.
Mayfield was more horrible than good, and it was a constant rollercoaster with him. HE cost us games most of the year, and HE lost us that playoff game, no matter how people try to forget his turnover.
But the real evidence that you are wrong…is almost 15 years of losing even though we had talent e erywhere else but at qb, and it instantly turned around when we finally got a good one.
July 30th, 2024 at 12:35 am
@ RM…. I believe this is where we differ. I’m pretty sure we had issues some years ago with Jaymiss. I’m an FSU guy and always hated the JW pick as 1st overall. Dude threw 18 INT in a 12 game season. I appreciate most of your posts, but especially the GRRR ones! But JW was the wrong choice. I’m still a firm believer that we should’ve traded down.
July 30th, 2024 at 1:07 am
Buccaneer Bonzai : Am i confused or did you not disagree at the beginning of your statement and then completely agree at the end?
July 30th, 2024 at 2:02 am
Trading down…. Probably. With Jameis and Marriota as the choices. In hindsight, clearly.
July 30th, 2024 at 2:52 am
NCBuc – You win by scoring more points than your opponents, not by protecting the ball with Mike Glennon at QB.
During Winston’s years here he literally had the worse defense over that period, had the worst kicking game over that period, while playing the hardest schedule over that period.
In 2019, if Matt Gay doesn’t personally lose two games, they’re 9-7 and Winston isn’t going anywhere. With that said, and I did say this at the time, if you have a chance to get Brady, you drop whoever you have to get him since he’s a franchise changer. But that 2019 team, go back and remember what was happening over the year – the defense in the first half of the season was literally the worst Bucs defense of all time over like the first 7 games I believe. They came on strong later in the year, and that was right when Evans and Godwin both went down and the Bucs were having to start Perriman and Watson – and even then it was Brate and Gay who cost them the last two games.
The revisionist history of Winston is pure nonsense. If Brady wasn’t available, he’d have been back. In that Arians offense, in his first year, Manning threw 28 INTs. Palmer, an old vet QB threw a career high number of INTs. Brady tied a career high for INTs. They all do that in the first year as Arians wants aggressive play, then things settle down in year two – and Winston didn’t throw anywhere close to 30 INTs in any other season.
The Winston was the problem narrative just isn’t true, it’s revisionist nonsense, and the stats prove it.
July 30th, 2024 at 2:53 am
Nothing in Trask’s play suggested he couldn’t develop into a bonafide.
The fact that Tampa didn’t give him any PT at all was big middle finger to every Gator fan and we have long memories.
They screwed Trask for what? Baker Mayfield?
Baker will be just another guy on the very long list of journeyman QB retreads Bucs tried to catch lightning in a bottle with. He won’t be here in 2026. Trask will be a starter somewhere by then.
Even if not, still. You draft a QB 2nd round and you develop him. When the goat leaves you go with the guy you drafted. The only way you don’t do that is if the guy you draft busts – which Trask didn’t do. The preseason tape on Kyle since day 1 gives you no reason to think he can’t be the guy. They went out and pulled Mayfield off the trash heap after a terrible season, lied to everyone about a fake QB competition – and now to add insult to injury Wolford is stealing his reps the next season when everyone saw Trask put real pressure on Mayfield – so much so they called off the fake competition before it got out of hand.
It’s garbage. The whole thing stinks.
July 30th, 2024 at 3:10 am
Jameis’ defense might have performed better if their QB didn’t throw so many picks in his own half of the field.
Football players are a unit, working together, not against each other.
July 30th, 2024 at 3:12 am
You don’t call a QB competition after a guy plays well unless there was never one to begin with.
Garbage.
July 30th, 2024 at 4:25 am
I’m still interested to see what he does when he finally gets a chance. I guess he should get a lot of snaps in pree season games.
July 30th, 2024 at 5:10 am
Rod Munch … ‘It absolutely was the wrong choice. The team was in win now mode, could have used that pick on defense back depth, WR depth, offensive lineman depth, LB depth, TE depth — just about anything but QB.’
JL had the luxury of taking a risk in the 2021 draft (since we’d just won the Super Bowl?). Tom Brady was going to be a free agent (or retire?) after the 2021 season, so this represented a perfect opportunity to bring in a young QB, let him ‘observe’ for a year then possibly be our starting QB in 2022. Funny thing happened on our way to the coliseum …
First, BA retires at the last minute after Kyle’s rookie season and Brady comes back for a last hurrah. Result? Kyle gets to sit another year. Then Mayfield happens upon the scene, who Todd Bowles had been infatuated with since 2018. Good luck winning that ‘competition’ Kyle.
No Rod, Trask’s selection in Rnd 2 wasn’t the wrong choice. But the planned scenario never materialized. Sometimes that happens. I still feel like Kyle Trask can have a very good career ahead of him with the right team. That’s almost surely not the Bucs. If he’s smart, he’ll move on after this season. I can think of several teams who could use his talents. Saints for one; Panthers for another.
July 30th, 2024 at 7:31 am
I am with some others posting that I thought we would see more from Kyle by now. Guessing that Coen coming in wants to see what Trask and Wolford have in them to be best backup QB. He knows Wolford from the Rams in 2019 and 2022, so there is that too. Coaches have to make hard choices. That is for sure. Good luck to both of them.
July 30th, 2024 at 8:06 am
Kyle – “There’s a lot of things that can happen in the near future, career-wise…. That’s pretty known, but I’m really trying to focus on getting better every day because whatever happens, wherever any of us end up….”
He’s so out of here, and I can’t blame him. He’s been mistreated by the Bucs, never playing him with the starters in ANY f’n game not even in preseason WTF! And mistreated by the FSU fans, who are FSU fans first and Bucs fans second. Just think, is there any Bucs player who has so many supposed Bucs fans hating on him day in and day out here on JBF? Can you name one? Nope.
July 30th, 2024 at 8:30 am
why complain? You’re making great money as a back up, enjoy your career.
July 30th, 2024 at 9:55 am
It was a close battle last year. I like baker but his playing style will get him hurt eventually so we will need a back up incase he misses a game or just a few series If it’s trask great if it’s Wilford great. Idc as long as we win
July 30th, 2024 at 11:01 am
The Bucs are “blessed” there has been no need for a backup to play.
Unfortunately, they also have not been ahead by 2-3 tuddies late to get a back-up into the game.
Bucs blessing = Trask curse.
Can someone tell me which NFL team would start Trask?
July 30th, 2024 at 11:03 am
Simple Jack has more sense than most of these maroons blabbering about Trask. Good grief.
July 30th, 2024 at 11:10 am
@Dave Pear:
Never go full retard.
July 30th, 2024 at 11:47 am
He will be gone soon enough and then the fans will need to find a new object for their hate and disgust. Trask will never be a star, but really never had to be called on in a serious situation. Never understood the wasted energy and handwringing for him, he is a 2nd round pick that was never utilized. We should be thankful that our QB’s have been healthy for the last four years.
July 30th, 2024 at 12:26 pm
Right on, Cobra.
July 30th, 2024 at 2:31 pm
Defense Rules Says:
JL had the luxury of taking a risk in the 2021 draft (since we’d just won the Super Bowl?).
———–
Incorrect, the team lacked depth at corner and offensive line, could have used another WR, depth at TE, etc. The reason you resigned everyone was to win now. It was absolutely the wrong thing to waste a pick on a project QB, that had to relearn how to throw the ball.
With that said, I think Trask would perform well now if he had the chance – I’m not in any way convinced he’d do any worse than Baker and be a low-end middling QB, and there’s always the possibility that he might have an upside. So I’m not bashing 2023 and 2024 Trask, but it was just the wrong pick, and there’s no way Licht doesn’t think the same thing.
July 30th, 2024 at 3:29 pm
Rod, I am not a huge Trask fan but who knows.
At the beginning I was a Winston fan; Not at the end.
Ya know what:
I would take the bet that Trask would not throw for 5000 yards even if he started 5 straight seasons the bulk of the games.
I would also take the bet that he would not throw 30 interceptions in a season or even 25 interceptions in a season.
Cue the excuses for Jameis in 3 … 2 … 1 …
July 30th, 2024 at 4:38 pm
It sounds like Kyle is a real nice guy too. He is appreciative for the Bucs and keeps trying. No negativity, all positive from him. That says so much. I really wasn’t a big fan, but he grew on me as the backup. It will be interesting on how this plays out.
Agree with geno711, I was so excited when we drafted Jameis after watching him during his time at FSU. As soon as they called his name at the draft, we were all jumping up and down in my LR. Unfortunately at the end the enthusiasm and respect for him was gone.
July 30th, 2024 at 6:22 pm
geno711 – I’m certain Trask and Baker will never have a top 3 scoring offense or lead the league in passing. Cue the Baker Bois.
July 30th, 2024 at 7:05 pm
@Rod…. You talk about our Bucs having such weak defenses, but in my eyes it was the offense constantly putting the defense on the field. Guys do get tired. JW was constantly a turnover machine. I’m not saying that the defense was great, but come on man….. If your QB is serving up turnovers like JW did, one would expect the defense to not look good. I’ll dig into some stats later, but in no way can a team overcome the turnovers like that.
July 30th, 2024 at 9:01 pm
Kyle’s gonna make a great insurance mogul.
July 31st, 2024 at 11:37 am
GO TRASK GO!!!