Bucs Planned And Hoped To Draft QB Michael Pratt
August 29th, 2024
“Keep grinding, Kyle.”
So the Bucs signed a quarterback to their practice squad and today Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht admitted the plan was to draft the guy in April.
Intriguing stuff from Licht as he appeared on The Sick Podcast — Pirate Parlay.
The quarterback is Michael Pratt, a seventh-round pick of the Packers this year. He was released this week and landed with the Bucs.
Licht said he planned to draft Pratt but Green Bay took him one pick prior to Tampa Bay pulling the trigger. That was the first time the Bucs were stunned like that in Round 7 during Licht’s tenure, he said.
Instead, the Bucs drafted tight end Devin Culp out of the University of Washington, and he made the roster.
Licht explained that he’s had his eye on Pratt for years, in part because Licht’s former college coach, Jim Svoboda, was Pratt’s offensive coordinator and QB coach at Tulane University in 2022.
Joe is intrigued by Licht’s insight. It means the signing of Pratt is not just another ho-hum move to fill the practice squad.
Joe wonders what the Kyle Trask faithful will have to say about this.
August 29th, 2024 at 9:33 pm
The new backup QB.
August 29th, 2024 at 9:40 pm
While I’m not a Trask fan, Pratt is not likely to be a threat to Trask anytime this year. Hit rate on 7th round qbs is extremely low and Purdy just may have used up all of that good fortune for the next decade. But if Pratt ends up being a solid backup and nothing more, then he still was a nice pickup
August 29th, 2024 at 9:44 pm
Licht wanted to draft him. That’s all I need. Clearly better than Wolford, who turned out to suck.
August 29th, 2024 at 9:46 pm
Yeah I was thinking, ouch that hurts. Watch Pratt take Trask’s job about halfway through the season. Hahaha 🤣 Go Bucs!!!!
August 29th, 2024 at 9:53 pm
Can’t find who was released.
August 29th, 2024 at 9:54 pm
As an aside, Licht, appearing on the “Ira Kaufman Podcast” back in February, said no team has ever called looking to trade for Trask.
August 29th, 2024 at 9:58 pm
He looked OK/good in pre-season games. REALLY hope the kid gets a chance in the first half of the season
August 29th, 2024 at 10:01 pm
Joe said, “ As an aside, Licht, appearing on the “Ira Kaufman Podcast” back in February, said no team has ever called looking to trade for Trask.”
Not surprising, for the sane.
August 29th, 2024 at 10:07 pm
Trask’s contract is up at the end of the year. Also worth noting that Licht didn’t sign Pratt to the active roster.
Pratt, if you read his scouting reports, and watch some film, has NFL traits, thus the reason he was drafted. The official NFL site had him projected as a 4th round pick. Also interesting that he didn’t choose to sign for their PS, and choose the Bucs instead.
In any case it’s just the practice squad, gives the Bucs a chance to take a look at him and see if they got anything. Also this reminds me of a couple of years ago when they signed Josh Rosen to the PS and all the dopes here were saying was the future of the team. No, the team just signed him to see what he could do, which didn’t turn out to be much. This is how you should use the PS for the most important position in sports.
August 29th, 2024 at 10:25 pm
He will get his shot in camp next season. This was a 2025-2026 move, not a 2024 move. He likely takes Trask roster spot next season if he can show good things on the PS. I like the move, never hurts to have young QBs around, untapped potential at the games most valuable position.
August 29th, 2024 at 10:34 pm
There were still openings on the first edition of the all-important, critically influential practice squad. Nobody was cut.
August 29th, 2024 at 10:46 pm
Kinda reminds me of Trask . Stares down his receivers but more mobile . Also under throws his targets just like Trask . That said , Trask has had multiple years off NFL coaching and is still doing it . Trask was a project that didn’t improve. He still has a slow wind up , still under throws receivers and worst of all continues to stare down his receivers. I will say that Trask shows fantastic touch on certain throws but that’s not enough in the big league . This guy will be a project too and they will see if he improves with NFL coaching.
B.T.W. I’m a huge gators fan but I don’t get enamored with players . I will always pull for Trask . Let’s see if Pratt improves with this coaching staff .
As always Go BUCS 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
August 29th, 2024 at 11:03 pm
Saskbucs knows what’s up
August 29th, 2024 at 11:20 pm
Noclu4u Says:
August 29th, 2024 at 10:46 pm
Kinda reminds me of Trask . Stares down his receivers but more mobile . Also under throws his targets just like Trask .
———–
Watching his highlights, for the first few minutes I thought he looked a lot like a smaller Trask, and had the same college cupcake rainbow low velocity passes – BUT, after the few few minutes, I saw a ton of NFL throws with NFL velocity. Trask, meanwhile, it took him a couple of years, but now throws with solid NFL velocity.
As for staring down his receivers – at least with the Bucs what is that based on? Preseason where you’re throwing to 6th and 7th string backups when there is no game planning? Hard to take much from what we’re seeing, in particular this preseason, where Trask still had the 7th best passer rating.
In any case, Trask looked good last preseason – and this preseason. I have zero issues with him as the backup, and hopefully, based on Baker’s injury history, he’s ready to go because he’s likely to see some play time this year.
August 29th, 2024 at 11:28 pm
Devin Culp Well Jason licht didn’t have to do you like that but Kyle Trask yes Jason licht did have to let you know that you’d be moving on at the end of the season. Good luck to you Glennon uh Trask
August 29th, 2024 at 11:37 pm
Watched a lot of tape on him & he has lots of promise. I’m sure the goal is he becomes the backup QB next season. He beat Calib Williams the only time they played him. Wild game. Very happy.
August 29th, 2024 at 11:39 pm
NFL did a 360 video about him if interested. Believe 7.
August 29th, 2024 at 11:39 pm
Well if Pratt sticks with the Bucs all year then this may be the last year for Trask as a Buc. Wolford could run the offense and makes decent throws but I think his arm strength wasn’t the greatest. So, we may be looking at the future backup QB for the Bucs in the future.
August 30th, 2024 at 12:36 am
I just read that 12 of 32 NFL teams kept a third QB on the 53 man roster all season last year.
IIRC, it’s something the Bucs have done in years past.
So, this just seems like prudent football without saying much if anything about Trask.
If they were looking to dump Trask, it seems like they would have signed a veteran free agent instead of picking up a seventh round pick who got cut before the season started.
Probably, this is just another calculated long shot that costs little and will likely miss.
But, who knows, Jeb. Maybe up from the ground will come some bubbling crude; oil, that is; black gold; Texas tea.
August 30th, 2024 at 1:21 am
Maybe Glennon has another year of eligibility left in the NCAA. He could go try that.
August 30th, 2024 at 1:41 am
Trask is a franchise QB.
August 30th, 2024 at 1:59 am
Beeej Says:
August 29th, 2024 at 9:58 pm
He looked OK/good in pre-season games. REALLY hope the kid gets a chance in the first half of the season
Wow…. what a awful idea, if it wasn’t for boss this might be the dumbest thing said on this site.
August 30th, 2024 at 2:28 am
It’s a play action offense, it suits a certain type of QB.
For now we have a competent, but unproven, back-up in Trask…but Pratt has a live arm and wheels. The only knock on him is can he learn to read defenses. If he can pick up his second NFL offense in 4 months – while also spending some overtime seeing if he could figure out how to read defenses.
Personally, I like Trask, and I like Pratt, this is the best the QB room has looked in a while.
August 30th, 2024 at 4:23 am
Sounds like a real good move, especially since Jason had been watching Pratt for a long time and missed drafting him in the 7th round to the Packers. Full circle now and the timing was perfect. Go Bucs!
August 30th, 2024 at 5:28 am
Give me a free agent QB over a first rounder any day. Mayfield better watch his back.
August 30th, 2024 at 7:10 am
Pratt looks like a huge upgrade to #3. No rush to develop him unless Baker or Trask gets injured. Looks like an excellent move by the Bucs. My bet is they had evaluated him before the draft, liked what they saw and jumped at the chance to sign him. They probably would have drafted him in later rounds if Green Bay had not taken him but the Bucs had other more urgent needs. Really good low cost move by Licht that might be a long term winner. Or not. But the guy he replaced looked dreadful in pre-season. Nice low risk low cost move.
August 30th, 2024 at 7:28 am
It’s all around good at the very minimum it keeps the fire under trasks ass in the form of competition. At the very least it gives us one of our youngest with most potential quarterback stables in some years. And a good chance that if Pratt can pick up what Tampa coaches are putting down, and show signs of NFL development
Then trask could be let go at the end of the year and replaced by pratt(Trask last year of rookie contract, Pratts first yr) it’s a big wait and see.
August 30th, 2024 at 7:33 am
“Mike C Says:
August 30th, 2024 at 1:59 am
Beeej Says:
August 29th, 2024 at 9:58 pm
He looked OK/good in pre-season games. REALLY hope the kid gets a chance in the first half of the season
Wow…. what a awful idea, if it wasn’t for boss this might be the dumbest thing said on this site.”
Pfft. I’ve said PLENTY dumber
August 30th, 2024 at 8:26 am
I do not understand the “hateful disrespect” those JBFers have for Trask. He is our #2 QB, he was a #2 draft choice, He is a Buccaneer soldier and slated behind whoever was in front of him. Was he going to unseat the GOAT Brady or Brady’s choice of #2 QB? Yet every JBF “Keyboard GM” “knows Trask will Suck”, they “just know it”. I am unsure of how they do not live lives of wealth and leisure, with abilities to “Know” the future. Why have they not won every Lottery? Living Large in Vegas, Monaco, Hong Kong placing bets on sporting games they know the future of…
I am excited for Pratt, definitely does have some exciting traits. With great ball placement, and very nice throws short mid, and deep. Watching him in GB preseason play he did the same bad things he did in college, from presnap to throw he had his eyes on that receiver, and very few looks the other way. Not going to work well in the NFL.
Great plan by Licht again, got a QB (they wanted) and a vet G from the cut-down date. Good luck with being on the PS Pratt.
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
August 30th, 2024 at 9:22 am
Well Wolford probably made a couple 3 million a year, this kid will be making whatever a waiver wire practice squad player makes
August 30th, 2024 at 9:23 am
Man Licht must be riding high…. Drafted Culp who made the team, then his real choice falls right into his lap. WHEN YOU’RE HOT, YOU’RE HOT!
August 30th, 2024 at 9:23 am
I love the way yall ignore Todd Bowels answers to questions about Trask. You all ignore every positive thing ever said about the kid and cling to every negative opinions. Pratt was cut didn’t even make GB PS, was a seventh round pick and according to all the Gator haters college stats don’t count in the NFL.
August 30th, 2024 at 9:32 am
They need a QB to run Scout and PS. Trask is entrenched at #2 despite the FSU and Baker Boi faithful’s disdain.
The Pratt move is a failsafe for worst case this year and to fight for future #2 once Trask moves on the start elsewhere.
August 30th, 2024 at 9:35 am
HA!
August 30th, 2024 at 9:41 am
Actions sometimes speak much louder than words.
August 30th, 2024 at 9:48 am
“You all ignore every positive thing ever said about the kid and cling to every negative opinions.”
“Actions sometimes speak much louder than words.”
And your “actions” of doing that very thing, don’t speak much louder than your words?
Are you still having that “warm fuzzy moment” with that old FSU/PITT game?
They do have Doctors for that issue Joes…
GO!!!!!BUCS!!!!!
August 30th, 2024 at 10:10 am
“Man Licht must be riding high…. Drafted Culp who made the team, then his real choice falls right into his lap.”
Good or bad, you may have noticed that Licht likes his own homegrown hot house tomatoes. See JTS, Hall, Ko..
Also, y’all are jacked up by a 7th rounder who just went thru a whole summer of work and a preseason only to be cut by the team that thought highly enough of him to waste a draft pick. Fingers crossed, but just saying
August 30th, 2024 at 12:46 pm
RustyRhinos Says:
August 30th, 2024 at 8:26 am
I do not understand the “hateful disrespect” those JBFers have for Trask.
————-
You’re talking about the Baker Boi(s). They’re not Bucs fans, they’re just Baker stalkers who like his commercials and think Mayfield is their buddy, and they’ll do anything to protect their pal. They’ll even go to Baker’s home and stand out front and guard it in case – and while there go through his trash and look for souvenirs. They’re literally insane people and will always view any competition to Baker as the enemy.
August 30th, 2024 at 12:48 pm
we dont have any starters that were cut by another team, and only a handful of others that came to us via other team cutting them.
i wish him luck, id love a kurt warner story, but thats 25 years ago,
if anyone is going to be the next kurt warner, its trask himself after we cut him. not scoring enough points makes him not worth a backup qb position for now
August 30th, 2024 at 1:57 pm
Awesome photo caption from Joe. LOL!
I bet if you asked right, Licht would tell you he would have drafted Barton top ten, Braswell in the first, etc etc etc. It is part of his job to BS about the draft.
August 30th, 2024 at 2:23 pm
Wolford 1.2 Million with 400K guaranteed.
Rookie on Practice Squad 12.500×18 or 225K
More than half a million saved on that one move alone. Even more if Wolford is picked up somewhere else.
Try to make it about Trask but in reality it is about money and maybe a friend asking Jason ‘He’s a great Kid can you find a spot for him ?” Wasn’t good enough to be QB4 @ Packer’s but is raved about as a QB3 with the Bucs. Bar is set pretty low.
August 30th, 2024 at 3:15 pm
I will root for him. I like it when young guys do well.
August 30th, 2024 at 7:40 pm
Rod
You need to stick to FOOTBALL. Your personal OPINIONS about the other posters are moronic.
You embarrassed yourself with stupidity directed at D.R. a couple months back and now you just posted negative gibberish. Actually 8th grade level gibberish at that.
“They’re literally insane people”
Really Rod. So people whose football opinions differ from yours are LITERALLY INSANE?
Literal -taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory.
INSANE – in a state of mind which prevents normal perception, behavior, or social interaction; seriously mentally ill.
Now Rod when you’re short on facts you resort to 8th grade level insults so unload on me in the nursing home or any other ageist joke that amuses you.
Chastise me for a limited sense of humor…sorry middle school jokes bore me and when they’re just nasty they are just are not my style, because by nature I’m not generally a nasty person who feels the need to call people names.
Now for the record from ME although I suspect it’s the position of the majority of “Baker bois”. What a humorous insult. BORING!
I’ve always believed the NFL coaches and management want to keep their jobs.
I think for that reason they pick the guy they think gives them the best chance to win. They sometimes make mistakes. This time last year I understood the UF fans frustration for their guy. But all the moronic conspiracies about Bowles or Licht or ANYBODY selecting a player for a reason other than WINNING.
But perhaps Bowles is “literally insane”?
I’ve always thought Trask MIGHT be a valuable backup. In fact I still think that. I also wouldn’t be surprised if he goes to another team and starts and succeeds.
But I’ve NEVER thought he beat out Mayfield. But you Rod get these personal vendettas against players and “old posters” lol and lose your freaking football mind.
When you stick to facts you’re fine, your insults though are just juvenile and boring. So blast me about the nursing home and I can return the favor by saying my nursing home is right across the street from your elementary school.
You should bring some classmates over and visit. Perhaps you’ll improve your insults. Your football knowledge is already fine.
August 31st, 2024 at 11:31 pm
pratt is worth keeping on the ps and developing. i would not be surprised if in a couple years, he’s a solid option.
teams cut players all the time when they should’ve kept them and while Tampa gave Baker a 3 year 100m dollar contract , getting talent at the QB position to develop was always in the plans. now, instead of reaching for a QB in next year’s draft, light can go even harder with drafting his BPA. pratt is good. he needs time behind the scenes to develop, but majority of he best QBs of all time need that developmental time. not saying he’s going to be an ATG, just saying that development is beneficial and works.