So What Will The Bucs Do For A Backup QB?

March 23rd, 2022

Backup QB talk.

Remember when Blaine Gabbert starting for the Bucs was a thing? Yeah, you are likely very happy you and Joe woke up from that nightmare.

Famed JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman said the fact Gabbert was soberly (?) discussed as a viable starter had the Bucs “peering into the abyss,” had Tom Brady stayed retired and the mass exodus of free agents that would have resulted.

Some would say naming Gabbert a starter would have been more like p!ssing into the wind.

Lo and behold, guess who is still not on the roster? Gabbert. And yesterday, likely fueled by BSPN’s Dan Orlovsky, social media was hyped about the Bucs trading for Baker Mayfield who suddenly cannot find a home.

Appearing on “Schein on Sports” this morning hosted by popular radio and TV personality Adam Schein, heard exclusively on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht told Schein, in so many words, that those who tried to plug in Mayfield to the Bucs as a backup are clearly forgetting Kyle Trask.

Licht added that he isn’t closing the door on bringing in a veteran to back up Brady, or the Bucs could name Trask as Brady’s backup. That veteran may or may not be Gabbert. To the best of Joe’s knowledge, Gabbert may be turkey hunting in the Ozarks but he surely isn’t on the Bucs roster as of mid-afternoon Wednesday.

Schein thinks social media rumors of Licht trading for Mayfield are nonsense, but he still asked Licht twice about that rumor. Licht only responded that he didn’t want to discuss a specific player on someone else’s roster. You know, tampering.

You can hear the clip in the SiriusXM Radio clip below.

87 Responses to “So What Will The Bucs Do For A Backup QB?”

  1. Cobraboy Says:

    Interesting.

    Kinda weird, unless the staff is concerned about Trask. Maybe they are looking at Mayfield post-Brady.

    Who knows?

    Exactly how bad is Mayfield beyond bad commercials?

  2. godlovesbucs Says:

    Mayfield is much better than what is being pushed out there. Biggest problem was many teams already committed to someone when he became available (Steelers, commanders come to mind) or they are in rebuild mode and don’t want to pay and trade for him (Seahawks, falcons, saints) or didn’t have capital to trade for him (colts).

    He still has plenty of potential to become a top 12 QB in the league. The waiting game will be home getting released.

  3. AL121976 Says:

    I think Mayfield will get cut and then someone will sign him for semi cheap. I would rather roll with Trask than Mayfield

  4. Marine Buc Says:

    What?

    How are the Bucs going to afford that?

    Someone’s been eating paint chips again… lol

  5. Mort Says:

    Trask plz.

  6. Beeej Says:

    He has serious attitude issues which Brady might cure. Can’t say about his accuracy or lack thereof

  7. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Mayfield makes very little sense unless they have zero faith in Trask….

    Why trade a player or draft pick and pay the money for Mayfield…..unless they trade Trask (unlikely)…..

    Bring Gabbert back…..cheap…FA (no trade)……knows the offense….BA approved…..have competition with Trask for Brady backup.

  8. tampabayallday Says:

    Ask the browns to swallow his entire paycheck, they give us a 4th, and we give them a 7th.

  9. PassingThru Says:

    Mayfield will get cut, no one is taking on his $18 million+ salary. After Mayfield is cut, he’ll look around for a starting gig.

  10. Marine Buc Says:

    @ TBBF

    Agreed. If they bring in any other QB except Gabbert than it doesn’t bode well for Kyle Trask…

  11. unbelievable Says:

    I don’t think anyone is trading for Baker at this point. He’s gonna get released.

    But Mayfield would want too much money (even as a backup) for us to be able to afford him with our cap issues.

    And obviously we have Trask, who gets another year behind Brady, which is fantastic for him. I hope that Trask is able to step up and secure the #2 / back-up role, as that would mean the org is happy with his progression behind the scenes and seem him as a viable option to take the reins after Tom leaves.

  12. VSyl Says:

    Stop with this madness. We just need a backup QB for when this team finishes the game before the 4th quarter and Trask is more than enough for that. If Brady gets hurt and can’t play we may as well not even play the game.

  13. Bucanero Says:

    Crazy WR market and we got Godwin and Gage on 3 year contracts for less than Tyreek’s bag!!! In Licht I trust

  14. Marine Buc Says:

    There are still several teams who need a QB.

    Seattle, Carolina, Pit, Houston and Miami could all use upgrades at QB…

    Jimmy G and Baker could still end up on one of those teams.

    Plus – It’s a weak QB draft this year.

  15. Adrnagy Says:

    No need to add vet QB. Brady starts and trask backup. Done. Use that spot for another position. Like Oline.

  16. Marine Buc Says:

    I think Baker is heading back home to Texas and will end up with the Houston Texans.

  17. SB Says:

    Telling you now. Trask will be our next QB. This is ‘smoke season’ guys. He is the luckiest man on earth right now getting a second yr watching Brady magic. I think the Bucs can’t tip their hand. I would lay money on Trask being the #2 this yr!

  18. SB Says:

    @Marinebucs……….That is probably the best place for him. See if he can beat out Davis Mills.
    Mayfield is a trainwreck waiting to happen. He seems to have all of the tangibles but none of the intangibles. Unless you consider acting. I think he could be a good one.

  19. Roy T. Buford Says:

    Spent a 2nd round pick on Trask and he’s gonna get another year behind and learning from Brady in Arian’s system. Let’s work with that and use that as the future. It was correctly said above if Brady goes down the bucks are screwed anyway.

  20. TAMPA BAY DEMON Says:

    Houston has made it clear 2 times now that they have no interest in Baker.

    Carolina?

  21. Bucs Guy Says:

    Go with Trask so you can see what you have during blowouts and mop up duty.

  22. PassingThru Says:

    Who here wants to watch an “At Home with Baker Mayfield” commercial, set at Raymond James Stadium?

    The horror, the horror.

  23. Oxycodoms Says:

    Surely its trask he was prepared to start the season if brady wasn’t resigned, trask 3:16

  24. Defense Rules Says:

    Bucs Guy … Putting your backup QB in during ‘blow-outs and mop-up duty’ probably doesn’t tell coaches much about how the backup would REALLY perform running with the 1st team when the game’s on the line.

  25. catcard202 Says:

    Bucs do not make sense as a bidder for Baker…but who does?

    IND went Ryan. ALT, CAR, PIT & SEA seem set on molding rookie contract QBs. NO & WAS may be having buyers remorse right now…But have closed that door. NYG going with Jones (mistake), MIA going with Tua(mistake), TEX going with Mills(bigger mistake)…And the Jets are? Well, the Jets.. & will stick with Wilson.(Probably a Mistake!)

    DET can’t move Geoff to make it work. CHI does not seem likely given Fields. MIN is Cousins Lovin. SF has Trey Lance & is looking to off load Jimmy G. Everyone else seems locked in with in-house options…(Baker would be a fit, but I can’t see AZ making that call either!)

    IE … Seems like a bad time to be a hopeful QB1 looking for a team.

    Baker may have already lost at the 2022 QB1 musical chairs game & may need to pull a Trubisky/Winston…(Go be a BU & hope for a 2nd opportunity in 2023!)

  26. DBS Says:

    Everyone probably knows BA is making this Gabbert call. He is attached to BA’s hip. If he says Trask is ok to be the the backup it will be Trask. If not Gabbert will be back I am almost sure. Just my opinion.

  27. Ron says Says:

    We are going to carry 3 QBs if we are able to get Baker for a price very reasonable for a backup then it’s a perfect scenario in that he will have no pressure and be able to learn from the best. The competition between him and Trask will groom us a great replacement and a better backup for the future. The key is the price, and everyone knows their place and role.

  28. SlyPirate Says:

    Move Trask to #2.

    I didn’t want Mayfield when he came out of college in any round. He’s a poor man’s Johnny Football … and I didn’t want Johnny Football.

  29. Adrnagy Says:

    If we trade or sign a qb its a waste of 2nd rd on trask. And money or trade capital. Trask is very capable to serve as backup. Use that roster spot on oline or dline.

  30. HC Grover Says:

    I would like to see Trask play in pre season then decide.

  31. Tommy Says:

    You have to give Trask a reasonable chance to be number 2. He easily looked as good as Burrow when the Gator’s played LSU.

  32. Duane Says:

    This is the price the #1 overall pick pays. Stings a bit more if you happen to be QB. Those rosters in Cleveland were stacked, so I would pass on a Baker experiment in Tampa.

  33. HC Grover Says:

    Marino came in for Woodley and Strock in Miami and never left. It was off to the races. Maybe Trask can do it too.

  34. tampabayallday Says:

    kinda weird, this is where we need a 4th preseason game

  35. Colin in Canada Says:

    Trask

  36. Buc4evr Says:

    Mayfield is going to cost too much, we need to sign our FAs. Let Trask take some snaps in a real game this year. And oh, sign Julio for Tommy.

  37. Beeej Says:

    I can’t imagine Trask walking into a regular season game, he scarcely played in any preseason game, he scarcely has any familiarity with first string offense god dammit

  38. TAMPA BAY DEMON Says:

    I am kinda surprised everyone just thinks Baker is crap now.

    If Tom had not come back….. I was definitely all in on Baker. I think there is still alot of really good to come for that guy. He did win CLE their 1st playoff victory in 25 years. Last year he was beat up to hell. Kinda like JPP for us.

    No, I don’t see us bringing him in as a backup. But I do like the guy and think he has alot to still offer.

  39. Scotty in Fat Antonio Says:

    Maybe we can sign Mayfield similar to the deal Jaymiss received from the Aints after he left the Bucs and no one else wanted to sign him.

  40. Will Says:

    Baker needs to quit with all the commercials and work on being an NFL QB. Can’t blame the guy for getting his money but unless Brady did a ton of commercials in New England it wasn’t until he came here that I started seeing him on TV showing his personality. Don’t see Baker being on this roster at all and I’m good with that.

  41. David Says:

    I hope they go with Trask so we can see what he has during mop up duty. I understand going after Vet though because if Brady goes down a couple games they can still win and keep it going probably easier with a vet. Although as I type this I’m thinking- if it’s just a couple games, let’s go with Trask and see what he has

  42. Jerry Says:

    So what was the point of drafting QB in the 2nd round if he can’t even be the backup in year 2?

    If the Bucs make a trade like this, than they admit they screwed up that draft pick.

  43. Bobby M. Says:

    Nobody is eating that salary unless they plan to crown him the starter….even if its for a year. There’s definitely teams that would seem to upgrade their QB play by bringing him in. Miami and the Giants need to accept reality that Tua and Jones aren’t NFL starters…..Mayfield is definitely more capable then those two.

  44. BUCman Says:

    Trask needs to be QB2 this year so he’s ready if Brady leaves at the end of the season. Brady is our present, Trask is our future. Perfect senecio; draft a promising QB, let him develop for two years in your system along side the GOAT and let him take over when the GOAT retires. I believe this was their two year plan when they originally drafted him. Brady’s premature retirement was going to disrupt that timeline but is back on track with Brady’s return. You have to have three on the roster so they will eventually bring on someone as a third (most likely Gabbert since he knows the system).

  45. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but if Baker is cut, his former team will have to pay him a salary minus what the new team pays him, right?

    I don’t know any of his real numbers, but as an example:

    If his team keeps him, they must pay him $18m?

    Let’s say, for example, if they cut him, they are on the hook for $10m (totally made up #). If he signs for $5m to a new team, then that $5m would be subtracted from the $10m his former team of f on the hook for..

    …but Baker would still get his $10m no matter who is paying it, right? Is that rough example how it works?

    If so, he could sign for less somewhere, knowing his former team will have to make up the difference.

  46. Cobraboy Says:

    With very few pre-season reps on an all-in roster, I thought Trask was respectable in PS game mop-up duty with future beer truck and UPS drivers.

  47. Pewter Power Says:

    So let me get this right people only take us serious ad contenders because of Brady but we’re gonna go out and spend money on another average guy and push Trask down the depth chart again so that we have no idea how good he is going into his third year?

    Get trask and draft another guy late or give up a late rounder for someone on a rookie deal but please develop a quarterback

  48. stpetebucsfan Says:

    My son lives in Columbus, lived two years in Cleveland and is a HUGE Browns fan!

    He would agree with @godlovesbucs. He thinks Baker has some talent but was poorly used by a bad coaching staff.

    I’m kinda like Bonzai on this one. I do not know the financial impact or if the deal is even doable. But if it is I wouldn’t mind it if we don’t give up too much.

  49. gotbbucs Says:

    If the #2 backup QB is anyone other than Trask then that will be a huge admission that it was a waste of a 2nd round pick.

  50. Buczilla Says:

    I’d rather have Mayfield than Gabbert, but it’s not like the browns are going to just give him away. Some dumb team will give up at least a couple of second round picks for Baker.

  51. Rod Munch Says:

    I’d certainly rather have Mayfield than Gabbert or Trask, but he makes way too much money to sign. He’d have to get cut first, then take a vet min. For the sake of his career, to sit behind Brady, learn and mature, he should do something like that, if not Brady, then another veteran QB. But I’d love that pickup, gives a let option if something happened to Brady for a game or two. Also it’s not that I think much of Baker, it’s how little I think of Gabbert — and I don’t think Trask is anywhere close to being ready yet.

  52. Rod Munch Says:

    gotbbucs Says:
    March 23rd, 2022 at 8:18 pm
    If the #2 backup QB is anyone other than Trask then that will be a huge admission that it was a waste of a 2nd round pick.

    ———

    I didn’t like the pick, and if you were going QB I’d have taken Mills, said it on draft night — but no, it’s not admitting anything. The team is in a win now mode and Trask hasn’t taken a snap in the NFL. You don’t build this team and then hand it to a guy who hasn’t played and a snap and was the #4 QB last year.

    While I don’t think Trask is an NFL QB with the way he throws, but I’m not ruling it out either – and there’s obviously examples of guys who sat for years who, when they got their chance, performed really well.

    But way too early to start saying someone is a bust when you’ve never seen them taking an NFL snap.

  53. steele Says:

    Mayfield is a starter, if a wildly inconsistent one. I expect some team will roll the dice on him. A team like Seattle.

    I doubt he would swallow it and be a backup QB, unless he gets no offers at all.
    Even so, why not Trask? How come suddenly we’re not hearing the automatic assumption that Gabbert is going to get signed?

    The free agent QB list is down to far fewer. Even sucky ones have already gotten jobs. Frankly as a pure backup, a guy like Simien isn’t bad.

    I still favor the idea of drafting one of the better QBs, if they fall to the right position. Why not have a rookie and Trask compete in camp for #2 and 3?

    If Licht continues to pile up in free agency, he could free up the draft to allow that, and other experiments. Although defense really should be THE focus from here on.

  54. SB Says:

    Beeej Says:
    March 23rd, 2022 at 7:05 pm
    I can’t imagine Trask walking into a regular season game, he scarcely played in any preseason game, he scarcely has any familiarity with first string offense god dammit

    …………

    He never started a game in college until he set SEC and UF records and almost won the Heisman either pal. Pay attention

  55. Biff Barker Says:

    Mayfield is not coming here.

    Gabbert is just in the way of the future.

    We drafted Trask and need to see if he can be the future.

    Lets not squander any more time than we already have.

  56. Jerry Says:

    Rod Munch Says:
    I didn’t like the pick, and if you were going QB I’d have taken Mills, said it on draft night — but no, it’s not admitting anything. The team is in a win now mode and Trask hasn’t taken a snap in the NFL. You don’t build this team and then hand it to a guy who hasn’t played and a snap and was the #4 QB last year.

    —-

    If Brady goes down to injury, we are no longer in “win-now” mode. Gabbert is no Tom Brady. He can maybe, maybe hold the fort for a half or a game. But if Brady is hurt for an extended period, our season is over. So why pay Gabbert all that money when we should be playing young guys to get them experience?

    You don’t know what you have in Trask until you play him. Heck Tom Brady was a 6th round pick. How many thought at that time he was the GOAT when Bledsoe went down hurt?
    Same thing with Kurt Warner when he was with the Rams and Trent Green got hurt. Warner came from the Arena league. No one thought he would amount to anything.

    Im not saying Trask is the next Brady or Warner. But my point is you don’t know what you got until you throw them out there in real time. In the mind of an NFL QB, the game at this level either clicks or it doesn’t. You can’t always tell just from throwing balls in mop up duty in preseason to receivers who’ll be selling insurance in a few weeks time.

  57. Anonymous Says:

    If JL and BA are excited about Trask then I’m excited about Trask. Sitting behind TB for one or two more years surely can’t hurt him. Look at how Aaron Rodgers had to sit behind Brett Favre until he finally decided to call it quits.

    Yes, I know Rodgers was seen to be much more talented. But Favre notoriously would not lift a finger to help his obvious replacement. Brady has shown his superb character in that aspect as well. Just think about learning directly from the G.O.A.T.

    Go Bucs!

  58. New England Patriots Fan Says:

    Baker before Cleveland > MacJones

    If I could get Baker for 3rd and 5m-8m/y he would be a great addition whom could actually win games as a backup and could become a future franchise QB.

    If I was Josh in Oakland (loved Baker) I’d make this trade as Marriotta is in Atlanta.

  59. Defense Rules Says:

    Don’t know much about Baker Mayfield other than watching him in some commercials. Looking at his 4-year stats with Cleveland though, I’m not impressed. Career completion percentage of 61.6% isn’t exactly sterling, and worse, his best year was his rookie year (63.8%). Browns have had some pretty good talent in that period IMO, yet they’re 29-30 with Mayfield at the helm. Looks like he averages 1 INT/game and 2 sacks/game. Only has 6 – 4th qtr comebacks in 4 years, and NONE in 2021. Pass …

    I see no problem going with Trask as our #2 this year. Sooner or later Bucs need to figure out IF Trask is the future. If he’s not, then draft a QB in 2023 or make a play for Derek Carr next year. Got a hunch that Gabbert won’t get picked up by any other team this year anyways, so IF we need him we can probably work out something with him.

  60. gotbbucs Says:

    Not a single teammate in Cleveland has come out to say anything in support of Baker Mayfield since all of this Deshaun Watson stuff started there. That is telling. Nobody is willing to stick their neck out, even guys that were recently released there.
    He doesn’t have the arm talent to be a championship caliber QB and his teammates don’t like playing with him.

  61. ElioT Says:

    JBF is becoming garbage. No real journalism or insight, just a bunch of click bait regurgitated “news”.

    2009 era website too.

    Disappointing

  62. Rod Munch Says:

    Jerry Says:
    If Brady goes down to injury, we are no longer in “win-now” mode. Gabbert is no Tom Brady. He can maybe, maybe hold the fort for a half or a game. But if Brady is hurt for an extended period, our season is over.

    ————

    I don’t disagree with the general idea, if Brady goes down long-term then the season is over if Gabbert is the QB. But if say Brady misses 6 games – in a fairly weak NFC that isn’t necessarily the end of the road. It’s possible, depending on the opponents in that strech, if you got below average play from the QB spot, with strong defense and a good running game maybe you can win half of those. What you don’t want through is terrible QB play and you go 1-5.

    If you resign Gabbert, it’s probably the vet min salary – there’s nothing saying Trask can’t beat him out for the job. If Trask can do that, then fantastic. But you bring them both to camp in any case.

    Also Brady and Warner, those guys proved in practice and camp that they could play and they won their backup roles, then when they got the chance excelled. Trask hasn’t won anything yet, he was literally the #4 QB – if anything happened to Brady, and Gabbert, it wasn’t Trask that was getting the call, it was Griffin. That’s on Trask for not winning at least the 3rd spot.

    But lots of players have big jumps from their 1st and 2nd years, so hopefully he comes into camp, looks great, then balls out in the preseason – if he does that, then people will be at ease with him getting that backup spot and an opportunity when Brady leaves. But Trask played last preseason and looked pretty awful – plus he’s still got to be able to throw an NFL ball with NFL velocity – not those rainbow college passes he threw which would all be INTs or knocked down in the NFL. But again, he’s got all offseason to show he’s ready, and I’m certain Licht wants him to succeed, so he’s not going to get shortchanged with his opportunities.

  63. ElioT Says:

    Tell me I’m wrong!

  64. Rod Munch Says:

    gotbbucs Says:
    March 23rd, 2022 at 9:16 pm
    Not a single teammate in Cleveland has come out to say anything in support of Baker…He doesn’t have the arm talent to be a championship caliber QB and his teammates don’t like playing with him.

    ————–

    Fair point on his teammates, which is why, if he’s cut, he should go to a team, like the Bucs, where he’s behind a real veteran and can mature in a winning locker room that is drama free – also where he’s a complete afterthought and would get humbled. Would be, by far, the best thing that could happen to him.

    On arm talent you’re completely wrong – he can sling the ball. That’s why he went #1 overall.

  65. New England Patriots Fan Says:

    @ElioT The Antonio Brown, C19, QB Brady drama, FA agent stories and coaching issues stories sells clicks, very much like Colin Cowherd and Skip Shannon type topics.

    Tampa been at the Center of this since Tom started, Tampa is talked about everyday on ESPN Fox bleacher etc and these soft stories sell.

    I like both myself, I personally would love deep dives into the combine, draft, roster depth, FA, and more statistical and ranking stuff too and inner workings at one buc.

    But I’ll read everything Brady or AB drama article on JBF.

  66. EEK Says:

    #1 overall pick

    getting him for a 6th round pick sounds reasonably low risk if Brady is the starter

    he has talent and maybe he can grow and learn and be a major reclamation project

    he was with the highly dysfunctional Browns who ruin all drafted talent and is a graveyard for QBs

  67. Beej Says:

    “SB Says:
    March 23rd, 2022 at 8:53 pm
    Beeej Says:
    March 23rd, 2022 at 7:05 pm
    I can’t imagine Trask walking into a regular season game, he scarcely played in any preseason game, he scarcely has any familiarity with first string offense god dammit

    …………

    He never started a game in college until he set SEC and UF records and almost won the Heisman either pal. Pay attention”

    LOL I just saw that, I was doing talk-to-text on my phone when I spilled coffee on my shirt, sorry Joe

  68. JimmyJack Says:

    I do not want Trask backing up Brady…….Lets say Tom goes down for 3 games…..If them games turn out to be critical I dont wanna be trying to win them while Trask goes through his inevitable growing pains.

    We are all in so get a backup who is competent and wint look like a deer in the headlights.

    They seem to like Gabbert, bring him back. We will be hunting a playoff spot. Not the right situation to develope a QB project.

  69. TOM KNIGHT Says:

    Stupid post. Print so small even magnifying glass won’t work.

  70. Mike Johnson Says:

    To be honest, Baker Mayfield might fit in good with our Bucs. He is being humbled right now. Kinda like Jameis was. And he will probably be a better man and QB for it. I would not give up a lot for him though, Maybe the Browns could eat a lot of his salary and we give up a 4th or 5th rder. Remember, Brady is only a hit or 2 away from a season ending injury.

  71. HC Grover Says:

    If Trask is not going to play then trade him.

  72. David Says:

    Baker Mayfield is not coming here. If cut – There are starting jobs out there, why would he want to come be a back up?
    If they trade for him, which I hope to God they don’t, it does indicate they don’t have faith in Trask moving beyond next year. Unfortunately if that’s the route they take, I think it’s a big mistake because Baker already had a run oriented team that was great on defense and he still couldn’t get it done. He’s short, he panics and scrambles around too much. No thanks.

  73. TAMPA BAY DEMON Says:

    There is no reason to yell, David.

  74. Adrnagy Says:

    What’s up with Brady and Edelman practicing

  75. TAMPA BAY DEMON Says:

    da da DAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I think they were just practicing together, Adrnagy.

  76. TAMPA BAY DEMON Says:

    Just being playful guys. Don’t take it as anything otherwise.

    Was OFF here for a long, long time as far as commenting, but still was reading you all every day.

    Missed ya all. LFG…. and Go BUCS.

  77. MadMax Says:

    NO

  78. Adrnagy Says:

    Ill remember that. Demon

    Brady is checking up his wheels.

  79. TAMPA BAY DEMON Says:

    I actually do find it interesting too, Adrnagy.
    Was just playin’.

    Tom always seems to have a purpose with everything he does.
    And until very recently, Tom & Julian had a little bit of a rift going.

    So, could there be more to it?
    Definitely possible my friend.

  80. RandsABucFan Says:

    Too much of a drastic change if they brought in Mayfield. This offense is designed for a tall in-the-pocket passer like Tom Brady. Mayfield is a midget that would require a whole different game plan compared to a taller Kyle Trask who could step in without hesitation.

  81. Adrnagy Says:

    Edelman will be a late addition. Book it.

  82. steele Says:

    EDELMAN!!!! If he’s healthy and motivated, and not completely rusty (none of these are certain), yes. I was hoping James White would have come aboard, but he went back to NE.

    Jules could also be working out just to work out. Coming back to football is a big and serious commitment.

  83. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    I am 100% against Gabbert coming back…which means he probably will return.

    But let’s be real: young depth QBs do not get the #2 spot in Tampa. We fans have shouted from the rooftops that we need to find out what these young guys have…but it never happens…not in this century at least.

    Just consider our history…when was the last time it happened? Chris Simmons maybe?

    The reason for that is simple: Head Coaches do not have the luxury of taking that kind of chance. They have to be forced into it by injury.

    I agree, we should make Trask #2…but it’s not going to happen. BA certainly does not have the luxury of developing a young QB, and not because of the owners in his case…It’s his age. He indicates s win now because he doesn’t have much time left to coach in him.

    Now, in regard to Baker…realistically, $18m a year for a starting QB actually isn’t too much…not these days. A team might pay him that if he’s released. Our cap issues rule him out at full price.

    Even if he becomes a free agent and says, “I’m willing to sign year to year and sit behind Brady if it means I can earn the right to take over when he retires…and get paid for it then.”

    Anything is possible…but is he actually worth signing at any price? Maybe, but that’s a risk I think I’d avoid….but I also don’t think we should put all of our eggs it the Trask basket.

    This isn’t a team that will tank for a high draft pick. Not anymore…and I think middle of the first round is the earliest we’ll get without trading up.

    That said…I don’t even know if there is a good qb in this draft worth trading up to the top for.

  84. adam from ny Says:

    the “blane gabbert as starting qb” thing was potentially making the entire hardcore fan base nuts…

    i was slowly going off the deep end as time kept ticking and the scenario was getting realer…

    then came the brady return – and now people are like “where were you when you heard the news?”

    #AsTheWorldTurns #AndWeRemainTheNewAmericasTeam

  85. Chris Flores Says:

    Kaepernick would be a great option, and could be gotten at a great price

  86. MadMax Says:

    ^^ HAHA, get off the craccc pipe buddy

  87. Jeffrey Stenger Says:

    As far as the ones on here talking up Baker Mayfield, stop it!! The Browns drafted him, they know more about him than anyone, and they don’t want him. Not even the Saints with Jaboo behind center want Mayfield. The man is average with a side of pretty good at times. He’s not the overwhelming load my team on my shoulders and ride kinda guy. He’s a journeyman from here on out IMO. Like another Oklahoma qb, can you say Sam Bradford.