“We Will Continue To Look For The Best Available Option”
February 1st, 2022
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Is it Kyle Trask time or is Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians going to get his Door No. 2 option?
That was one of the top subjects this evening when Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht had a rare early-February news conference via Zoom from Mobile.
Licht spoke on the news of Tom Brady’s retirement. But of course, Kyle Trask chatter seeped in.
Currently, the only quarterback on the roster for the 2022 season is Trask. Though Trask was drafted in the second round last year, he was never on the active gameday roster in the regular season. He only played in preseason against UPS drivers, short-order cooks and small claims adjusters.
Basically, Licht said the Bucs are going to go with the best quarterback when preseason ends — whether that is Trask or acquiring a quarterback via a trade, free agency or in the draft.
“We will continue to look for the best available option,” Licht said. “Whether that is someone here or someone out there.”
Licht believes the Bucs team he built and Arians and his staff have developed will lift a quarterback’s play so that quarterback doesn’t have to be a Hall of Fame candidate.
“This team has grown together,” Licht said. “It’s the best locker room I’ve ever been a part of. That bond is very strong. And the experience that we’ve had, that can take you places.
“Whether you hand it over to an inexperienced guy or a veteran, I think that the leaders we have on this team, will definitely help and [bring] that person along.”
Does it sound like Licht may be settling for Trask or a middling quarterback like Teddy Bridgewater? You be the judge. Later, Licht noted that pulling off a trade like the Rams did for Matt Stafford is a helluva lot harder than it seems.
Joe has the hunch Licht will try to keep all his free agents and hope those guys can carry the team and its new quarterback, whether that is Trask, Bridgewater, Jimmy GQ or whoever.
That may have worked years ago in the NFL. That formula isn’t always a successful route in the third decade of the 21st century.
February 1st, 2022 at 7:01 pm
PLEASE no Bridgewater!!! PLEASE!!!!
that is all.
February 1st, 2022 at 7:03 pm
We are still a good team, even w/o Brady.
With any decent QB, we should be able to win the NFC South again.
February 1st, 2022 at 7:08 pm
Why does Bridgewater keep coming up. Is there no one else that people can mention
February 1st, 2022 at 7:12 pm
Jimmy G threw for 118 TDs to 51 ints in 45 games at Eastern flippin’ Illinois
Trask threw for 69 TDs to 15 ints in 20 games at Florida.
Extrapolate Trask to 45 games and it would be 178 TDs to 37.5 ints and I believe Florida plays Just a bit tougher schedule than Eastern Illinois.
WHY you guys hatin’ on Trask so much? Because he played for Florida?
February 1st, 2022 at 7:12 pm
I guess it will be pondered from now until mid-March…
February 1st, 2022 at 7:15 pm
FYI, Tyrann Mathieu is a free agent. I hope the Bucs don’t ignore the secondary again.
February 1st, 2022 at 7:16 pm
Please God, no Bridgewater or JimmyG
February 1st, 2022 at 7:17 pm
Because Bruce Arians was slobbering for him two years ago.
And he’s available…
And he’s cheap (compared to Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson).
February 1st, 2022 at 7:22 pm
We didn’t draft Trask in the 2nd round because we thought he had no skills. Give the kid a shot! Jeez, we don’t need Teddy B. or Jimmy G., that’s for sure.
February 1st, 2022 at 7:26 pm
Lets ride what we have Arians retires and hire a real head coach in Sean Payton from the Parcells school of coaching.
February 1st, 2022 at 7:29 pm
Id rather not put the QB that gets hurt every year. Cough cough Teddy Bridgewater. I think I’d rather start Trask out of the two scenarios. Jimmy G made it to the NFC championship I wouldn’t mind throwing a few bucks his way. But I’ll honestly hoping for Derek Carr 1 or Russell Wilson 2.
February 1st, 2022 at 7:29 pm
Someone black mail brady back
February 1st, 2022 at 7:31 pm
Let’s face it: Brady will be a tough act to follow, for anyone.
February 1st, 2022 at 7:40 pm
I’m for seeing what we have in Trask and getting younger. I don’t see Gronk, JPP, Suh, Jensen, Brate and either RoJo or Fournette being back next year. I think Godwin, C Davis and Whitehead will be back. As for Trask he was a Heisman trophy finalist that put up great numbers. Young QBs are balling out throughout the league, Trask was a premium draft pick who had to pick up something from being in the room with the Goat for the last year. These high priced free agent or trade target QBs will set the team back from a salary cap standpoint more than they will bring. We aren’t getting another Brady with any other qb being talked about.
February 1st, 2022 at 7:46 pm
Y’all are going to find out just how important Tom Brady was. Talent was never the problem. The bucs still have one of the better rosters in the league. It doesn’t matter, as y’all know, without a Qb. Do the only thing that’s worked the last 25 years. Get one of these top flight QBs, and let him play GM. Plenty of guys would wanna play with Russ, or Rodgers. The problem is, the coaching staff is still in place. That essentially guarantees failure.
February 1st, 2022 at 7:49 pm
Please tell me what unit licht has built to a dominate level? What exactly is our strength. Watching playoff teams we don’t have it. Also our vets will be gone. Licht can’t build a team.
February 1st, 2022 at 7:49 pm
Brady should IMMEDIATELY go into Bucs ROH…
TOOK worst team in all of pro sports and did what we all witnessed… UFB
THANK YOU TOMMY
February 1st, 2022 at 7:51 pm
No one else does that
Especially not Karen Rodgers… please
February 1st, 2022 at 7:52 pm
I like this idea a lot better then trying to make a massive deal for Rodgers or Wilson.
We are not in CAP hell but we are tight(i think).
Yes we could bring in a bigtime QB and be a top NFC team this year……..but with a huge QB salary the window is going to be short lived. Just feels like a spot where you gotta win it all in 2022 before that CAP starts eroding things.
Makes more sense to me to dump the old players this year. Rework the CAP to get the dead money off while reloading with youth…….Then you find a QB next offseason with a couple hundred million to buy elite free agents.
February 1st, 2022 at 7:57 pm
Bring in a vet but let Trask have his chance.
February 1st, 2022 at 7:58 pm
Russ Wilson, Derek Carr, Trask………
Most likely Trask will play for the Bucs and not Russ or Derek, but who knows.
Anyone remember before Patrick Mahomes played, most fans had no idea about him. And most NFL did not think he would be anything like he has shown, he would have been the first pick in the draft. I mean Trubisky was picked before Mahomes.
I am not saying Trask is Mahomes, what I am saying is that no one knows just what the Bucs have in Trask.
We are about to find out, because you do not invest a #2 and then not even see what you have.
Could they get Russ Wilson? or Derek Carr? I do not know, but we will see…….
GO BUCS!!!!
February 1st, 2022 at 8:08 pm
Trask was drafted to takeover for Brady. Is that why we drafted him for ? He had one year learning for the GOAT. He broke Florida record for TD’s and passing yards Why are we talking about these loosing QB’s just win a few games or have an even record. Look who is in super bowl. Bengals with an almost rookie, Joe B. They went from a weak team to super bowl the following year with Joe B.
Trask nearly defeated Mac Jones in SEC Championship and Joe B.
Mac Jones:418 yards, 9.7 avg, 5 TD, 1 int, Qbr 92.3
Kyle Trask: 408 yards, 10.2 avg/3 TD, o int, 91.7 Qbr
He lost to them due to Florida poor defense at the time. Just read the current Falcons tight end, Kyle Pitts on his Twitter about his college teammate ” with short and sweet answer ” Kyle Trask” that’s all.
February 1st, 2022 at 8:17 pm
Actually Licht built one of the strongest O Lines in the NFL
February 1st, 2022 at 8:19 pm
What about Fitzpatrick?
February 1st, 2022 at 8:26 pm
Maybe. He was drafted as a developmental project who the Bucs thought could be molded into an effective starter. There was zero guarantee he would be Brady’s successor.
No one has seen Trask throw a football since August outside of the football operations of the Bucs. We have zero idea if he can take over for Brady now or if it’s fruitless task.
February 1st, 2022 at 8:29 pm
August. I gotta push back a little just where you said “you dont invest a #2 and not see”
The Bucs have seen Trask at work for a full year now. Lets suppose hes not picking up this offense very well and they dont think he can run it……..Do you really think they would put him in there if they thought he couldnt handle it?
To me the beauty of the Trask pick was that having him sit gets us ahead of that learning curve. I like to think that the Bucs got a real good idea if Trask can run this offense. I understand he will have to take his lumps reguardless as he is inexperienced but I would hope the year working with him can have us avoid handing pver the team to a busted draft choice if that will be the case.
One Bruce Arians quote that always stuck in my head was “if you got 2 QBs you dont got one”
February 1st, 2022 at 8:36 pm
Just Saying … Like your 7:40 PM analysis. I’m all for giving Trask a shot also & let’s see what we’ve got in him. IF he does well, that’ll allow us to focus on numerous other position groups that NEED attention. If he does poorly, at least we’ll know that he isn’t ‘THE ONE’. Derek Carr’s a free agent in 2023 and we could always pursue him then.
As far as your list of players you don’t think we’ll re-sign, we kinda part ways there somewhat. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Whitehead, Suh, Jensen & Fournette on our roster this year (all 4 fill critical positions & are VERY good). MAYBE even JPP (money will be the sticking point on all those negotiations, but I believe there are ways we can pull it off).
Personal belief though is that we’ll only get to sign EITHER Davis OR Godwin, not both (and maybe neither). They BOTH have a Market Value right around $20 mil, and that’s too rich for my blood given that Godwin has missed 7 games these last 2 years (and is coming off a major injury) and Davis has missed 9 games these last 2 years. That type of availability hardly makes me feel warm & fuzzy that they’re worth $20 mil. (Whitehead, Suh & Fournette TOGETHER would probably only cost us around that much, and Jensen maybe another $10 mil annually).
February 1st, 2022 at 8:36 pm
Grover would that be a certain Ryan “Conner McGregor” Fitzpatrick lol
lol That was hilarious when Ryan came out in Deshauns stuff and did the “Conner McGregor” Press Conference lol Probably the funniest PC at one Buc that I have ever seen
Anyways, Ryan is definately a good vet to bring in, he is way better than so many.
He got hurt last year pretty bad, so who knows if he wants to come back.
He has a wife and like about 8-9 kids. lol thats a whole lot of playing husband – dad. But he just might be ready to come back now after being out most of the whole season. I had totally forgot about Fitz, so glad you brought “Fitz McGregor” back to mind lol
BTW Fitz put a 48 point beatdown on the Saints in week 1 2018, we all remember that.
So Fitz is a better option “IF” he can play then Teddy 2 gloves Bridgewater for sure
GO BUCS and GO Fitz McGregor lol.
February 1st, 2022 at 8:40 pm
With Russell Wilson we win more super bowls
February 1st, 2022 at 8:44 pm
The 9ers made the NFCC game with a dipsh!t, build the trenches and let Trask roll.
February 1st, 2022 at 8:44 pm
Im not going to lie, I watched Sam Howell throughout the year and he’s not bad….UNC…..he’ll probably be there when we pick at 27….Tough kid!
We just have so many holes now that Im ok with Trask and addressing other areas. But Sam isnt bad….just putting it out there.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:15 pm
Joe says: Maybe. He was drafted as a developmental project who the Bucs thought could be molded into an effective starter. There was zero guarantee he would be Brady’s successor.
Joes, if we didn’t not draft Trask with the intent and hope for him to be Brady’s successor, isn’t that an egregious use of a second round draft pick? I would understand that mentality at round 4 or later, but in the second?
February 1st, 2022 at 9:18 pm
Where exactly did Joe write that was not the case? There were no guarantees — nor should there have been — that he would succeed Brady unless he earned it.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:20 pm
Trade for Jimmy G. Lance turns out to be a bust then Brady comes back in 23 to play with the 9ers
February 1st, 2022 at 9:23 pm
What on earth happened to Joe Flacco? Went from SB MVP and a top 5 QB to much-traded fodder, all the way down to third stringer. Well, he’s available.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:26 pm
I agree, Austin. Russell Wilson is the one guy to focus on, but I haven’t seen any rumors linking him to TB. He’s named other teams he’d rather play for. Come on, Russ! Florida sunshine and freedom for you and Ciara!
February 1st, 2022 at 9:29 pm
Deshaun or Trask !
GoBucs!
February 1st, 2022 at 9:32 pm
Say what you want guys, Licht and Arians like winning. I get this feeling they are gonna go after somebody experienced who has a record of winning. Really wanna see what they do. They may,,surprise us all.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:39 pm
““We Will Continue To Look For The Best Available Option””
Wish the coaches were held to the same standards.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:40 pm
Maybe if they can keep the offensive line intact and get playoff Lenny and Godwin back and build the defense up we can have a chance. Maybe you do all that and put Trask in maybe he will surprise us.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:49 pm
I dont think a veteran QB will want to play in Tampa. They will be filling up a big shoe with unknown TE’s and receivers and will always be compared to Brady.
February 1st, 2022 at 9:51 pm
Nobody wants Russ Wilson for 45 mil a year, very few QBs out there are worth the money they think they are. Garrapol is absolute trash, y’all are crazy
February 1st, 2022 at 10:10 pm
They would be wise to sit Trask another year. I think keeping Griffin on the roster was a disservice to Trask as 4th string QB. I have a feeling they will settle for a guy like Bridgewater, move on from Gabbert unless he takes significantly less money than this past year, and have Trask learn behind Bridgewater and Gabbert. It would be helpful to have someone who really knows the playbook bring along the new QB and be supportive on game days. Well ladies and gentlemen, it was fun while it lasted, back to mediocrity at the QB position!!!
February 1st, 2022 at 10:19 pm
People keep citing Trask’s college numbers.
Please — I implore everyone — watch some tape of him actually playing football. The skill set to be a quality NFL QB isn’t there. His passes are wobbly past 20+ yards, he needs an insanely clean pocket to throw, and his processing time is slow. He also can’t move a lick to create or leverage his big frame like a Josh Allen or Ben Roethlisberger.
He was a late 2nd rounder for a reason. Guys with his draft pedigree don’t pan out 80-90% of the time.
February 1st, 2022 at 10:32 pm
RUSS 4 SURE
February 1st, 2022 at 10:35 pm
THANKS, TODD’s BOWELS.
February 1st, 2022 at 11:03 pm
Call me crazy but I’d love to see BA lure Andrew Luck out of retirement…..the Bucs would be a great place for him.
Familiar Coach
Great Oline
Weapons
Florida sunshine……no state taxes…..
February 1st, 2022 at 11:04 pm
There’s one obvious QB that is available, who fits perfectly in this offense, who is affordable and has proven to be ultra-productive.
Jameis Winston.
February 1st, 2022 at 11:09 pm
So many people referencing Trask Florida stats in here as if college stats mean anything for QBs in the NFL.
February 1st, 2022 at 11:19 pm
Matt. They said the same thing about Brady, Montana, Wilson, Dak, Brees so I don’t go by what the media say because they have been worng about a lot of players who they said wouldn’t be nothing in the NFL. At this point all you can do is go by what he done in college and remember he was the only quarterback in 2020 who put up 46 points against ALABAMA that year!!
February 1st, 2022 at 11:19 pm
either all in with Carr, or Garoppolo or Trask but no middle of the road trash head damaged Bridgewater–how many times has he been on the field unconscious ?
Build up the defense and start Trask sign Godwin–make him rich and happy, he can stay here with Mikey. Honestly I think Trask is better than Bridgewater already.
February 1st, 2022 at 11:21 pm
Just think if Licht doesn’t blow the 2018 draft, instead of taking the part-time fatso, he doesn’t trade with the Bills, and takes Josh Allen.
I can’t believe no one gets on Licht for that.
To be clear, I have no issues with the draft, had Brady not become available, the team would have stuck with Winston, so you don’t need a new QB. But all the dopes who hated Winston non-stop, who are all Monday morning QBs themselves, why they’ve let Licht off the hook for taking a part-time player over Allen, it’s surprising.
February 1st, 2022 at 11:28 pm
For the record…
Carr is a loser, the Bucs go 9-8, lose in the first round of the playoffs, and only make the playoffs because the NFC South is so bad.
Garoppolo stinks, folds under pressure, the Bucs go 8-9, don’t make the playoffs.
Trask isn’t ready, probably never will be, but I like this the best of the three options. They go 3-14, secure the #1 draft pick!
Personally, if you’re going to keep the band mostly together, the obvious choice is Winston, they go 10-7, I’m going to predict they win the 1st round of the playoffs, lose in 2nd round. Winston would be cheap, would be productive, and is already well liked and knows the offense.
If you can get Rodgers, which you can’t, but let’s say you could, the of course you do. Learning a new offense, against a very hard schedule, I think the team goes 11-6, but gets to the NFC Championship game, where Rodgers folds like he normally does.
If you get Wilson, again, 11-6, I think you get to the NFC Championship game.
If you get Watson, again, 11-6, I think you get to the NFC Championship game.
All of the stuff above is assuming you keep the team mostly intact, except for Trask, where you blow it up.
The 2022 schedule is very hard, so even winning 11 isn’t going to be easy. I’m tempted to say Winston also wins 11, but people are too stupid to understand that the fact you already know the offense and personnel gives you an advantage, and if I said 11 wins, they’d say, “YOU THINK WINSTON IS AS GOOD AS RODGERS” because they’re simple minded idiots, so I just reduced it to 10 wins. But I actually think it’s 11.
February 1st, 2022 at 11:31 pm
What’s Licht expected to say on 01FEB??? The truth???
He knows Trask as QB1 means a new a rebuild is upon us….Team Glazer went all in 2020 & 2021…Now that TB12 walked away, everyone in the building knows this roster has past it’s 2yr window with a list of UFA hella deep & extremely tough to replace with limited picks in the draft & limited Cap room to play with in FA.
February 1st, 2022 at 11:32 pm
Why not try to sign Aaron Rodgers. We went big game hunting last time and bagged the GOAT. Why wouldn’t Rodgers want to play for Tampa?
February 1st, 2022 at 11:35 pm
Deshaun Watson
Will be the BUCS next quarter back.
You heard it here!
February 1st, 2022 at 11:55 pm
We don’t have the money for Watson, Rogers , or Wilson so yall need to stop dreaming about those quarterbacks coming on this team!!
February 2nd, 2022 at 12:21 am
Brutal 2022 schedule. Don t see the pipe dream of Wilson, Rodgers, or Watson realistically happening.
Winston, Bridgewater, Trask or Gabbert are your options. Jameis probably
Nets highest productivity ceiling and would be fairly cheap. Making room for key FA – Jensen, godwin, brate, and fournette. Maybe even whitehead.
Draft a cover corner 1st round. Best case 9 or 10 wins and another
NFC title. Worst case 6 or 7 wins.
Trask is a Longshot to come in and win currently. TED B is the tin man. And Gabbert hasn’t taken a NFL snap in the regular season in 3 years.
Don’t like the current options but it is what it is.
February 2nd, 2022 at 1:06 am
As long as he is not suspended, and because of his legal troubles, Watson is by far the best talent out there and could be had for cheap possibly.
*** I will admit I have no idea what his legal troubles are, I have not followed that story whatsoever.
SB
Personally I like Trask but he just sat for a whole year and we have absolutely no idea what he looks like. The preseason games were a little bit hit and miss mess
February 2nd, 2022 at 1:30 am
Open competition between Trask, Gabbert, Jameis, and Mariota
February 2nd, 2022 at 3:17 am
Are we really willing to sacrifice our future for a A rod or Wilson our GM doesn’t think like that go for a Foles or Teddy and keep pieces around him hell I’ll even go back to Jameis 🤷🤷
February 2nd, 2022 at 7:17 am
Uh Foley, news flash many had been saying Watson and actually putting forth linkages and reasons why long before 11:35. No “You heard it here”.
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:27 am
Light is not someone willing to settle based on the players he’s brought to the Bucs.
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:19 am
I kept telling yall that a culture change is not 1 or 2 years . Brady helped us win but he didn’t change the culture. We will see the next 4 or 5 years!! But BA got to go if he can’t develop Trask or even give him a chance to start!!
February 2nd, 2022 at 1:59 pm
Benny Boom Says:
February 2nd, 2022 at 12:21 am
Jameis probably Nets highest productivity ceiling
The interception machine? LMAO.
February 3rd, 2022 at 12:23 pm
I think that Mr.Licht should keep his draft pic (Trask),but look for a seasoned non-pocket passing QB like example:(Mahomes),The same goes for a DB,S,C to replace who leaves.