Columnist Says Bucs Expected To Be “Aggressive” Luring A Veteran QB If Tom Brady Leaves

January 25th, 2023

Bucs wouldn’t trust him?

Now this is very interesting.

In a column earlier this week in The Athletic, Mike Jones decided to rank all the NFL offensive coordinator openings.

Jones is of the mind the Bucs job, even if Brady leaves, even with the salary cap a mess, is very desirable. In fact, Jones thinks the gig is more attractive than the Crows’ and the Belicheats’ opening.

But what if Tom Brady bolts? Jones said he’s hearing through league circles the Bucs will be “aggressive” in acquiring a veteran quarterback to replace Brady.

… attractive elements remain, including wideouts Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and running back Rachaad White. Quality veteran offensive linemen return, although they didn’t perform well this season. Maybe another offensive coordinator can get more out of them while instilling more balance. A sticky salary cap situation (which means impending roster purges) and a mystery at quarterback raises questions about this position. But some around the league expect the Bucs to attempt another aggressive move for a talented veteran if Brady does leave (Derek Carr, perhaps). Going that route rather than rolling the dice with an unproven passer or journeyman would make this job even more promising.

If this is true, it tells Joe two things.

The first would be the Bucs have no interest implementing Operation Tank and attempting to #CollaspeForCaleb.

The other is that Kyle Trask’s future with the Bucs is doomed.

Trask is entering the third year of his four-year contract this fall and so far only has worn a Bucs uniform in two games, and in one he was forced to due to NFL gameday active roster rules.

Trask actually took his first Bucs snaps two weeks ago in Atlanta.

Whoever this mystery veteran quarterback is likely won’t come to the Bucs on a one-year deal. So that sort of leaves Trask on the outside looking in.

70 Responses to “Columnist Says Bucs Expected To Be “Aggressive” Luring A Veteran QB If Tom Brady Leaves”

  1. RottenAmiigo94 Says:

    Watch Trask kill it for another crap organization…

  2. BucU Says:

    Most of us knew the Trask pick in the 2nd rd was a huge mistake. That ones gonna cost us big time.
    Basically threw our 2nd rd pick in the dumpster.
    It was an awful pick then. It’s an even worse pick now.

  3. Todd Says:

    Carr has a nice chip on his shoulder. Wonder if there’s a future Bucs OC out there who has strong experience with Carr? That could be interesting.

  4. Da Bucs Guy Says:

    It is very difficult too lure a great free agent QB and hire a good OC, when the head coach is on the hot seat and will likely be fired by the end of 2023.

  5. Steven007 Says:

    Actually Bucs guy, a good offensive coordinator with eyes on a promotion to head coach if he performs would be in the perfect situation here. If we lose in spite of having an improved offense, a coordinator who does a good job would be well positioned for a promotion. Happened with Dirk a few years ago.

  6. Kentucky Buc Says:

    In other news. Water is wet.

  7. Dom Says:

    This would be such a poor move by the team. Brady is currently carrying cap hits of 35M in 23′, and 24M in 24′. They don’t have the money to also pay a veteran QB on top of that. Whoever the QB is they aren’t going to be close to Tom Brady. So a worse QB with a worse roster playing another 1st place schedule and we think we will compete? That’s some delusional thinking. With all the dead cap hits a QB on a rookie deal is the best option. Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are great QB prospects and can start the turn around in 2024 after the Bucs peel the band aid off and pay most of the bills that are due.

  8. Sinking Ship Says:

    Hahahahahahahaha

    This article is puffery at best

    What are we writing on here these days Joe?

    Might as well say Bucs will seek players who can play football next season and will make sure they try when doing it. WTAF is this?

  9. BucsFan81 Says:

    So if you were never going to play Trask then why did we waste a second round draft pick on him. Pretty sure we wasted a 2nd round pick on a kicker one year also. This organization loves to waste draft picks.

  10. SB~LV Says:

    Ya think?!?!?
    Don’t wait like a jilted groom G’Boyz !
    He is PASSED his prime, watch the 4 QB’s this weekend.
    The most pressing issue is drafting a QB of the future, something this franchise has never enjoyed
    Miami, Griese – Marino
    Packers Farve – Rodgers
    etc
    I’m stomach sick from the roller coaster ride since 1976
    Stability!!!!

  11. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Pick your poison…….acquire a good vet QB….pay him (and Brady for 2 years)….or sign some of your departing FAs and at least have a team behind the QB…..can’t do both.

    As far as Trask…..if he’s a mistake….it was one made by committee….Licht, BA, BL, Brady, Christensen & Moore…..

    Hard to believe they are all wrong……I’d give the guy a shot and try to clean our cap situation up a bit.

  12. NEfan Says:

    Sounds like a Brissett, Mayfield or possibly Daniel Jones chase. A QB that won’t help you but also won’t hurt you. Carr is a good choice but he is trying to rebuild his rep, I doubt Tampa makes sense for him. Plus he’s $40M+. If they traded Brady all his cap hell would have gone away but no one was willing to give up the 5 first rounders BA wanted. Instead BA put oil & water together (Bowles & Brady), we all witnessed the results.

  13. NEfan Says:

    Why would anyone think Brady was involved in picking a 3rd string QB? The last thing Brady wants is to pick his replacement. Duh, can you say Jimmy G?

  14. Razor Ramone Says:

    Favre was drafted by the Falcons but your point is taken.

  15. YucsBall Says:

    Aaron Rodgers pwease

  16. Allbuccedup Says:

    Another failed draft pick. I am sure Bowles will want to sign Sam Donald.

  17. BA’s Red Pen Says:

    “ Watch Trask kill it for another crap organization.” Lol like who, the Memphis Showboats?

  18. Kentucky Buc Says:

    NEfan. Yep. Just tired of hearing it. Like there’s some new genius offense out there. Play calling I’ll give you. Run the ball at least half Azz . Get some separation on routes. The game is simple. These coaches came up with nothing. They’re running Bill Walsh, Mike Shanahan and yes still running some Erhardt Perkins concepts. Take the running game away and all of them struggle. Now I’m not particularly big on the Run and Shoot which is what BA runs with variations but it still works if you have a semblance of a running game to get teams off balance. Pass Pro doesnt hurt either.

  19. SB~LV Says:

    Fire Bowles !
    He is a FAILURE as a HC !

  20. Fishhawkbuc Says:

    The Bucs would have been 12-5 with Gabbert as the starter. Yes, Brady did have a couple of good comebacks this year but we would have never been in that situation if Gabbert was the starter. as on wise man said “Father Time is undefeated”!!!

  21. Mord Says:

    Draft picks are always a gamble. Tom Brady and Jamarcus Russell are great examples. The hindsight wisdom of a pick like Trask isn’t worth overthinking, and his story isn’t over yet (here or elsewhere)

    But. .. The math is ugly. Bucs had better hope Brady comes back to them or retires.

  22. Beej Says:

    There’s no good QB’s available, just journeymen.

  23. Kentucky Buc Says:

    A wise man also said. “Don’t snort Ajax”. Fishhawk buc.

  24. stpetebucfan Says:

    I shall candidly confess I’m ignorant about the next related topic I’m bringing up.

    Are NFL coaches TOTALLY unable to make any judgements about the talent on their team? IE Haven’t they seen Trask throw enough passes? Obviously they know what they have in Gabbert. I get that Trask is unproven but if he really flashed in practice wouldn’t they be happy to give him a year to see how he fares under the big lights.

    IE It seems to me that neither Trask nor Gabbert have really flashed very frequently in practice unless and I’m open to learning…somebody tells me that it’s really hard to judge a QB in practice. I’m open minded but I honestly find it hard to believe that the Bucs do not know what they already have in house.

    As for as signing another vet we should remain open minded. Jared Goff is a reasonably talented QB, not a superstar, and look what he accomplished with a woeful franchise the freaking Detroit Lions. Now here is the caveat which many here will wish to jump on! Dan Campbell is probably a better coach than Todd Bowles!!! Go ahead and feast and yell out me for what many here believe is the understatement of the year.

    I believe Baker Mayfield could get the job done with the right coach! He took the lousy Cleveland Browns franchise to the playoffs…beat arch rival Pittsburgh only to lose to Chiefs in the next game.

    Derek Carr is a possibility as well, although I prefer Mayfield largely based on my son’s scouting report. He is a HUGE Cleveland Browns fan.

  25. Jack Sparrow Says:

    The news we want to hear and read is if when Todd Bowles has been FIRED.

  26. Marine Buc Says:

    I am not inspired by who the Bucs are interviewing for the OC job…

    Jim Bob – a journey man who has coached and been fired a dozen times already.

    Keenan McCardell?

    Oh brother- looks like it’s rebuild and dumpster fire time.

    Todd Bowles will be fired after 2023.

  27. ocala Says:

    It won’t matter if the Bucs roster has the starting All Pro team. Bowles is not a good head coach and will continue to fail at the job.

  28. Oxycondoms Says:

    Bucs are tanking they kept todd bowles .

  29. David Says:

    First and foremost, they need an OC. No one should be going after a quarterback, or drafting a quarterback, until they have an OC, who gets the majority of the input.

    Todd Monken.

  30. JDM_ Says:

    Seems like Lamar Jackson will be available.

  31. SB~LV Says:

    All this franchise has done is rent a little bit of good every decade or two.
    Other than John McKay that built his team into the NFC Championship Game before free agency!
    In 4 freaking years!!!!!

  32. Bucs56 Says:

    At what point did Carr become a good Qb? 9 seasons and 0-1 in playoffs. Couldn’t win this season to the point McDaniels gave up on him and convinced management. Why would the bucs want to spend 30+ !million on that? He may not be better then Trask on a rookie deal? Play Trask and no lose situation. We either hit on a low cost QB or we tank and rebuild while fixing the cap.

    Mayfield is another story. Mayfield will not be expensive as few teams will pay him starter money. If you hit there you got something.

  33. Ugotrobbed Says:

    Yeah, and everyone thought Brady was a wasted pick! How does anyone know without seeing a player actually playing in a real game!?

  34. Rand Says:

    What a shame if it’s true that Trask doesn’t at least get a shot. If I were a QB coming out of college and was drafted by the Bucs, I’d retire on the spot or do an Eli Manning.

  35. Infomeplease Says:

    Seems to me if you keep Bowles, you clean house and rebuild. After all his best chance for a winning season just ended!! It’s all downhill from here!!! And I mean downhill!!! Play Trask, let 2/3 of the free agents go! Have a horrible season and get good draft picks!! Repeat the following season.. with a worse record. Get more good draft picks. FIRE BOWLES!!! Hire a good head coach and o coordinator! Continue rebuilding!!! May take 10+ years!!

  36. Infomeplease Says:

    If you keep Bowles, what is the point of getting another qb ? You had TB12 and couldn’t produce a winning record!!!! THE GOAT!!! Keep Bowles=rebuild!!

  37. Infomeplease Says:

    BOWLES = LOSER

  38. Bobby M. Says:

    Leftwich failed in developing Rosen, failed in crafting an effective offense for Winston and now Trask isn’t remotely being considered for even a backup role. I’ll say it again, the Jags dodged a major bullet by not hiring him. Lawrence would have been a complete bust if Leftwich took that job.

  39. Knucknbuc Says:

    Jacoby brisset cmon down!!!! Lol what a crap show this organization is if this happens. Just play trask and see what happens if a journeyman vet like that is the best you can do

  40. Joe in Michigan Says:

    Knucknbuc Says:
    January 25th, 2023 at 9:43 am
    Jacoby brisset cmon down!!!! Lol what a crap show this organization is if this happens. Just play trask and see what happens if a journeyman vet like that is the best you can do
    ^^^^^^^^^^^
    Many Bucs fans make it out like Gabbert is the worst thing since John Wayne Gacy…Trask couldn’t beat out Gabbert for the number 2 spot…Does that sound like someone who should ever start an NFL game?

  41. Rand Says:

    Gabbert, because of his age was a sounding board for Brady. Someone he could easily connect with. I think this was the main edge Gabbert had over Trask and why Trask was relegated to 3rd string.

  42. Alanbucsfan Says:

    Trask should’ve been left on the outside looking in on his draft day

  43. View from 132 Says:

    Go get Lamar Jackson and watch him light up the NFC for 10 years.

  44. Dooley Says:

    I’d take Derek Carr w/o blinking. Raiders have to either work a trade for him or release him by February 15th or they’ll have to pay out the $40.4M as part of the extension he signed last offseason. Reports are sounding as if the Raiders will have to do the latter, and that’s partly why that franchise has been in the dumpster watching every team in the AFC West have success while the most significant thing they’ve done in Carrs’ tenure as QB was hire a bunch of HCs and move. Carr vs. Trask vs. ??? offeseason ’23

  45. Costa Rica John Says:

    My guess is we get Jimmy G. He’s a proven winner that can manage the game. It seems that’s what Bowles likes.

  46. SufferingSince76 Says:

    Jackson turned down $133 million from the Ravens. Bucs can’t afford him.

  47. NEfan Says:

    Costa Rica@ Jimmy G is a winner in the Shanahan system along with Trey Lance and now Purdy. Take him out of that comfort zone, you may see a different QB. Plus he’s injury prone. He’d be in traction with this seasons oline.

  48. Bucamania Says:

    BucU Says:
    January 25th, 2023 at 6:53 am

    Most of us knew the Trask pick in the 2nd rd was a huge mistake. That ones gonna cost us big time.
    Basically threw our 2nd rd pick in the dumpster.
    It was an awful pick then. It’s an even worse pick now.

    ___

    #truth

  49. Bradyfan Says:

    When they picked trask I was like what are they doing. They should’ve got a corner or olineman. Licht really missed on the draft the last two years. He’s a good drafter so don’t know what happened. I mean Darden at 4 really? did Logan hall play this year? Also jimmy g and Derrick Carr are not the answer. You’ll be stuck in mediocrity for the next 10 years. Go all out for Lamar or try to draft a QB. I recommend the former not the latter. Carr is top 10 in turnovers btw and he’s a QB not a db.

  50. Bradyfan Says:

    But no vet qb would come here with toilet bowles as hc.

  51. Dooley Says:

    @Bradyfan

    Harbaugh and the Ravens org has made it pretty clear Lamar Jackson is staying in Baltimore in 2023 and even if he were made available, we cannot afford him in 2023 w/o adding on to the turnover in personnel we’re likely to see once the new league year starts

  52. Tye Says:

    WoW… you think Carr and Jimmy G is not the answer BUT you think Jackson is…
    A one dementional guy that has an over inflated ego, Who obviously is not a team player and has a bum knee…
    L Jackson would be a cancer in the Bucs locker room…

  53. Bradyfan Says:

    I mean they could sign a deal but i feel like there’s so much bad blood I don’t think lamar wants to play for them anymore. I could be wrong. Youd probably have to backload the deal. I would trade/let pieces go and do a rebuild around lamar. I mean once you have a solid franchise qb, building around him gets easier and other free agents will come. Outside of that trying to get a Bryce young or a trevor Lawrence is the answer but its tough to draft. With Lamar and with the weak nfc south, the bucs will be making the playoffSs every year and Lamar can compete against burrow, allen, mahomes, the best of em. The time to be competitive is now, there’s no drew brees, no cam newton, no Matt ryan in the division. The other teams will such for at least 3 years so the window is open. But Bowles needs to go.

  54. Bradyfan Says:

    @Tye
    You know he gets paid 23 million this year on his fifth year option and he still played and balled. Dak got paid 70 million 2021. Who’s better dak or lamar? He should’ve held out like 2 years ago. He’s massively underpaid.

  55. Rod Munch Says:

    Derek Carr is a garbage player, the morons that do nothing but look at the stat sheet and think he’s good, they’re just idiots. The guy is a loser, a perfect fit for Bowles.

    Carr is such a loser, and so worried about his stats, at the end of a game vs the Jets, down by multiple scores, on 4th and goal, with no time left, he throws the ball out of bounds. He didn’t even try to make a play, he was more worried about his stats. That is a born loser, and people who look at this loser and think he’s the answer, you’re an idiot.

    Did you not just notice that the Raiders, who have a good offense with good players, a good line, the best RB in football, a top 5 WR – with all of that Carr got benched and the Raiders were one of the worst teams in football. Why in the world would anyone want that loser here?

  56. brooks Says:

    Sign me up im ok. I can throw 30 yards and I can Scramble….

  57. Dooley Says:

    ^^^LOL Rod Munch, the try hard.

  58. Bucsfanman Says:

    I’m not a huge fan of Carr either, Munch!

    If Trask is not the answer, then who? There’s not a whole lot out there, IMO, that make sense. I don’t see Lamar coming here. Rodgers? No. Most likely, it’ll be a journeyman-type. Perhaps Baker? He has some mobility which would be a benefit.

    I don’t know. It’s a puzzle if Trask doesn’t at least get a shot. Why’d they draft him otherwise?
    In the end, if we’re moving on from Brady, I’m of the opinion that Trask should get a look. That’s my two cents!

  59. Ate One Tree Says:

    Doesn’t make sense. The whole plan from the beginning was to go all in with Brady. (Which we did and got a Super Bowl out of it) phase 2 is to rebuild. We aren’t going to win a Super Bowl with our salary cap hell and an average expensive QB )

    Start trask or gabbert this year and evaluate who should stay in the long run. Make a run at Caleb or Drake Maye.

    We all knew the rebuild was going to happen after pushing the cap back for so long. Time to bite the bullet and face it head on if Brady is gone . Dumb to delay the inevitable.

  60. rsjcheapseats Says:

    I wonder what Rodgers thinks of Evans and Godwin and warm weather?
    Because that is who I am guessing the Bucs are after.

  61. unbelievable Says:

    Kyle Trask will end up being a bigger waste of draft pick than Roberto Agauy-No!

    At least Roberto scored a few points here and there lol

  62. Iamabuc Says:

    Baker Mayfield is the one who makes more sense. He would be cheaper than Carr and he’s mobile. Imho.

  63. Iamabuc Says:

    Please no to Karen Rogers. He’s too much drama and too selfish. Not a team guy and the Bucs don’t need that kind of guy here. It’ll be waste of money and will drag us down much further.

  64. big_buc$ Says:

    With the cap situation it will be hard to sign or trade for a QB. I would say just draft and build up the trenches. Need a entire youth movement. Take the cap hit now with all those void years now so in 2024 we will be sitting good and hopefully get the QB of the future instead going after another vet QB. I said in the 2021 draft that the 1st and 2nd round picks should be defensive linemen. I felt that we could have got Christian Barmore at pick 32 and got another edge rusher in the 2nd round. This would allow Barmore to sit a year behind Suh and he would have hit the ground running in 2022imo.

  65. NEfan Says:

    How can the Bucs pay Brady $35M and Roger’s $50M? Love to see him and Bowels go at it.

  66. Buc4evr Says:

    Doesn’t matter who the QB is. As long as Bowles is HC, no QB will survive. If they keep Bowles might as well start Trask and tank the season to get a high draft pick. Bowles has to go.

  67. mark2001 Says:

    Who would come to play here with an OC in training?

  68. What the! Says:

    If Brady leaves at least the team can take down those stupid seats they added in the end zone. With Bowles still the HC and no Brady there will be plenty of seats..

  69. chickster Says:

    trask is better than people think

  70. Wild Bill Says:

    Well one Super Bowl and done is what the Bucs got for over paying an aging QB. And they will likely remain on the hook unless Brady retires. Bucs over the years have had bad luck with qbs. Trask probably would have been around in much later rounds. Wasted a #2. They will have to cut some vets to sign a veteran qb to replace Brady unless he bails.