Analyst: Bucs Should Start Kyle Trask Because There Is No Upside To Starting Baker Mayfield
June 4th, 2023
Why not?
Joe has typed repeatedly that whatever method the Bucs are using to sell the NFL’s broadcast partners and national media that they can win with Kyler Traskfield is not resonating. At all.
Add Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Network to this list. The Minnesota-based columnist is flabbergasted that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht gave Baker Mayfield a job.
Further, Robinson believes Mayfield has “loser” tattooed all over his forehead and there is no good reason for him to be a starter if the Bucs are trying to win.
Robinson doesn’t seem to be much of a Trask fan, either, but he typed the Bucs may as well go with Trask.
…This figures to be one of the least inspiring quarterback battles in recent memory, but a best-case scenario for Tampa Bay undoubtedly involves Trask winning the job.
The NFL already knows who Mayfield is — a relatively limited signal-caller who can thrive under the right conditions. But the Bucs don’t really know what they have in Trask, the 64th overall choice in the 2020 draft who’s attempted just nine passes at the NFL level.
Trask couldn’t beat out veteran Blaine Gabbert for Tampa Bay’s backup gig behind Brady, and the club didn’t even let him start a meaningless Week 18 game against the Falcons last season. The former Florida Gator might be totally overwhelmed as a Week 1 starter, but the Buccaneers don’t have much to lose by giving him a chance.
Oh, the Bucs may not have much to lose. But Todd Bowles has a boatload to lose.
If you read between the lines, it seems Robinson suggests the Bucs are going to lose no matter who the quarterback is (and be in position to draft one next spring) so run with Trask and see if you hit a royal flush.
That sounds great in a vacuum. Problem is a head coach needs wins.
Unless Bowles has some agreement with Team Glazer he’s safe to return in 2024, Bowles needs wins.
Joe thinks Trask must clearly outplay Mayfield this summer in training camp and in the three worthless preseason games to win the job. If Mayfield and Trask are nearly even, does anyone really think Bowles will trust his career in Trask’s unproven hands?
Joe will repeat: the wager on Mayfield by Licht was a smart one. If he is the same player who looked solid for the Rams last season, the Bucs probably have their quarterback for the near future.
If Mayfield proves to be the same guy who stunk out loud for the Stinking Panthers, no harm, no foul. The Bucs draft a quarterback next spring. That’s all.
June 4th, 2023 at 11:51 am
100% agree.
June 4th, 2023 at 11:58 am
Does “recent memory” includes seasons as far back as 2022? That Geno Smith-Drew Lock battle was really getting people excited…
June 4th, 2023 at 11:59 am
Again this is not looking solid:
From 2022 Mayfield:
12 for 21 against the Packers for 111 yards and took 5 sacks.
11 for 19 against the Chargers for 132 and took 3 sacks.
13 for 26 against the Seahawks for 147 with 5 sacks again.
“Todd Bowles has a boatload to lose”
So that’s the priority of this franchise – win just enough to keep the HC around but at best stay a middling team?
Or develop a young QB the team acquired through the draft and try to become an elite offense?
June 4th, 2023 at 12:08 pm
1986 – Probably saying the same thing
In 1986, Bucs QB Steve Young threw for 2K 8TD 13INT. Bucs traded their “no upside” QB in 1987 and he became one of the best QBs of all time.
Mayfield has played in two horrible offenses. Both HC were fired because if their ineptitude. I’m willing to give the former #1 pick and Heisman winner a chance.
Those that don’t learn their history are doomed to repeat it.
June 4th, 2023 at 12:11 pm
These are the same media types that have the Bucs pick number 1 in next year’s draft. It’s almost guaranteed that they will be as wrong as they were when they pick the Bucs as a top 5 team last year.
June 4th, 2023 at 12:18 pm
If Bowles bets on Mayfield he’ll be putting his money on a proven loser. By the way, screw what Bowles needs. Doesn’t Licht, and the team have needs? Licht does not give up on second round picks. If it’s even, go with Trask.
June 4th, 2023 at 12:21 pm
I think the Mayfield signing for such a modest sum was the best move we could have made at the time. We couldn’t afford Carr and he’s no great prize for that matter IMHO. Jacoby Brissett might have been an ok choice, but he has no upside at all. Regardless of what that Robinson guy says: Mayfield does indeed have tremendous upside potential. I don’t know what Trask has. If he can succeed that would be better for the BUCS than even a successful Mayfield. Is Bowles willing to bet his career on Trask? Only if he has to.
June 4th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
I think they know what they have in Trask. What’d Bowles say, he needs competition. That’s code for he ain’t ready. Bowles is trying to save his job. That means baker will start.
June 4th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
I do not care what HC/DC Bowles needs. I hope he is gone next year. Start Trask all year. Mayfield can back up QB. Let Trask play all year.
June 4th, 2023 at 12:32 pm
First common sense QB article I’ve seen on this site in a while. Joe mentioned that the managers on the team want Baker to win but it makes no sense. We need to see what Trask can do and if he doesn’t pan out we’ll get a high draft pic. Let Baker start then we’ll get a high draft pic with no clue of what Trask can do. Baker is bad. He’ll do for us what he did for the Panthers.
June 4th, 2023 at 12:41 pm
No upside from Mayfield?…he nearly took Mahomes down in the playoffs just 3 seasons ago.
Bringing in Mayfield was a great signing by Licht. His Browns career got derailed cause he played hurt in 2021. He deserves to have a 2d chance as a starter with a team that doesn’t suck as loud as the Panthers.
June 4th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Let’s have Trask actually complete a season as the #2 backup before he starts as an NFL QB
June 4th, 2023 at 1:03 pm
Hodad, I wouldn’t call Baker a proven loser just yet. Is he more deserving than Trask ? I don’t know.
June 4th, 2023 at 1:04 pm
Putting either behind our line….
Hope their health insurance is paid up.
June 4th, 2023 at 1:08 pm
I still can not believe that Licht gave a coach with a terrible head coaching resume like Bowles a 5 year contract!
Licht can be quite stupid with some Contracts, the huge contract he gave Cameron Brate is another example.
Brady had a lot to do with Trask not being his backup. Brady wanted a veteran backup sitting next to him on the bench.
June 4th, 2023 at 1:13 pm
Do you ever get tired of writing and/or passing along negative stuff? The Bucs put all their eggs in one basket with TB. Now, they are paying the price. So, howw about something positive once in a while. Your chicken little attitude is getting old. Go have a beer.
June 4th, 2023 at 1:15 pm
One bad thing about Baker is undeniable: He’s injury prone.
June 4th, 2023 at 1:26 pm
7-10 for the year. And the only reason for most of those wins will be the Defense.
June 4th, 2023 at 1:30 pm
Hey when u start the off-season 56 Mill over the cap you do the best u can with what u got or can get.
That’s exactly what JL has done in my opinion. Alot of us are posting comments seem to forget that very large fact.
June 4th, 2023 at 1:46 pm
@ Mike
I agree. The Bucs have a bunch of winnable games with the exception of Philly, Buffalo and SF… However I believe 7 wins sounds about right for this years team.
June 4th, 2023 at 2:03 pm
I’m thinking 9 or 10 wins.
June 4th, 2023 at 2:06 pm
I think Brady didnt want Trask behind him.if he was to have a bad day, people would be calling for the backup. unless it was Gabbart (everybody had seen what he brings) but a brand new toy? I dont think Brady wanted to be pulled out of a game to end his career. just my opinion. also I actually think it was good for Trask to sit instead of playing, and learning seems like that was the way it was done years ago and it worked more than not look at Rodgers, Mahomes, even Montana didnt start right out the gate. lots of others sat for a year or two. so hopefully, that will be the case with Trask. who knows?
June 4th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
Trask is in a hole and will have to climb out of it before anything else happens.
That hole is from the Bowles cleaner not being all in on him and his fear that he needs someone with experience.
Trask is going to have to break the internet by playing lights out to even come close to being the starter, but he does have more upside.
He was drafted to take over if Brady didn’t pan out for two more years. He was another of the players that fell into Licht’s lap and will be ready when he gets the call, probably after the bye week.
June 4th, 2023 at 2:36 pm
With either i think theres a possibility we start 0-5, 1-6 i say we just tank bowles will be fired and we will get caleb williams and if hes the next patrick mahomes the bucs will be set for the next 10 years
June 4th, 2023 at 2:40 pm
This is just a middle of the road roster with a very weak QB room – for every star player we have 4 street free agents or rookies around them
We have 9/10 Really good players. 9/10 second tier NFL players and then a bunch of camp bodies and developmental players
6 wins, top ten pick, new HC next year after a decent start to the season then about a 8-9 game loss streak determining Todd’s fate
This is a very easy script to predict
June 4th, 2023 at 2:45 pm
Yup. Welcome to reality.
June 4th, 2023 at 2:51 pm
This team will lose over and over with either of these guys. max 4 wins we will pick in the top 5 2024 hope we can jump to get a decent QB then
June 4th, 2023 at 3:05 pm
Blah blah blah, I could really care less when Manitoban media types think about the Bucs at this point.
Mayfield has had an up and down career, some of which is his fault and some of which have been the teams he was on. We’ve seen glimpses of his upside, so taking a cheaper flyer on him isn’t crazy.
Trask is an unknown commodity who had a lot of success at the previous level.
This year we’ll get a more defined picture of both QBs. It’s wait and see mode.
Anyone claiming they know any better than that is full of chit.
June 4th, 2023 at 3:06 pm
*could care less what national media types think ^
June 4th, 2023 at 3:08 pm
NFL off-season means the ignorance phase of football is in mid season form. It’s when you hear from all these irrelevant people who know nothing about the team they write about
June 4th, 2023 at 3:14 pm
Baker is going to be Baker. We know what that looks like. He needs a good team around him. A good defense. A good running game. A good pocket. So, that plan could work if we get all those contributions from the team. However, we don’t know what Trask can do and I totally think it would best serve the team to give him the chance to truly compete for the job. They are already seeing his confidence grow in OTA’s.
June 4th, 2023 at 3:19 pm
HEAR YE ! HEAR YE ! JOE !..I’M ONE OF THE HARDCORE BUC’S FANS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING ( MY LATE FATHER & I ATTENDED EACH EVERY HOME GAME THOSE MISERABLE 1ST TWO SEASON’S ) I REMEMBER GIVING EACH OTHER A HIGH TEN BEHIND THE GOAL POSTS WHEN NEIL O”DONOHUE DRILLED THAT FIELD GOAL FOR A 3-0 WIN OVER THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS TO VAULT US INTO THE PLAYOFFS ( IN A TERRENTIAL DOWNPOUR AT THE BIG SOMBRERO KNOWN AS TAMPA STADIUM IN 1979 ) LED BY DOUG WILLIAMS WE DEFEATED DICK VERMEIL”S EAGLES AT HOME 25-17 BEFORE ULTIMATELY BEING ELIMINATED AT HOME BY THE L.A.RAMS & BROKEN LEGGED JACK YOUNGBLOOD IN THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME..( I WAS TOLD BY COACH MCKAY IN PERSON YEARS LATER WE LOST WILLIAMS BECAUSE HE WANTED A 500,000 RAISE.THE FOLLOWING YEAR DOUG WAS IN THE USFL..ANYWAY, NOSTALGIA ASIDE, THE 2 QUARTERBACK’S COULD BOTH START FOR MANY TEAMS IN THE NFL ( I DON’T CARE WHAT ALL THE NAYSAYERS THINK ) THEIR BOTH REALLY TALENTED WITH GOOD CHARACTER TRAITS..( LEADERS )& COMPARED TO MOST THE QB’S THIS FRANCHISE HAS HAD OVER THE YEARS, I DON’T BELIEVE WE’VE EVER HAD 2 STARTING CALIBER QUARTERBACK’S ON OUR ROSTER ALLOWED TO COMPETE FOR THE STARTING JOB IN THE HISTORY OF THE FRANCHISE ( UNLESS YOU WANT TO COUNT STEVE YOUNG & VINNY TESTAVERDE) SEEMS STEVE WAS TRADED AFTER WE DRAFTED VINNY…ANYWAY, WE WILL WIN WITH EITHER TRASK OR MAYFIELD DISTRIBUTING THE BALL IN A TIMELY & ACCURATE FASHION REGARDLESS OF WHO STARTS THE SEASON ( THE 2 CAN ALWAYS SWITCH PLACES IF OUR 1ST CHOICE SUCKS )
June 4th, 2023 at 3:45 pm
Baker had a mediocre team around him that the National media over-hyped. The running game was always in & out. The O line was always hurt. His “good pocket” got him killed during the Card’s game. The defense had 1 guy who could play & HE took half the plays off. The coach set him up to lose. THIS IS NOT opinion. The games are there to watch to see for yourselves. But, what can you expect from fans that have a history of orange-cream-cone jerseys and a grandfather coach agreeing to the “execution” of his 0 & a bunch team. I have been a humiliated-fan of a horrible Brown’s team many times. You guys are no-way near there. You have a real good chance to win. DON’T treat your ONLY chance as……….. as you HAVE been treating him…..so far……….
June 4th, 2023 at 3:55 pm
I don’t think it matters much who starts, both QBs are going to be pretty bad: Trask because he was never developed and he would be thrown in the fire with a new offense and an unproven O Line or Mayfield who has failed in the past without a strong team around him. Either way, Bowles is going to lose his job this season.
June 4th, 2023 at 4:06 pm
I get leaning one way or the other in the “great QB debate” but I do not see how anybody is so certain about either player.
Mayfield as has been documented has done it before he “can” do it again. Nobody really knows about Trask yet. But we do know that Trask was a very late bloomer in high school and not the star until his final year…the same thing happened at UF…circumstances and opportunity…this “could” be Trask’s time.
I lean to Mayfield because of experience but most of all I’m planning to simply savor the battle and hope the best guy gets the starting gig.
June 4th, 2023 at 4:24 pm
Believe me – the coaches have seen Trask every day for the past 2 years – they know exactly what he can and cannot do. If he cannot do it in practice, it’s certainly NOT going to get better in a game. This whole “we have to see what he can do” line is BS… no coach worth a crap believes that. If they don’t already know, they should be fired.
June 4th, 2023 at 4:35 pm
realistic-optimistic Says:
June 4th, 2023 at 11:58 am
This figures to be one of the least inspiring quarterback battles in recent memory
Does “recent memory” includes seasons as far back as 2022? That Geno Smith-Drew Lock battle was really getting people excited…
Fantastic Post!
June 4th, 2023 at 4:45 pm
How did Baker look in training camp and pre season with the Rams?? That’s right…Why these so called Buc fans want this guy to fail is beyond me…Let it it all play out and see what we got in either QB….it will be fun to see, and we just might be pleasantly surprised
June 4th, 2023 at 4:55 pm
Toad Bowels knows how to produce great QBs
After all Toad Bowels is who made the GOAT the Goat.
Without the mentoring of Toad Bowels, Brady would have had a below .500 season but Toad Bowles made Brady a sure 1st ballot HOF’er
June 4th, 2023 at 5:03 pm
Mayfield is the short-term answer to a few wins. Bowels in on the chopping block, so there is no way that he bets on Trask
June 4th, 2023 at 5:08 pm
@stpetebucfan
I don’t believe it will come down to best guy for the job. It will be Mayfield because of his seniority and experience but the biggest problem with that is that it will reflect negatively on Trask. People will be saying Trask wasn’t good enough to beat out Mayfield even though Bowles had his finger on the scale for Mayfield the whole time. Trask really is getting the bum rap and will probably have to leave the Bucs and hope to re-emerge somewhere else to get a legitimate chance to start.
June 4th, 2023 at 5:10 pm
I swear these people are just looking to hit word count requirements. Someone mentioned Drew Lock vs Geno Smith. What about Drew Lock vs Teddy Bridgewater? Trey Lance vs Jimmy G? This is why I only read select sources for football. Too many of the guys have no clue what they’re talking about
June 4th, 2023 at 5:14 pm
ROFLMAO. I’ve only been posting this 1,000 times over the past few months.
All the upside is with Trask. He’s still got another year on a cheap rookie deal. If he flops you go draft another QB prospect.
But if Mayfield plays even mediocre, they run the risk of having to sign him to a big contract.
June 4th, 2023 at 5:40 pm
Dallas Robinson? Really? What are his credentials? Silly!
June 4th, 2023 at 5:49 pm
LANshark … ‘the coaches have seen Trask every day for the past 2 years – they know exactly what he can and cannot do.’
What coaches are we talking about here?
Our OC Dave Canales? Nope, he’s new.
Our QB coach Thaddeus Lewis? Nope, he’s new too.
Our Assistant QB coach Jordan Somerville? Nope, new also.
Our RB coach Skip Peete? Sorry, he’s new also.
Our WR coach Brad Idzik? Rats, he’s also new.
Our TE coach John Van Dam? Finally a coach who was with the offense last season, as the ASSISTANT TE coach. Surely he knows how good or bad Kyle Trask is.
Oh wait, forgot our HC Todd Bowles. Surely he knows Trask inside & out since his defense had to defend against him day in & day out. Ya right.
June 4th, 2023 at 5:52 pm
Go with the guy who is 6’5” who can throw from the pocket if he wants to
June 4th, 2023 at 5:53 pm
You know the guy they drafted in the 2nd round to learn from the GOAT for 2 years
June 4th, 2023 at 6:27 pm
Trask to the Future … ‘But if Mayfield plays even mediocre, they run the risk of having to sign him to a big contract.’
And that’s the worst of all worlds given Baker’s 5-year track record. Geno Smith is a good example of how that’d work. According to Spotrac …
‘Geno Smith signed a 3 year, $75,000,000 contract with the Seattle Seahawks, including $40,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $25,000,000.’
Geno Smith made $3.5 mil last year, roughly the same as Mayfield is making this year. His one ‘good year’ consisted of leading Seattle to a 9-8 record & to the playoffs as a wildcard, where they got walloped by San Fran 41-23. Career-wise, Geno started his first 2 years, then was a backup for 6 years before ‘resurrecting his career’ with the Seahawks. His stats last season were by far the best of his career, and they got him all the way up to being a 62.8% career passer who got sacked a LOT in his 9 years (141 times in his 62 games played in). He threw 62 TDs in those 62 games against 48 INTs.
Check Mayfield’s stats and they look eerily similar. He’s a 61.4% career passer who’s been sacked a LOT in his 5 years (sacked 170 times in his 72 games total played in). He’s thrown 102 TDs in those 5 years against 64 INTs.
None of us have any idea at this point if Kyle Trask can do any better than Baker Mayfield, but hopefully all Bucs’ fans keep an open mind and let’s see where this ‘QB competition’ takes us. And since almost all of our offensive coaching staff is new, I can’t help but think that they really do view this as a legitimate QB competition (since they don’t know either one). May the best man win the starting nod.
June 4th, 2023 at 6:40 pm
Weren’t most of you guys saying the Bucs needed to pay the piper and get out of cap hell asap? Well, this is it. Why all the crying?
June 4th, 2023 at 6:59 pm
Mayfield had the same exact QBR with the Rams that he had with the Panthers. 24.5 QBR. So let’s not be fed this garbage about him being light years better with LA than he was with Carolina. He was the worst starting QB in the league, and by a massive margin. Take away the Broncos game where he passed for 85% against a team that had completely checked out, and he was a 56% passer last year between the two teams. He also took 36 sacks in 12 games. This can go on and on, but the bottom line is we definitely know the bottom floor for Baker is worst in the league, and the ceiling probably isn’t any higher than bottom 1/3 in the league. Geno Smith is probably twice the athlete that Baker is, so those comparisons are pointless. Geno can get out of the pocket and make a play, Baker can get out of the pocket and get killed.
Baker didnt sign for cheap with the Bucs for no reason. He signed for cheap with the Bucs because nobody wants him for even decent backup money. He talks a good game, but his game doesn’t backup his talk.
June 4th, 2023 at 7:16 pm
@Rand
Yes that is always a concern…that the eventual starter will be a “political” decision, or one based on the “future” and not simply let the best guy start.
June 4th, 2023 at 7:42 pm
Ya…….the scales are slowly leaning to Trask.
Trask is a prototypical NFL body-type, BM is not.
Trask had years playing behind the almighty GOAT.
BM probably never met Brady.
Defenses have lots of film on BM and they know exactly how
to annihilate him.
Even poor Bowels would come out smelling better without a BM.
Not a Gator. Just an unbiased observer who isn’t impressed with BM.
June 4th, 2023 at 8:12 pm
The Rams wanted to keep Baker, but he wanted a chance to start. Even if he beats Trask he will have a very short leash. Even if he plays well he’s almost certain to miss a few games. We WILL see Trask at some point this year. His leash will be very short also.
June 4th, 2023 at 8:50 pm
Prediction: if the Bucs use Mayfield instead of Trask they will be stuck in mediocrity for years while Trask will leave the Bucs and go on to win multiple Super Bowls for the Patriots or 49ers
June 4th, 2023 at 9:04 pm
Pleeaaase get to draft Caleb or Maye next year. Qb changes everything!
June 4th, 2023 at 9:10 pm
Baker – Desparate
Bowles – Desparate
Who knows how they will perform with what could be the last chance for them?
June 4th, 2023 at 9:13 pm
He didn’t.
June 4th, 2023 at 9:15 pm
Bowles will always get a job as a DC.
He’s actually a very good DC but a not-so-good HC.
Baker on the other hand will have nowhere to go but the CFL
June 4th, 2023 at 9:17 pm
Hey did you guys get my joke about Bowels and BM?
Uh huh huh…that was cool!
June 4th, 2023 at 9:17 pm
Elita. Even if they draft one of those quarterbacks the bucs has failed every quarterback they have ever drafted. So what makes you believe they will develop them?? The only thing the bucs has ever done is ruined the quarterbacks they drafted.
June 4th, 2023 at 9:28 pm
Both guys are going to get a shot, and I agree Baker gets the edge early. Both will also equally hold it down or stink out loud depending on the running game, and the offensive line. Its a fair, but oversimplified projection of two guys on one team. Evans and Godwin are still here for a team that goes 30/30 with Jameis, was prolific with Brady, with horrible running games and unknown line play. Traskerfield easily project somewhere in between.
June 4th, 2023 at 11:09 pm
Starting a “rookie” over a loser may buy a HC some time.
June 7th, 2023 at 3:12 am
Yet another ill informed opinion. From Minnesota?
Where do you keep finding these guys Joe?
Geez!
Go Bucs