Bucs Gameday

Report: Promising Quarterback Expected to Start for Buccaneers in 2023

Based on his sources within the Buccaneers' organization, Jeff Darlington feels confident that Kyle Trask will be the guy in Tampa next season.

Collin Haalboom

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With plenty of speculation swirling about the Buccaneers' post-Brady quarterback conundrum, ESPN's Jeff Darlington decided to throw his hat in the ring. 

Darlington is extremely plugged in, and his extensive history of accurate reporting — including news related to the Buccaneers — means that his opinion on this topic demands credibility. 

It is Darlington's belief, after speaking with his sources in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' organization, that third-year player, Kyle Trask, is likely to be the guy under center for the Bucs in 2023.

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Here's what Darlington had to say about the Buccaneers' quarterback situation heading into next season:

"From my conversations with the organization, they do feel like Kyle Trask is likely to be the guy under center. I feel pretty confident that they're going that direction." 

"I think [Jason Licht] believes Kyle Trask has what it takes to be a winner in this league. And he looks around the division and he says, well, we've got the best quarterback in the division at the very least. So, I'm not saying that means much, but I think that he at least thinks they can be competitive with Kyle Trask." 

Darlington, who would not be reporting something he was not confident in, provides a behind-the-scenes perspective that many people would otherwise not be privy to. 

That said, this isn't exactly a revelation. 

Despite rumors that the Bucs may be in pursuit of a free-agent quarterback (which still may be true), many have suggested that rolling with Trask makes the most sense for the organization long-term.

After all, this is the same front office that invested a second-round pick in Trask less than three years ago. Obviously, they believe in his talent. And with the Buccaneers' opting to take on the full dead-cap hit from Tom Brady's previous contract this season — as opposed to distributing that amount over the next two — it's reasonable to assume that the team is prioritizing a cleaner cap situation for the future over spending now. 

That's not to say the Buccaneers' aren't hoping to contend this year. In a soft NFC South, and plenty of talent still on the roster, the Buccaneers could absolutely win the division if Trask is as good as Jason Licht and his staff believes.

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And according to Jeff Darlington, they believe Kyle Trask is the best quarterback in the division. 

I guess we'll soon find out.

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Collin Haalboom
COLLIN HAALBOOM

Prior to joining BucsGameday and Sports Illustrated, Collin's written content was provided through Bucs Banter, and NFL Draft Lounge. He is also the creator and host of the Bucs Banter Podcast. He is a graduate of the Communication Studies program at McMaster University, where he was also a varsity basketball player, and later an advanced scout. He lives with his wife and two children in Hamilton, ON. You can follow Collin on YouTube and Twitter.