Buccaneers QB Ranks Among NFL’s Worst Backups

Should the Tampa Bay Buccaneers be worried about Kyle Trask?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask (2) looks to pass before a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask (2) looks to pass before a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] / Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
In this story:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have Baker Mayfield as their starting quarterback — that much is true. But if he goes down (knock on wood), the Bucs will turn to a player they drafted in the second round in 2021.

Former Florida standout Kyle Trask has been with the team for three years and is now going into his fourth year in the NFL. He competed with Mayfield in 2023 for the starting job, and though he didn't win it, the team reiterated that they like what they have with Trask should anything happen to Mayfield. But according to Bleacher Report, that shouldn't be the case.

Bleacher Report writer Maurice Moton put every NFL backup quarterback into tiers, and Trask was one of the lowest-ranked backups on the list. He came in at No. 30, one spot above the Arizona Cardinals' Clayton Tune and one spot below the Green Bay Packers' Malik Willis.

Here's what Moton had to say about Trask:

"(Clayton) Tune and Trask have minimal regular-season experience. When the former made his lone start, he completed 12 out of 21 passes and threw two interceptions."

READ MORE: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels Talks Buccaneers Defense Before Week 1

It's true that Trask doesn't have a lot of game experience — his regular season resume includes one pass thrown against the Indianapolis Colts last year — but that doesn't mean the team has given up hope. While it's likely true that the team isn't head over heels in love with Trask, head coach Todd Bowles told media recently that he would feel comfortable with him under center.

"I’m very confident in Kyle (Trask)," Bowles said. "I thought he had a couple good years here and he’s a very confident guy. He understands the offense, he knows what he has to do and he’s a competitor.”

Over the course of the preseason this year, Trask completed 65.1% of his passes for 393 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. As Moton mentioned, he doesn't have a ton of experience, but if he ever needs to come in, the Buccaneers seem confident in him — despite what rankings may say.

READ MORE: Buccaneers Wide Receiver Makes Jersey Number Change

Stick with BucsGameday for more FREE coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout training camp.

Follow BucsGameday on Twitter and Facebook

More Tampa Bay Buccaneers News

• Buccaneers Release Veteran Wide Receiver

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers Release Former Players' Son

• Buccaneers Urged to Cut Veteran Wide Receiver

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers Featured in Nickelodeon's Slimetime 'Rookie Spotlight' Special


Published
River Wells

RIVER WELLS

River Wells is a sports journalist from St. Petersburg, Florida, who has covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since 2023. He graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Florida in 2021. You can follow him on Twitter @riverhwells.