The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will very likely have a new starting quarterback in 2023, with some Buccaneers fans already writing off one of the likeliest options.
Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to be going their separate ways. While he has only been in Tampa Bay for three seasons, he’s already the greatest quarterback the Buccaneers ever had.
Now, it appears it’s time for someone to take over for Brady. Given that Brady wasn’t picked in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft, there was little reason to believe he was set to take over the reigns as quarterback of the New England Patriots, and even less reason for optimism when he was suddenly thrusted into the starting role. Fast forward over two decades later, and Kyle Trask suddenly finds himself in a similar position.
Coming off of the 2020 Super Bowl season, Jason Licht and company were able to return all 22 starters and some change, along with the coaching staff, from their championship roster. That being the case, the 2021 NFL Draft was basically a draft for depth, and to service the future. That’s exactly what the Buccaneers did.
Brady still looked like the best quarterback in football at the time, but he’s also in his forties, so with his future even then uncertain, the Bucs decided to pull the trigger on the local kid Trask in the second round by way of the University of Florida to sit and learn from the best there is, best there was, and best there ever will be in Brady (shoutout Bret “Hitman” Hart).
Now that Brady appears to be out the door, it’s looking like Trask looks like he’ll at least have a shot to show he’s the guy, and a good amount of fans have already starting groaning, but why? Is it because he’s a Gator and there’s a lot of Seminoles and Hurricanes amongst Bucs fans? Owls and Panthers perhaps? Is it because he wasn’t a “can’t miss” prospect that was taken in the top ten of the draft?
So with all that being said, and so many Buccaneers fans already planning for another generation of darkness, the question is this: what if Trask looks decent? Has anyone stopped to think about that possibility? The last playoff game the Bucs won came against a second-round quarterback in Jalen Hurts, and look how that turning out.
There’s also the fact that the NFC South stinks, so Trask wouldn’t have to be Brady to lead this talented roster to the playoffs anyway.
If you’re looking for the point here it is. Trask may not be the guy, and if not then at least the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t invest the farm for him to hopefully be face of the franchise. If he does show promise though, which is a possibility A LOT of pessimists appear to be overlooking, then we’re all winners.