The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback room will look a bit different heading into the 2025 regular season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Baker Mayfield still remains the starter, entering his third season, but one player who was a mainstay on the roster since 2021 won't be there, and that's Kyle Trask. After the preseason, the Buccaneers released Trask from his contract, as the team opted to have Teddy Bridgewater as Mayfield's primary backup.
Even as the regular season approaches, Trask has yet to land with a new team. Sure, Trask never started a game for the Buccaneers, but he was once a Heisman Trophy finalist when he was the QB1 for the Florida Gators. Even so, Trask is still looking for a new team to give him a chance.
Mayfield addressed Trask's release while speaking with reporters on Wednesday, he admitted that it's "unfortunately the nature of the business" and "it stinks." But Mayfield did provide words of encouragement to Trask, saying that a change of scenery could do wonders for Trask.
Kind words from Baker Mayfield today when asked about Kyle Trask, who remains unsigned after being released by the Bucs last week: pic.twitter.com/S0ocgvHqw9
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 3, 2025
"This is a crazy business — you never know where you can end up. As I know from personal experience, sometimes you just need a fresh start," said Mayfield, h/t Greg Auman of FOX Sports.
Baker Mayfield gives Kyle Trask words of encouragement following Buccaneers release
Mayfield knows how well a fresh start can help out a quarterback. After all, his stint with the Buccaneers was a fresh start, and he made the most of it. Mayfield and the Buccaneers were ridiculed, as the NFL world wasn't sold that the former 2018 first-overall pick could be a viable successor to Tom Brady. But after throwing for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 2023, he helped the Buccaneers win the NFC South, and pick up a first-round upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Oh, and he followed it up with a 4,500 passing yard and 41 passing touchdown 2024 season.
Before his arrival in Tampa Bay, Mayfield was drafted by the Cleveland Browns to help end their quarterback carousel. Mayfield had a promising rookie campaign in 2018, finishing second in NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. In 2020, Mayfield helped lead the team to the playoffs, and picked up the team's first playoff victory since 1994 with a 48-37 first-round win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But after playing through a shoulder injury in 2021, Mayfield was unceremoniously replaced by the Browns, after they traded for Deshaun Watson, and rewarded him with a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract.
Mayfield ended up signing with the Carolina Panthers, but that was an unideal situation, as Matt Rhule was head coach with Ben McAdoo as offensive coordinator. But after suffering an ankle injury, Mayfield lost the starting job, and ultimately asked for his release. Then, claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams, and with no precise knowledge of the playbook, helped lead the team to a 17-16 comeback win over the Las Vegas Raiders in his first game. In five games with the Rams, Mayfield threw for 850 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions.
From there, he signed on with the Buccaneers, and became the team's undisputed starter. As Mayfield, all it takes is for a team to take a chance on you and you never know what could happen. While he's said he's not on the team anymore, Mayfield hopes Trask gets the chance to prove himself on a new team.