When the offseason began, there were more than a few questions the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed to address in free agency, one of which was who would backup Baker Mayfield.
It wasn't the most pressing issue, but Kyle Trask hitting free agency and John Wolford signing with the Jaguars created a vacancy that wasn't insignificant. Trask had been with the Bucs since 2021, when Tampa Bay drafted him in the second round out of Florida. The idea at the time was that he might learn under Tom Brady and develop into his successor, which didn't end up happening, and after losing a very brief training camp battle to Baker, he was once again relegated to the role of backup.
That's why there was doubt surrounding a return to Tampa Bay.
Barring an injury to Baker, there's no way Trask will be in line to start, so if he wanted that chance, he'd be best off heading somewhere else. Instead, without a clear path to compete for a starting job elsewhere, Trask is back with the Bucs.
Kyle Trask re-signs with Buccaneers to continue backing up Baker Mayfield
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Bucs are indeed bringing Trask back. It's a one-year deal worth just under $3 million.
Trask's situation wasn't exclusive to him, as the Bucs weren't exactly flush with alternative options. A case could have been made for Jameis Winston, Joe Flacco, Gardner Minshew, or Drew Lock, but right now they have a better chance at landing a starting job somewhere than settling to be a backup.
There was also an argument to be made for guys like Taylor Heinicke, Case Keenum, or Mason Rudolph; in other words, guys who aren't going to be getting any looks as potential starters but have a track record of stepping up when called upon. They'd have brought a veteran presence not unlike what Wolford brought the last two years, and with higher-upside if required to play.
However, Tampa Bay is a place where a quarterback who signs has to know that the only way he's playing is if there's an injury -- a key reason why Daniel Jones was never a realistic option.
Trask might be forfeiting a chance to compete for a starting job, but the fact that he's back is further proof of how well-respected the Bucs are around the league. He could have left, but he's yet another player who has decided that Tampa Bay is the greener pasture and there isn't another one out there.
He also brings continuity, which is key. With Wolford in Jacksonville, Trask is the only familiar face in quaterback room for Baker and he already has a relationship with new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. Michael Pratt figures to be QB3 moving forward and Trask is now in a position to start learning how to be a career backup -- which is a pretty lucrative path to be on.
We'll see what the future holds, but the theme of reunion has dominated yet another offseason for the Bucs and Trask is just the latest example of that.
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