The latest NFL quarterback rankings spelled bad news for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. No, not for starter Baker Mayfield. He's been on a heater over his past two seasons and looks like one of the top passers going into 2025.
The bad news comes for backup QB Kyle Trask. Pro Football Network ranked all 32 of the NFL's backup quarterbacks, and Kyle Trask came in dead last, at #32.
"He was drafted in the second round of the 2021 Draft and was thought to be in the mix for the starting job once Tom Brady retired, but Baker Mayfield balled from the moment they brought him in, and Trask never really had a chance," wrote Josh Weil for PFN.
Weil cited Trask's inexperience as the biggest reason for his #32 ranking. He has attempted just 11 passes in his four seasons in the NFL.
It's true that Trask does not have any statistical track record of success. He has completed four of 11 passes for 28 yards. He has a 36.4% completion rate and a 44.9 passer rating.
Trask was once one of the NCAA's top signal-callers. In 2020, with Florida, he threw for 4,283 yards, 43 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He boasted a passer rating of 180 and a completion rate of 68.9%. There's a reason he was drafted in the 2nd-round. He also sat for two years behind Tom Brady, which could not have hurt his development. Other former Brady backups include Jimmy Garrappallo and Jacoby Brissett, who both went on to have successful runs as starters after starting their career on the bench.
However, it is worth wondering if Trask's lack of experience could hurt the Buccaneers if Baker Mayfield ever goes down with an injury and misses time. It might explain Tampa Bay's recent choice to bring in veteran Teddy Bridgewater.
Would Bridgewater be a better choice to hold the backup role than Trask? He certainly has more experience leading NFL offenses. He's made 65 starts in his career, with a 33-32 record. He even led the Vikings to the playoffs in 2015, a season when he was a Pro Bowler
However, in the past three years, Bridgewater has not played much either, and when he has, he has not played well. He's made two starts, both losses, and has a 49.5 passer rating since 2022.
Perhaps it is best the Buccaneers simply hope for Mayfield to stay healthy and productive in 2025. Trask, who still has not had a chance to prove himself, has clearly won over the coaching staff, but the prospect of watching him or Bridgewater for an extended run is not one that gets Tampa Bay fans excited.