Bucs urged to give veteran QB another go; 6’5″, 236 lb adds experience and depth.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released veteran backup Kyle Trask after four seasons as their QB2, a move that now stands in a new light as the team posted an 8-9 record and missed the playoffs. Trask, selected in the second round in 2021, backed up Tom Brady and then Baker Mayfield, and helped the Buccaneers reach the postseason in each of his four seasons as a backup.

In March 2025, the Buccaneers re-signed Trask to a one-year, $2.78 million deal, signaling confidence in the former Florida star. His exit came earlier than expected, with Trask quickly drawing interest from other teams before landing with the Atlanta Falcons for the 2025 season, where he worked under new Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.

Analysts questioned why Tampa Bay re-signed Trask for another season given limited cap space, suggesting the franchise could pursue other options or even consider bringing back Trask for a training-camp audition instead of a long-term commitment. ESPN insider Ben Solak labeled the move to keep Trask as questionable, arguing that the team could have pursued more proven QB2 options to maintain playoff contention.

As the Buccaneers explore options at quarterback, some observers speculate about drafting a quarterback in the 2026 class to secure a longer-term solution. The discussion includes potential Day 2 targets, such as Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green, as Tampa Bay weighs its approach to stabilizing the backup position behind the starting QB.