John Romano: Bucs say it ain't personal, but it must feel that way to Kyle Trask

John Romano, Tampa Bay Times on Aug 6, 2025

Published in Football

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TAMPA, Fla. — Sorry Kyle, but this is for the best.

You’re a sharp guy, so you probably understand that. When a Super Bowl is visible in distant headlights, no team wants to pull out of the driveway without first purchasing a proven insurance policy at quarterback.

That’s all Teddy Bridgewater is. He’s not a savior. He’s not a long-term solution in Tampa Bay. He’s just a way for the Buccaneers to hedge their considerable bet on the 2025 season.

Two years ago, the Bucs were okay with you — polite, unassuming Kyle Trask — as Baker Mayfield’s understudy. But that was a weaker team with salary cap issues. Even last year, Tampa Bay’s expectations were modest enough to entrust the backup role to a guy with limited NFL experience.

That’s no longer the case. The Bucs may not be the favorite to win the NFC Championship, but they’re in the conversation. And that means making sure they know what they’re getting when they crack the in-case-of-emergency glass window.

General manager Jason Licht was adamant on Tuesday that this was not a reflection on you. He made a point of saying that the No. 2 job on the depth chart is yours to lose.

But c’mon, you don’t pull a guy like Bridgewater, 32, off his couch if you think he’s your third QB. And you know that.

The truth is, Bridgewater gives the Bucs the one thing you cannot:

Peace of mind.

He may be 10 years removed from a Pro Bowl season with the Vikings, but he has started games for five different NFL franchises. He’s started in the postseason. And, after coaching his alma mater Miami Northwestern to a state football title last year, he signed with Detroit and displaced Hendon Hooker as the backup quarterback three weeks later in a Lions playoff game.

So, yeah, this is not a Hail Mary situation. It’s just smart business.

Other contenders have made similar calculations. The 49ers signed Mac Jones, who has 20 wins as a starter in the NFL. Buffalo has Mitchell Trubisky, who led the Bears to two playoff appearances as a starter. Washington has Marcus Mariota, and Kansas City has Gardner Minshew.

Whether you have the potential to be a future starter in the NFL is not the point. Whether Licht and head coach Todd Bowles like you — and both seem as if they are big fans of yours — is also not the point.

The bottom line is you have been in the NFL for four years and have completed four passes. Yes, there is a reason for that. You were stuck behind Tom Brady and Mayfield, and few quarterbacks are going to squeeze their way into those offensive huddles.

But with so much riding on this season, the Bucs need to know their backup can complete 65% of his passes (Bridgewater does), come off the bench at midseason (Bridgewater has) and win a game with a fourth-quarter drive (Bridgewater can).

You, Kyle Trask, have not yet done any of that in the NFL.

“Right now, Kyle is our backup,” Licht said after Tuesday’s practice. “That the intention, and that’s what we’re hoping for. But, yeah, everybody is competing.”

As you well know, the Bucs have been remarkably fortunate when it comes to the health of their quarterbacks. Starting in 2019, Tampa Bay has gone six consecutive seasons with the same quarterback — whether it was Jameis Winston, Brady or Mayfield — starting every game. The only other NFL team that can make that same claim is Buffalo.

And maybe the good fortune continues in 2025. But the way Mayfield throws his body around the field, that feels like more and more of a longshot every week.

Tampa Bay got a small taste of it the past few days when Mayfield was held out of practice with a bruised hand and you were put in charge of the No. 1 offense. It wasn’t anywhere near a disaster, but it’s also fair to say Pro Bowl voters were not sent urgent alerts.

Licht brushed off the idea that this was a reaction to Mayfield’s minor boo-boo. He said the Bucs have been talking to Bridgewater for several weeks and the outline of a deal just recently has come together. Whether you believe it or not, you at least need to accept the consequences of the move.

Look, I know this is likely a painful topic for you. Almost as if you’ve gone backward after four years of patiently, quietly, loyally biding your time at One Buc Place.

But the front office really does value you. Otherwise, the Bucs would not have given you a one-year, $2.8 million deal a few months ago. Of the seven players Tampa Bay took in the 2021 draft, you’re the only one to get a second contract here.

Perhaps you regret that contract now. Maybe, by next offseason, you’ll be looking for another franchise where you have a better chance of playing. Hard to blame you if that’s the case.

But this was a sound business decision.

Sorry, dude.

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