The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are running out of time to re-sign quarterback Baker Mayfield before he hits free agency Monday, and if they lose him to another team, they’ll be forced back to the drawing board at the game’s most important position.
Mayfield enjoyed the best season of his career last year after signing a one-year deal with the Bucs in free agency last offseason, but now he’s earned a much bigger pay day, and one Tampa Bay might not be able to afford.
If they’re not able to keep him, the Bucs might have to resort to the man Mayfield beat out during training camp and the preseason for the starting job last year.
Kyle Trask is heading into the final year of his rookie contract, and despite being a second-round pick back in 2021, he’s barely sniffed the field for any regular-season action over his three seasons with the team. He was inactive on game day as the third-stringer behind Tom Brady and Blaine Gabbert for two seasons, then Mayfield’s backup last year.
A Heisman Trophy finalist for the Gators, Trask has flashed some potential during preseason action, but hasn’t been able to earn any meaningful snaps up to this point. That said, Bucs general manager Jason Licht said earlier this week that Trask remains one of their options if Mayfield heads elsewhere in free agency:
#Bucs GM Jason Licht wouldn’t give any specifics on contract talks with Baker Mayfield. Still wants Baker but has other options & that includes Kyle Trask. pic.twitter.com/P62Voa9tfq
— rock riley (@realrockriley) March 8, 2024
There are some other veterans expected to be available on the open market this week, but Mayfield could make a strong case to be the best of them. Trading for Justin Fields is also a possibility, but if the Bucs want to go the cheap route, they could let Trask start this season and see what he’s really got before his rookie contract expires.
That would be a massive gamble on their part, but one that could pay off should he live up to the expectations that came with his draft slot.
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