The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went from having the best quarterback of all time to having one of the weakest positional units in the league in just one offseason. Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask appear to be players struggling in training camp, but early returns are not very promising.
Mayfield, Trask appear to be fighting at the OTA Buccaneers
TEN from Baker Mayfield 😅
By @ed_in_columbus | #NFL pic.twitter.com/RA7hkSucEo
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) May 25, 2023
Expectations will be low in Tampa Bay for the 2023 NFL season. As of today, they are tied with three other teams for the second-most Super Bowl odds of +10,000, ahead of only the Arizona Cardinals who have +15,000. Last season, the Buccaneers won the NFC South losing 8-9 and lost to the Cowboys in a Wild Card round.
Since then, the list has become weaker, mainly due to the absence of Tom Brady. They will need their current QBs to speed things up if they hope to get any closer to the 6.5 wins projected.
In videos from the Bucs off-season training program, Mayfield and Trask looked jittery. Posted on Twitter by handle @Ed_in_Columbus, the first clip shows Mayfield falling back on his usual passing and catching practice. Tight End David Wells appears to be running a short slant in and turns to look for the ball. But Mayfield flies over outstretched arms, making a routine 10-yard pass look difficult.
Baker Mayfield is warming up to OTA #1 here in Tampa. #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/UtNtt9yRm4
— Logan B. Robinson (@LogansTwitty) May 23, 2023
Trask did not get better at what appeared to be the same exercise that Mayfield had run. Instead of flying the ball over the receiver’s head, Trask made it way too early and threw a completely uncatchable ball that bounced after about 15 yards in the air.
It was unclear if the team would be riding with the quarterback room as it is currently being assembled. The NFL Draft is over and Tampa Bay has no QB pick, but there is still plenty to do in the offseason.
Most teams across the league already have their signaller for the season or at least a potential training camp battle to see who reigns supreme. But there are guys whose immediate future is undecided, and the Buccaneers could take care of them. Would they be interested in a trade for Trey Lance if the 49ers made him available?
When it comes to the free agent market, there is little choice. Some of the names available include Carson Wentz, Teddy Bridgewater and Nick Foles, none of whom would be able to win the initial job of two QBs already in place for the Buccaneers.
