The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback competition is in full swing as the team holds it’s second week of OTAs. The competition is between three quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask and John Wolford. But let’s be honest, it’s between Mayfield and Trask.
While Mayfield appears to have the upper hand with significantly more experience. But only one quarterback in the competition spent time learning behind the GOAT Tom Brady. That quarterback is Kyle Trask.
Trask spoke to this recently,
“Tom is just a pro through and through, so that was such a blessing for me to come into a quarterback room filled with him, Blaine [Gabbert] and Ryan [Griffin], and obviously Clyde [Christensen] and Byron [Leftwich]. They had all the experience in the world, so just to come into that room and just try to soak up as much knowledge while I was in there, that is a priceless experience for me.”
I know what you’re thinking, Trask only played in one game since being drafted so how much has he learned? But Trask did spend crucial time learning from Brady in the film room and on the practice field.
Trask has this to say about working with Brady,
“Really encouraging. He always had great answers for any questions I asked him,” Trask stated. “They all were really good to me, and I tried to soak up as much as I could while he was there because I knew it wasn’t going to last forever.”
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has noticed the difference I’m Trask’s approach and sees his confidence growing with the additional reps.
“He’s getting the reps. When you get more reps, you get more confidence. Obviously, and rightfully so, with Tom [Brady] there last year and Blaine [Gabbert] there, he didn’t get the reps he should get,” Bowles stated. “He’s getting a lot of reps right now. It’s really an indoctrination of his rookie year – getting all the reps he’s getting. As he gets those reps, he gets more confidence so he’s happy to be playing.”
Trask is no stranger to the underdog role. He’s battled that moniker most of his football life. Learning from the GOAT can only help build up his mental fortitude and discipline. And as the Buccaneers head into the 2023 season, Trask may just get a chance to “show his work”.