‘Commitment Issues’ Take Centre Stage at Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Room as They Scramble to Replace Tom Brady

Tom Brady and his second retirement announcement have left the Buccaneers in a hot mess about the quarterback situation next year. The organization hired its new offensive coordinator, Dave Canales. And he has a temporary solution, but NFL analysts don’t think that’s the way to go.

During his press conference yesterday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC laid out the situation on the table. And the situation, good or bad, is backup quarterback Kyle Trask. However, Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud thinks Canales’ commitments aren’t based on any true foundation.

Can Kyle Trask handle the Bucs’ pocket?

After an 8-10 losing record last season and their 45-year-old quarterback hanging up the cleats, the Buccaneers are left with nothing but Kyle Trask on the QB list. Especially because of the salary cap situation. And that’s what new OC Dave Canales detailed to the media.

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“They’re ours until they’re not,” Canales started off by answering the Trask question. And Rick Stroud brought up this quote in his argument as well. In response to a Tampa Bay radio personality’s conjecture about Canales planning to go with Trask in 2023, Stroud said, “Wouldn’t think that at all. He made it clear he only will talk about the guys who are here. Hasn’t spent a day on the field with him.”

Trask hasn’t built much of a resume in his 2 years in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers drafted him 64th overall in the 2021 draft. However, fans and analysts have mostly seen him in practice and preseason. His only start this season saw a mere 3 passes for 23 yards on 9 attempts. And Canales may not realize his full offensive potential with the 24-year-old QB behind the center, according to Stroud.

The post-Tom Brady era is one filled with uncertainties

The seven-time Super Bowl champion’s emotional retirement on February 1, 2023, looks to be the final one and not a repeat of what happened last year. And with Canales himself replacing former OC Byron Leftwich, the rebuild for the Buccaneers will take slightly longer than expected.

“I got one Bucs quarterback. It’s Kyle Trask. I really liked him coming out [of Florida University]. He was able to distribute and the thing that we’re gonna help Kyle to build on here is just being a point guard. You just distribute. Get the ball out of your hands,” Canales explained his strategy for former Florida Gators QB Trask.

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Tom Brady hasn’t immediately joined his Fox Sports job. He starts in the fall of 2024, as the NFL icon needs a little more time to prepare for his broadcasting journey. According to the former New England Patriots QB, it’s important to remain great, even after retirement. However, fans still don’t entirely believe him. And that’s why they aren’t writing off a return to the gridiron entirely. Dave Canales will surely be pleased with that scenario.