Tom Brady’s decision to retire for real this time meant that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers found themselves squarely in rebuilding mode. Gone are the days of the GOAT lining up under center. Instead, the Bucs are looking at a quarterback competition between Baker Mayfield and … Kyle Trask.
Let’s just say that it’s not off to a great start.
Despite a couple strong seasons in his Browns career, Mayfield has regressed to among the NFL’s least accurate passers. The Panthers and Rams both moved on from Mayfield last season, and the Bucs took a chance back in March when they signed Mayfield to a one-year deal. Trask has just nine career passes since being drafted in the second round in 2021.
And judging from recent video taken at Bucs OTAs, expectations probably shouldn’t be high for that Mayfield-Trask QB battle.
Checking in on the Bucs' QB competition between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/8kZQzEbdsp
— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) May 30, 2023
Video taken during the practice session showed both Mayfield and Trask struggling mightily to make even basic passes. Now, every quarterback throws some bad passes in practice, and this video didn’t show the entire session. But man, that was rough.
It still isn’t the kind of showing that will inspire confidence in the Bucs this season. It did, however, inspire jokes from NFL fans.
This was how Twitter reacted
Breaking: Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have both requested trades https://t.co/6g7Do2Yprq
— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) May 30, 2023
Thankful 🙏🏻 https://t.co/SceERBbRUr pic.twitter.com/TfnSYKvOKC
— NYGcrush (@NYGcrush) May 30, 2023
Bucs just openly tanking for Caleb https://t.co/U44jx4AuGL
— TicTacTitans (@TicTacTitans) May 30, 2023
If Mike Evans has another 1000 yard season with these two we have to come up with some kind of special achievement award for him https://t.co/UiPSQ1tycL
— Anand Nanduri (@NanduriNFL) May 30, 2023
Man in the bottom right has seen enough https://t.co/VXakfxiht1 pic.twitter.com/Z9JQmIQlRI
— J Moyer (@JMoyerFB) May 30, 2023
What’s below a “mid-off”? https://t.co/1TRb7010ao
— Wyatt 🥃 (@WyattB_FF) May 30, 2023
Mike Evans to the Patriots confirmed https://t.co/a0nH3Xmf0c pic.twitter.com/M8BGRmJqPp
— ⚜️New Orleans vs Everybody⚜ (@SheDatWeDat) May 30, 2023
Yyyyikes
This makes Lock vs. Teddy look like Young vs. Montana https://t.co/FgCfqhGCiy
— Zach Segars (@Zach_Segars) May 30, 2023
Worst starter in the NFL no matter who they choose https://t.co/inqgk76ktH
— Nico (@elitetakes_) May 30, 2023
Mike Evans and Chris Godwin about to request trades 😭 https://t.co/M8PO5Yzgiw
— Hot Take Tabor (@JT25Saints) May 30, 2023
Well we all know who’s finishing last in the division https://t.co/pWXsTjGoH5
— 𝘼𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙬 🦃🐈⬛🐝 (@704_Andrew) May 30, 2023
Caleb Williams is going to be a Buc https://t.co/ufRnU4J8bt pic.twitter.com/I4FdH5Tv1S
— SZN (@CLT_Sportsfan) May 30, 2023
Those poor receivers.