Kyle Trask is a curious case for NFL free agency.
Of the 10 quarterbacks drafted in 2021, Trask is one of only three who is still with his original team, along with Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence and Davis Mills. However, in four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Trask has thrown only 11 passes.
Trask is a former second-round pick who is still a bit shy of his 27th birthday and he has prototypical NFL quarterback size (6-5, 326) and a strong arm. But there just is not much tape for potential suitors to review. The Buccaneers, of course, have seen much more of the former Florida star than any other team over four years of practices and offseason programs.
Trask's lack of playing time is not his fault, of course. The Buccaneers already had Tom Brady before the 2021 draft, and over the past four seasons Brady and Baker Mayfield combined to miss zero games due to injury. Nine of Trask's 11 passes came in a meaningless regular season finale when Brady and most of the starters were pulled early. The Buccaneers have had no need to deviate from a pair of starters who combined to average 4,638.5 passing yards and 39.3 touchdown passes per season while completing 67.5% of their passes and compiling a 100.8 passer rating.
That's the profile Trask will take with him into free agency, if he's not re-signed by the Buccaneers before the start of the new league year on March 12. Tampa Bay currently has 22 players from its season-ending 2024 roster who are due to become unrestricted free agents in March, and prior to the opening market we are taking a look at 10 of them – what they've accomplished, where they are in their careers, what the market and the draft look like at their positions, and so on.
Some of the players we'll examine between now and March 12 could get a new deal to stay in Tampa before that date. It's likely some of them will not be back, or will at least test the free agent waters. This is the full schedule of our 2025 Free Agent Focus rundown:
February 12: WR Chris Godwin
February 14: QB Kyle Trask
February 19: OLB Anthony Nelson
February 26: C Robert Hainsey
February 28: WR Sterling Shepard
March 3: OLB Shaquil Barrett
March 4: LB Lavonte David
March 5: G Ben Bredeson
March 6: OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
March 7: LB Lavonte David
This list is subject to change based on potential roster moves in the coming weeks. For now, we'll take a look at a player who has yet to determine how his NFL career is ultimately going to unfold.
Player: Kyle Trask
Position: Quarterback
Age at the Start of the 2024 Season: 27
Experience: Entering fifth NFL season
How Acquired: Selected in the second round (64th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Florida.
Previous Contract(s): As a 2021 draftee, Trask signed the standard four-year contract presented to all players selected in Rounds Two through Seven. Only first-round picks get contracts with a fifth-year team option.
Rank in Pro Football Focus Top 100 NFL Free Agents for 2025: Not ranked.
2024 Performance: Trask threw just one pass during the 2024 pass and completed it to rookie running back Bucky Irving for a gain of five yards against the Carolina Panthers in Week 13. Mayfield suffered a leg injury on a third-down sack to end a drive midway through the third quarter and was still in the sideline medical tent when the Bucs got the ball back after a Carolina three-and-out. Trask came out to direct the next drive and executed one handoff and one completion before Mayfield returned to the game. Overall, Trask saw action in four games last season and, since that was generally at the very end of lopsided games, lost four yards on five "carries" while kneeling out the clock.
In the 2024 preseason, Trask played in all three games and completed 41 of 63 passes for 393 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He compiled a passer rating of 91.6 and was the only Buccaneer quarterback to throw a scoring pass in the three preseason games.
Career Accomplishments: As noted earlier, Trask has only been asked to throw 11 passes during the last four regular seasons combined. He completed four of them for 28 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions.
Trask has seen extensive action during the preseason, throwing the most passes of any Bucs quarterbacks in each of the last four years. He as completed 158 of his 254 attempts (62.2%) for 1,671 yards, seven touchdowns, six interceptions and a passer rating of 80.7.
After Brady retired in January of 2023, the Buccaneers signed Mayfield in March and then declared the starting job an open competition between him and Trask. The two were on equally footing for much of the offseason before Mayfield pulled away in August and won the assignment.
Other Potential Free Agent Quarterbacks: Sam Darnold (Vikings), Justin Fields (Steelers), Russell Wilson (Steelers), Jameis Winston (Browns), Zach Wilson (Broncos), Trey Lance (Cowboys), Jacoby Brissett (Patriots), Taylor Heinicke (Chargers), Marcus Mariota (Commanders), Drew Lock (Giants), Andy Dalton (Panthers), Jarrett Stidham (Broncos), Joe Flacco (Colts), Mac Jones (Jaguars), Carson Wentz, (Chiefs), Jimmy Garoppolo (Rams)
Top Quarterbacks Prospects in 2025 NFL Draft: Cam Ward (Miami), Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), Dillon Gabriel (Oregon), Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Will Howard (Ohio State), Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), Quinn Ewers (Texas), Riley Leonard (Notre Dame), Kyle McCord (Syracuse), Kurtis Rourke (Indiana), Tyler Shough (Louisville), Donovan Smith (Houston)
