Fourth-year veteran quarterback Kyle Trask is not in competition for the starting signal-caller duties this time around in training camp, but he is working to solidify his spot behind incumbent starter Baker Mayfield on the depth chart. Trask is focused on honing his game in a retooled offense so that he is ready if an opportunity arises during the final year of his rookie contract.
"I think I've been putting in the most time that I've ever put in right now, because it's my fourth year, but also, it's just a more complex offense, and it's a new offense to me, so I have to put in that extra time because you have to be ready," said Trask. "I have to go in there and keep the ball rolling – keep the ball moving, because you know, this is a very talented team, and if I have to do that, I want to be able to do it successfully."
Trask only threw one pass in 2023 following the preseason but continued developing his mental fortitude. Coming out of Florida, the traits that became linked to Trask were his arm strength, tight end-sized frame and touch on the deep ball. Trask spent the first two seasons in Tampa Bay behind both Tom Brady, who never missed a start, and Blaine Gabbert, who took over on the rare occasions Brady came out of a game. Now, both Brady and Gabbert are gone, and Trask got the chance to split first-team reps with Mayfield last training camp/preseason. Subsequently, he received more attention from coaches. He has embraced that tutelage and strives to pay it forward by helping other young players with the Bucs in the transition process.
"I really appreciate guys that help out the rookies, because when you're a rookie, coming into the NFL, it's a lot," noted Trask. "You don't really know what you're walking into. It is a lot, and I tell the young guys as much as I can, 'Ask me any question you have, like there is no dumb question," because I remember being a rookie and I had a million questions. Half of them, I thought, were stupid questions so I would never ask them. I'm like, 'Listen, if you have anything, just ask me,' because I will be happy to help, because I know the struggle that rookies can go through. I've been – we got a group chat now with Bucky [Irving] and 'Shep' (Sterling Shepard) and Cephus [Johnson III] and I send them the voice memos every night. That way everyone can visualize and walk through on their own, because you can look at a play on a sheet of paper, but then when you come out here and they call it in your headset and you're verbalizing it, that's a different way to process it. [To] hear it, visualize it in your head, then processing it on the field, is completely different than just flipping through a binder. To answer your question, I'm very happy to help any young guys that need anything."
Trask has taken on a mentorship role and is helping out in any way he can to fortify the offense and cultivate development in new additions to the squad. The knowledge he has gained from various offensive systems, multiple offensive coordinators and nuances from every quarterback that has been in the meeting room, Trask is passing along to teammates. He certainly does not get the recognition for the work he is doing behind the scenes, but it shows up on the gridiron in the ascension of both Irving and Johnson.
