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Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds answers your questions from the @PewterReport Twitter account each week in the Bucs Monday Mailbag. Submit your question to the Bucs Monday Mailbag each week via Twitter using the hashtag #PRMailbag. Here are the questions we chose to answer for this week’s edition.

QUESTION: Is Kyle Trask really having that bad of a camp? Did the Bucs social media team have to take down a video they put up of him throwing an interception? What are the options if they go with a free agent next season or in next year’s draft if they decide Trask isn’t the answer?

ANSWER: Kyle Trask has not had a good start to training camp. He’s simply thrown too many interceptions, which is disappointing. And yes, the Bucs’ social media took down video of Trask’s interception by Jamel Dean because of the negative comments. I don’t have an official tally, but it’s got to be close to a dozen INTs in the 10 practices so far. Some of those picks have been the result of poor decisions, while others have been due to poor mechanics where a few passes have fluttered.

The preseason games will be huge for him, as Trask will play the most snaps of any of the QBs. If he succeeds, Trask may push Blaine Gabbert for the No. 2 job. If he doesn’t, it means the Bucs will likely have to look for another starting-caliber option in 2023. It doesn’t mean they’ll give up on Trask, but he would have to at least win the No. 2 QB job in Tampa Bay in 2023 to have any future with the franchise.

Next year’s free agent QB crop is not good. Do Jimmy Garoppolo, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Teddy Bridgewater, Andy Dalton or Daniel Jones excite you? How about Case Keenum, Mason Rudolph, Jacoby Brissett, Geno Smith or Taylor Heinicke? Lamar Jackson is currently set to hit free agency in 2023, but it’s likely he re-signs with Baltimore. Of course, Tom Brady will be a free agent, but the guess here is that he retires after this season. Gabbert will be a free agent, and there is a chance he returns as a No. 2 because he knows the system. But I’m not sure Todd Bowles has the same affection for Gabbert that Bruce Arians did.

The 2023 draft class figures to be quite good. Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson, Kentucky’s Will Levis, Boston College’s Phil Jurkovec and Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke all could be first-round candidates. The problem is, will all of the QBs be drafted by the time Tampa Bay is on the clock – perhaps near the bottom of the first round?

QUESTION: Which Jason Licht second-round draft pick is worse – Roberto Aguayo or Kyle Trask?

ANSWER: Unfortunately, this is a good question. Roberto Aguayo was a bad second-round pick for two reasons. First, it’s never wise to draft a kicker in the second round. And second, Aguayo didn’t pan out and isn’t even in the league anymore. He lasted just one terrible season in Tampa Bay and the Bucs cut him the next year. Although Nick Folk, Aguayo’s replacement, didn’t fare any better. He lasted just four games, with Patrick Murray replacing him for the rest of the season.

Bucs QB Kyle Trask – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

As for Kyle Trask, it’s too early to consider him to be a draft bust. The 2021 second-round pick has struggled with interceptions at the start of camp. The Bucs hoped they were drafting the next Brad Johnson. But so far, Trask looks like the next Trent Dilfer. There is still time for that to change, so in the interest of fairness, we’ll continue to remain objective in our reporting of Trask during camp and the preseason.

With Tom Brady not playing in the preseason opener, Blaine Gabbert will likely start Saturday’s game against Miami. But Trask will likely play most of the game. Todd Bowles wants to give Trask as many preseason snaps as possible to see what he’s got. Trask needs to game experience, and that’s the best circumstance to properly evaluate his progress. But right now, Gabbert is the clear No. 2 QB in Tampa Bay.

QUESTION: I’ve not heard almost anything about Logan Hall. Has he shown out at all?

ANSWER: Rookie defensive tackle Logan Hall has flashed in practice. He’s had his moments, but the way that Akiem Hicks has practiced has clearly overshadowed the Bucs’ second-round pick. Hicks has been dominant against the run and as a pass rusher. He’s had a phenomenal start to camp and been everything Tampa Bay expected and more. Hicks will start for the Bucs this year, as long as he’s healthy.

That could be a blessing in disguise for Hall. As a rookie, he doesn’t have to start because of Hicks’ veteran experience and superior level of play. That takes some of the pressure off Hall in his first NFL season in Tampa Bay. The Bucs remain very high on his potential, though.

Having another stud at defensive tackle like the 32-year old Hicks gives Hall yet another great player to learn from. He already has a similarly long, 6-foot-6 defensive lineman like Will Gholston to watch in practice. Now with a quicker, twitchier defensive tackle like Hicks, Hall can pick up things from the former Bears Pro Bowler, too. Hicks won’t play much in the preseason, so Hall will get plenty of game experience this August. That’s exactly what he needs.

QUESTION: With Cade Otton, Kyle Rudolph, and Cameron Brate, is the offense planning on running more of a 2-TE set this year? Or will it be a 3-WR set with Mike Evans, Russell Gage and Chris Godwin?

ANSWER: The Bucs have been pleasantly surprised with the rapid development of rookie tight end Cade Otton. The fourth-round pick has shown reliable, clutch hands in practice. But where he’s impressed the coaches the most is how he’s held up as an in-line blocker at the point of attack in the running game and in pass protection. Otton needs to really develop in the weight room, and should get stronger after the offseason program in 2023. But in the meantime, he’s proven to be effective enough as a blocker and a pass catcher.

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Kyle Rudolph has been a solid addition. He’s lost a step for sure, but can still be effective. Think Ken Dilger in 2002 – for you older Bucs fans. Cameron Brate has looked as steady as ever and should see plenty of time on the field due to his experience in the offense. The Bucs have enough at the tight end position where they don’t have to abandon their 12 personnel (two-tight end sets) this year without Rob Gronkowski.

But let’s not forget about the additions of Russell Gage and Julio Jones. Tampa Bay’s offense is still wide receiver-driven. There will be plenty of plays featuring three receivers and even four receivers due to Jones’ arrival. The good news is that the Bucs won’t be predictable on offense and can attack teams with multiple personnel groupings. Dare I say the offense will be even better in 2022 – even without Gronkowski and Pro Bowl center Ryan Jensen? I wouldn’t be surprised.

QUESTION: How serious is Mike Evans’ injury? Will he be ready for Week 1?

ANSWER: Mike Evans has a mild hamstring strain and will be ready for the season opener at Dallas. I wouldn’t be surprised if Evans returned to practice next week. But if the Bucs want to be cautious, they might hold him out of next week’s joint practices against Miami and rest him for an additional week.

Evans has dealt with hamstring issues in nearly every training camp, so this is nothing new. The Bucs won’t play him in the preseason opener. And he’ll play very minimal reps at Tennessee in the second preseason game.

The Bucs are being extra cautious with Julio Jones as well. Jones has dealt with hamstring injuries the past two years. They are giving him several veteran rest days in camp. If Jones plays at all in the preseason, it will be a few series in the second preseason game at Tennessee. The key is to get Evans and Jones ready for the Cowboys in Week 1.