Ledyard is talking about Godwin's salary and the salary cap and so the door is obviously open to talk about the future. Even as we enjoy a winning season and being reigning Superbowl champs, there is plenty of time to do that and also ponder the uncertain future of the quarterback position.
Sure if Brady wants to return for 2022 using a walker, we'll be glad to have him back. Its still better than the alternatives. But IMO Brady will call it quits after this season. At least there's a enough of a chance of it happening that it's worth contemplating what the Bucs will do post-Brady. What are the options going to be for the Bucs?
Option 1) Trade for a legit Superbowl caliber veteran: Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, DeShaun Watson. Sounds great! Do you think Licht will be wanting to trade MULTIPLE FIRST ROUND PICKS for the right to put $30 of $40 mil on the salary cap? The salary part, sure I could see them squeezing a big QB cap number in there if they were still aiming for a Superbowl. But No. Jason Licht will not give up the multiple first round picks, even if Arians wanted him to. That goes against how the Bucs operate.
Answer: No.
Option 2) Trade for a questionable veteran: Baker Mayfield, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tua Tagovailoa, These guys will all probably be available for trade. You still have to give up some draft capital, even if it isn't to the same level as those top guys. How excited would you be to have Baker Mayfield heading up your team? Me? Not too much. Its one thing to reclaim a dude off the scrap heap. Its a whole nother thing to trade draft capital for the right to pay a guy $25 million when he can't throw an accurate deep ball. Not getting excited.
Answer: No.
Option 3) Free agency. Oh there are endless possibilities! Teddy Bridgewater Jameis Winston Sam Darnold Andy Dalton Nick Foles Tyrod Taylor Marcus Mariotta Mitch Trubisky Ben Roethlisberger? Start the run on season tickets right now!
Answer: Hell no.
Option 4) Draft a quarterback. The crop is thin this year to begin with and they will be snapped up by some desperate teams like the Lions. The Bucs won't draft until late in the round, plus they drafted a QB last year. I'm sure Licht will do his due diligence and if somebody falls in their lap who they secretly love then sure anything's possible. Don't hold your breath.
Answer: No.
Option 5) Make Gabbert the starter. If he was starter material he would have garnered some kind of attention around the league. There is film on this guy in the preseason. Obviously nobody showed any interest whatsoever. It's great to have him as a low budget emergency veteran backup. That's all he should ever be.
Answer: No.
Option 6) Kyle Trask. By now you know where I'm going with this. The Bucs surprised everyone by spending a 2nd round pick on Trask. Well, that wasn't just because Licht and Arians had a couple of drinks and said "Yahoo what the hell lets do it!" No this was a purposeful move to draft a future starter. If you want to look at it objectively you can't have any other conclusion. Fans are asking why did the Bucs waste a pick on a guy who is inactive for the entire season? You may be finding out the answer to that next season.
As a 2nd Round pick, Trask only has a four year contract. The Bucs will want to take advantage of that rookie salary scale. If you can get a starting QB for a $1.25 mil cap hit then you have some money to spend elsewhere. If Trask can just be serviceable then the Bucs will be OK.
Answer: Yes.
If Brady doesn't come back, Kyle Trask will be the starting quarterback for the Bucs in 2022.
