Latest news with #KyleTrask
USA Today
4 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Looking back: Grading the Bucs 2021 NFL Draft class years later
Looking back: Grading the Bucs 2021 NFL Draft class years later Coming off their Super Bowl LV win, the Buccaneers' entered the 2021 NFL Draft with few immediate needs, but also few resources as last pick in almost every round. General manager Jason Licht and the Bucs front office opted to augment the roster with their championship roster and make risky bets at positions of need. After four years, only one player from the 2021 class remains on Tampa Bay's roster. The Bucs derived little value from the premium picks and only got temporary contributions from the players who did see the field. Suffice it to say, the Bucs' 2021 draft class is not likely to be remembered fondly. Here are the final grades from the Bucs' 2021 draft: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka The Bucs went for high upside at a position of need with their first pick, but outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka simply did not work out. In four seasons with Tampa Bay, he never developed into much of a pass rusher, recording just 15 total sacks, 21 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles. The best thing Tryon-Shoyinka had going for him was his durability, missing just two games since entering the NFL. While there were not any better options at the position, this was an instance of the Bucs reaching for a need in a weak class at edge rusher and paying the price. Grade: C- Kyle Trask Taking swings on quarterbacks can be an underappreciated undertaking in the draft, but the Bucs appear to have swung too early on the wrong quarterback. Sure, Kyle Trask is the first quarterback the Bucs have ever drafted to receive a second contract, but he also could not beat out Baker Mayfield for the starting job in 2023 and has just 11 NFL dropbacks on his resume after four seasons. At a point when the Bucs could have bolstered their defensive line with the likes of Alim McNeil, Milton Williams or Osa Odighizuwa, they instead used their second-round pick on a career backup quarterback. Grade: D+ Robert Hainsey The Bucs' third-round pick was arguably the best of the class. After Ryan Jensen suffered an ultimately career-ending knee injury during training camp in 2022, Hainsey stepped in and started at center in every regular season game through the 2023 season. While the Bucs eventually upgraded the position in 2024 by drafting Graham Barton, Hainsey proved to be a valuable player likely to have a long NFL career. Grade: B- Jaelon Darden In the fourth round, Tampa Bay took a chance drafting undersized North Texas WR Jaelon Darden. Darden has yet to emerge as a receiver in the NFL, but he has shown value as a returner, taking 50 punts for a 9.4-yard average in two seasons with Tampa Bay. However, the Bucs cut Darden in December 2022, and he has been a returner for Cleveland and Seattle since. Grade: C- K.J. Britt When the Bucs took Auburn's K.J. Britt in the fifth round, they figured they were drafting a special teamer and linebacker depth. Devin White's regression over the next three years culminated in Britt filling in for White down the stretch in 2023 and entering 2024 as the presumed starter next to Lavonte David. However, Britt could not overcome his lack of athleticism and proved that he is best utilized in a reserve role. Grade: C+ Chris Wilcox The Bucs drafted cornerback Chris Wilcox with their first seventh-round pick. He was waived after the preseason and has bounced around practice squads across the NFL. Wilcox has yet to play a snap in a regular-season game and was out of the NFL in 2024. Grade: D+ Grant Stuard With their second seventh-round pick, the Bucs took 2021's Mr. Irrelevant, Houston LB Grant Stuard. While he only lasted one year with Tampa Bay, mostly playing special teams, Stuard is making a career out of his special-teams ability. He led the Indianapolis Colts in special teams snaps since the Bucs traded him for a 2023 sixth-round pick. The return value for the trade alone made Stuard one of the Bucs' better picks in 2021. Grade: B Overall As the reigning Super Bowl XL champions, the Bucs had fewer resources than most teams in the 2021 draft and failed to capitalize on what little value they had. Taking the swing on Joe Tryon-Shoyinka was understandable, but the Trask pick in the second round remains a major blemish. Targeting special teams contributors over more conventional depth proved to be a wasted opportunity to carry the roster past the Tom Brady era. The 2021 class will be remembered as one of Jason Licht's worst as Bucs general manager, second only to the disastrous 2016 draft class. Grade: D
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bucs rookie numbers are finally announced after two weeks of waiting
Bucs rookie numbers are finally announced after two weeks of waiting After two weeks of waiting, the 2025 Buccaneers Rookie Draft Class has selected their jersey numbers. With the rookie mini camp set to begin, the newest Buccaneers needed to select their jersey numbers. Although they can still be changed before week 1, their preliminary choices have been made. It was widely speculated that Egbuka may try to get number two, his college jersey number, off of Kyle Trask, who currently holds the number. However, Egbuka ended up in a discussion with the newest punter Riley Dixon, for the number nine jersey, where Dixon yielded. After Buccaneers legend Ronde Barber made it clear that Benjamin Morrison would not get the blessing to wear number 20, he will look to make number 21 the next number in the secondary to be off limits. Tez Johnson selected a familiar number, once held by Joe Jurevicius, as well as the late great Vincent Jackson
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bucs host a local QB prospect ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft
Bucs host a local QB prospect ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft The Bucs are set at the quarterback position with Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask on the roster, but they could add someone for an emergency or to stash on the practice squad. The NFL Draft is always an easy way to get a good value on a quarterback by either drafting one late on day three or by signing them as a UDFA. Wherever you target them, teams still have to do their homework, and that is what the Bucs are doing. For their benefit, there is someone right in their own backyard who could be an asset to the team. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston reported that the Bucs hosted Texas State quarterback Jordan McCloud. The former Bobcat is from Tampa Bay and attended USF before transferring to James Madison, Arizona, and ultimately Texas State. He passed for 10,135 yards and 88 touchdowns during his six years of college football. McCloud has ties to The Bay and NFL blood in his family, as he is the younger brother of Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud.
USA Today
17-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Five years ago, the Bucs made the biggest signing in franchise history
Five years ago, the Bucs made the biggest signing in franchise history The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a revolving door at the quarterback position over the time of their franchise. Kyle Trask last week became just the second quarterback in franchise history to be drafted and extended by the team in franchise history, joining Shaun King. On the note of quarterback history for the team, five years ago today, the team signed Tom Brady after his release from the New England Patriots. Brady signed for just $30 million per year, a bargain by today's standards of quarterback contracts. The result was three years of success for the team from 2020 to 2022, which included a Super Bowl win. Brady had a record of 32-18 during that three seasons with the team. He passed for 14,683 passing yards and 108 touchdowns within those three seasons for the Bucs. He still holds several franchise records both for a season and all-time within the franchise.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Average RAS score of Bucs draft picks by position
While it may not make sense to every NFL fan, the Scouting Combine provides some extra excitement while football is away from all of us. The on-field testing gives us a glimpse of what these players who are attempting to enter the league are capable of. One of the best things that come out of the NFL Scouting Combine is the RAS scores, as they help paint a better picture of the type of athlete players are. A RAS score is defined as a metric that compares a football player's athleticism to other players at the same position. What we did with these numbers is we looked over every pick that Jason Licht has made as general manager of the Bucs since 2016. We tallied all of the scores and found the average of those positions so you can follow who could fit into what the team looks for. Kent Lee Platte posts each score as testing is completed on his socials. For now, here is some of his work averaged together to find what players the Bucs will target come April's draft. Score: 5.9 Highest RAS: Kyle Trask 5.9 Lowest RAS: Kyle Trask 5.9 Score: 6.65 Highest RAS: Rachaad White 9.87 Lowest RAS: Bucky Irving 2.22 Score: 8.17 Highest RAS: Chris Godwin 9.66 Lowest RAS: Trey Palmer 6.18 Score: 7.03 Highest RAS: O.J. Howard 9.77 Lowest RAS: Ko Kieft 3.64 Score: 7.76 Highest RAS: Cody Mauch 9.85 Lowest RAS: Alex Cappa 4.11 Score: 7.26 Highest RAS: Khalil Davis 9.81 Lowest RAS: Stevie Tu'ikolovatu 0.84 Score: 8.32 Highest RAS: Yaya Diaby 9.87 Lowest RAS: Andre Anthony 5.91 Score: 6.7 Highest RAS: Devin White 9.32 Lowest RAS: K.J. Britt 4.69 Score: 8.01 Highest RAS: Jamel Dean 9.93 Lowest RAS: Josh Hayes 4.82 Score: 6.89 Highest RAS: Antoine Winfield Jr. 7.81 Lowest RAS: Jordan Whitehead 5.15 Score: N/A Highest RAS: N/A Lowest RAS: N/A This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Average RAS score of Bucs draft picks by position
