The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (as well as the rest of the football world) were dealt some devastating news earlier this week when starting quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement. It wasn’t totally sad considering that the NFL legend did bring a Super Bowl to Tampa last season, however, it’s left the team searching for a new starting QB.
The 2022 NFL season doesn’t begin for another seven months or so, giving the Buccaneers ample time to conduct research before making a final decision. In the meantime, BetOnline has released odds on who will start under center for Tampa Bay next season. As it stands, the current favorite to do so is Kyle Trask at +400 odds.
The Buccaneers selected Trask with the 64th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The 23-year-old spent his collegiate career with the Florida Gators, completing 67.9% of his passes for 7,386 passing yards and 69 touchdowns to 15 interceptions in 27 games. He was also the 2020 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award recipient, which is given to the top offensive player who demonstrates qualities such as integrity and sportsmanship.
Tampa Bay drafted Trask with the hope that he could one day become their starting quarterback. He still hasn’t taken a regular season snap yet, so only time will tell if he’s up for the task. Still, he certainly has the potential to be an everyday QB and it’s up to the Buccaneers to see if they think he’s ready for that in 2022.
Unless a can’t-miss option comes up in free agency, there’s a good chance that Trask will be the No. 1 QB in Tampa this year.
Buccaneers QB 2022 Odds: Jimmy Garoppolo (+450)
One of the more talked-about NFL stories this week has surrounded San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo. The veteran gunslinger and the team itself have made it clear that they’re looking for a trade now that Trey Lance will be the starter going forward.
If the Buccaneers don’t have faith in Trask just yet, they could look for another veteran quarterback to act as a stop-gap. At +450 odds, it’s looking like there’s a good chance that Garoppolo could be that guy. After all, the 30-year-old was supposed to be Brady’s heir in New England, so this opportunity would give him the chance to do so but in Tampa instead.
Garoppolo started in 15 games for the 49ers this season. He completed 301-of-441 passing attempts for 3,810 passing yards and 20 TDs to 12 INTs. He also led San Francisco to the NFC Championship Game, as well as Super Bowl 54 two years ago, proving that he has the experience that the Buccaneers could be looking for.
Tampa Bay is in a cap crunch, so management will have to move some contracts around to fit Garoppolo’s $26.95 million cap hit. Although, he will be a free agent at the end of the 2022 season, so it’s not like trading for him would be a long-term commitment. If the Buccaneers think that he can help with Trask’s development, Garoppolo could be their starter next season.
Tampa Bay QB 2022 Odds: Carson Wentz (+550)
The Indianapolis Colts acquired QB Carson Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles last offseason in hopes that his former head coach, Frank Reich, could get him back to playing at an MVP level.
Wentz played every game on the Colts’ schedule, finishing with 3,563 passing yards and 27 touchdowns to seven interceptions. While he looked great in some games, he also played downright awful in some others. His play fell off towards the end of the season, playing a part in Indianapolis missing the playoffs. Now, management won’t even comment if he’s going to be the starting QB next season.
BetOnline is now saying that Wentz has +550 odds to be the Buccaneers No. 1 QB for the 2022 NFL season. Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians has claimed to be a fan of the veteran signal-caller in the past, so it only makes sense that he’d want to get his hands on him. Wentz also has three years and about $81 million left on his contract, which is an affordable price of he can reach his MVP level again.
Buccaneers Starting QB 2022 Odds
Odds via BetOnline as of Friday, February 4
- Kyle Trask (+400)
- Jimmy Garoppolo (+450)
- Carson Wentz (+550)
- Aaron Rodgers (+750)
- Teddy Bridgewater (+750)
- Derek Carr (+950)
- Ryan Fitzpatrick (+1200)
- Marcus Mariota (+1200)
- Cam Newton (+1200)
- Jameis Winston (+1400)
- Tyrod Taylor (+1400)
The complete odds list is available at BetOnline.ag.
