Tom Brady made his retirement from the NFL official Tuesday morning after 22 seasons and seven Super Bowl victories. While the 44-year-old’s departure from the playing field had to come sooner or later, it leaves the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a question mark at quarterback in 2022.
The Bucs signed Brady as a replacement for Jameis Winston in the 2020 offseason, and it immediately paid dividends with a title in Super Bowl LV. Tampa Bay lost in the divisional round of the playoffs this year before saying goodbye to Brady.
SportsBetting.ag released probabilities Tuesday for who Tampa Bay’s Week 1 starting quarterback will be this year, listing a number of NFL quarterbacks — including two retired players.
Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers opened as the favorite at +400. But as of Tuesday evening, he had been eclipsed by someone actually on Tampa Bay’s roster: Kyle Trask.
The Buccaneers selected Trask in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. A Florida product, Trask sat behind Brady as a rookie and did not see any game action. Trask opened at +650 but saw his odds quickly shorten to +400, ahead of Garoppolo at +450.
Garoppolo, coincidentally, spoke to reporters Tuesday and did not hide the fact that he expects the 49ers will trade him this offseason. San Francisco drafted quarterback Trey Lance third overall in last year’s draft and is keen on starting a new era with him under center.
“I just want to go to a place where they want to win,” Garoppolo said. “That’s really what I’m in this game for. I’m here to play football, win football games and as long as I’ve got that and good people around me, I think the rest will take care of itself.”
Following Garoppolo on the list of possible Bucs newcomers is Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz at +550. Wentz just completed his first season with Indianapolis, which missed out on a playoff berth by losing to Jacksonville in Week 18. His turnover issues seemed largely behind him until that game, when he tossed an interception and lost a fumble to the worst team in the league. It’s hard to say whether the Colts would entertain moving Wentz after just one year.
Green Bay Packers three-time MVP Aaron Rodgers is tied for fourth favorite at +750. Rodgers made it known last offseason that he was unhappy in Green Bay, and after a tumultuous but productive season, he’s expected to be the biggest piece of the offseason quarterback carousel whether he’s traded or stays in town.
Other notable options on the board include Cam Newton (+1200), who returned to the Carolina Panthers in 2021 but did not have much success; a reunion with Winston (+1400); Russell Wilson (+1600), who is potentially disgruntled in Seattle; and Blaine Gabbert (+2500), also presently on the Bucs’ roster.
Houston Texans signal-caller Deshaun Watson, who sat out 2021 while embroiled in sexual assault and misconduct lawsuits, appears at +2500. Former Chargers and Colts quarterback Philip Rivers, who retired after the 2020 season, is at +5000, tied with fellow retiree Andrew Luck, a former Colt.
–Field Level Media