Leading up to the start of the 2021 NFL Draft later this month, there has not been a lot of talk about Florida quarterback Kyle Trask. We already know that five signal callers likely will go in the first round, starting with Trevor Lawrence at No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
A Heisman finalist in 2020, Trask has not been bandied about as a first-round pick much until now. According to Peter King of NBC Sports, there’s a growing expectation that Trask will be the sixth quarterback off the board in the initial round.
Trask’s stats with the Gators last season suggests that he could very well perform at a high level in the NFL. The prototypical 6-foot-5 signal caller threw for 4,283 yards while leading the NCAA 43 touchdowns and throwing a mere eight interceptions.
Despite this, there’s some concerns over how Trask’s game will translate to the NFL. He’s a traditional pocket passer without any real mobility and boasts average arm strength. The appeal? Trask is as accurate as they come and can read defenses. Those are two big keys. They also lead us to believe that three teams are ideal fits for the quarterback in the first round later this month.
New Orleans Saints find future quarterback
Despite the Saints engaging in a quarterback competition between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill heading into the 2021 season, there’s a good chance that general manager Mickey Loomis will look to find a long-term successor to Drew Brees. That could very well come late in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Trask makes sense in Sean Payton’s offensive system. He fits well with what the mastermind likes at quarterback. That is to say, he is accurate. Remember, Brees himself fell to the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft primarily because of questions about his arm strength. How did that turn out for the Saints? Selecting 28th overall, New Orleans seems to be an ideal landing spot for Trask.
Washington Football Team stands pat, adds first-round quarterback
There have been rumors that Washington might look to pull off a blockbuster trade into the top five for North Dakota State star quarterback Trey Lance. Selecting 19th overall, the cost would be incredibly high to move up to the fourth selection with the Atlanta Falcons.
With holes on both sides of the field, it’s unknown whether new Washington general manager Martin Mayhew will want to exhaust that capital. Instead, the WFT could opt to stand pat and overdraft Trask at 19 or trade down to later in the first round while acquiring more assets. It could make sense for him to be a backup behind bridge starter Ryan Fitzpatrick in D.C.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft Trask to sit behind Tom Brady
There’s not a better quarterback to learn behind than seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. Seriously, this would be the most ideal scenario for Trask. He could sit behind the GOAT for the next two seasons, learning the nuances of the NFL game in the process.
It’s also important to note that Brady’s game is similar to Trask's. He doesn’t have the strongest of arms. Rather, the future Hall of Famer relies on football IQ and accuracy to dominate opponents. After retaining all of their core free agents, the Buccaneers can afford to use the 32nd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Trask. It almost makes too much sense.
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