The Buccaneers re-signed Blaine Gabbert on Wednesday, which isn't a surprise if you've followed the team over the last couple of years.

Gabbert has been the Buccaneers' backup quarterback since Bruce Arians and Co. arrived in 2019. He missed the entire 2019 season due to a preseason injury, but his role was clear before the injury. He's been lauded for teaching Tom Brady the offense and Bruce Arians has even gone public with the sentiment that Gabbert is the most underrated player in the NFL.

But even though the coaching staff thinks highly of him and even though Gabbert has mastered the offense, there's a chance he could end up as the Buccaneers third-string quarterback in 2022.

It all depends on how much growth Kyle Trask shows in Year 2 of his NFL career. Trask was taken with the very last pick in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft with the thought of eventually becoming "the guy" post-Brady. He is extremely raw, but has the tools that are required to run Byron Leftwich's offense.

And of those tools, he has the most important one – processing ability.

Trask's rookie year was essentially a redshirt year. He was very inconsistent throughout camp and the preseason, which was the only extended action he received outside of weekly practice. It's safe to say many outside of the Buccaneers coaching staff will be watching Trask with a close eye this offseason in an attempt to properly evaluate his development.

Gabbert's spot is not safe if Trask shows a big jump. And honestly, Gabbert getting kicked down to the No. 3 quarterback position is a great thing for the Buccaneers, in general. Brady is obviously on a year-to-year basis in regard to his playing status, so the Buccaneers really need to see substantial improvement from Trask. This is so they aren't left with a bare cupboard if Brady decides to play elsewhere or permanently retire in 2023.

It would be a major point of emphasis for Trask to take over as the Buccaneers' No. 2 QB. One could even make an argument that it would the second-biggest development behind Brady's return. A highly-improved Trask would not only echo the Bucs' faith in the kid, but he would give them hope and promise for life after Brady. It would also mean Jason Licht isn't a player in the veteran quarterback market every single year.

The opposite of all that is also true, however: Trask failing to pass Gabbert in regard to the Bucs' quarterback hierarchy would be a major disappointment. Sure, there's a chance he could pick things up by Year 3, but failing to take a big step in Year 2 will bring up a lot of questions about the former Gator's future in Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers can't be comfortable with a big question mark at the game's most important position in 2023. And that would be accompanied by the ever-increasing stink of a bust for a pick.

In other words: it wouldn't be good.

Trask can be a long-term solution for this team and the Buccaneers want Trask to work. But he's gotta show them he's capable of beating out a career backup before things even start to get serious in regard to his potential as a starter.

And that all starts in 2022.

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