The Bucs have re-signed quarterback Connor Bazelak, per an announcement made via social media from his agent Joe Vaccaro. Its a one-year for $1.005 as Bazelak enters his second year in the league.
Connor Bazelak’s History With Bucs
Bazelak signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent out of Bowling Green. He began his career at Missouri and then went to Indiana before finishing his career out at Bowling Green where he started 53 games and went 13 and 11 throwing for 4,979 yards and 30 touchdowns in two seasons.
When Bazelak was originally brought in, it was thought that he was just going to be an extra arm for training camp with Baker Mayfield starting and Kyle Trask backing up. But Tampa Bay ended up signing veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the middle of training camp, making Trask expendable. Bridgewater beat out Trask for the backup job, and Tampa Bay was impressed enough by Bazelak to keep him on the practice squad as a developmental project, thus they cut Trask and went with Mayfield, Bridgewater and Bazelak going into the season.
Bucs QB Connor Bazelak – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Bazelak was mostly the emergency for the Bucs throughout the season. He was a game day call up for a home game against the Cardinals in Week 13 after Mayfield had been dealing with some injuries.
Outlook Of QB Room
The re-signing of Bazelak makes sense for Tampa Bay. He’s an inexpensive option that the Bucs can still continue to develop this season before ultimately deciding on if he can be a factor on the roster. In the meantime the Bucs will likely search for a primary backup. They can go the veteran route again or even consider taking a quarterback on day three of the draft.
Bucs QB Connor Bazelak – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Its a big season for starting quarterback Baker Mayfield, too. He is in a contract year and no extension has been discussed yet. Mayfield does get reunited with Zac Robinson, who will try to get the best season out of him yet. This is also an opporutniry for Bazelak to learn from Robinson as he furthers his career.