Tampa Bay’s quarterback competition has officially ended. Baker Mayfield was named the Buccaneers’ starter on Tuesday, per a team announcement.
During the offseason, Mayfield has appeared to be the favorite to win out over 2021 second-rounder Kyle Trask. The competition between the two has been close, however, and both signal-callers split first-team reps during training camp. Neither passer did enough to stand out above the other for the first preseason contest to be sufficient to determine a winner. 
Trask drew praise for his arm strength and improved ball security during the summer, but the fact that Mayfield did not play in Tampa’s second preseason contest seemed to put the latter in pole position. Head coach Todd Bowles said after that game that both Trask and Mayfield would play in the preseason finale, something which appeared to leave the competition yet to be won by either passer. Instead, a firm decision has now been made, with the far more experienced quarterback getting the nod.
Mayfield, 28, signed a one-year, $4MM deal in free agency with the hopes of serving as Tom Brady‘s successor. The former No. 1 pick’s starting days in Cleveland were over once Deshaun Watson was acquired via trade, a move which eventually saw Mayfield dealt to the Panthers. A fresh start was needed, but it did not go as planned. Mayfield went 1-5 in Carolina and his performance led to his release in December.
A brief audition with the Matthew Stafford-less Rams ensued, and the Oklahoma product started four games in Los Angeles (including a win in his debut which came days after his arrival). It still came as no surprise that Mayfield was only able to land a low-cost, one-year deal on the open market. The former Heisman winner could very well be entering a make-or-break season with respect to his future as an NFL starter.
Trask, meanwhile, will begin his third straight Tampa Bay campaign on the bench. As Brady’s understudy, the Florida product only made one regular season appearance and he has just nine pass attempts to his name. The 2023 offseason represented his best opportunity to earn the No. 1 role – something which would have provided much-needed information for the team regarding how they would approach his long-term future in the organization.
A report from earlier this month indicated Mayfield would have a short leash if named the starter, given Trask’s showings in the offseason. It will be interesting to see if that holds true as all attention will now turn to the former’s ability to rebound from his 2022 performance and, potentially, secure a multi-year future in his new home.
Watched alot of Brown’s games they could’ve won, but Baker didn’t come through. He just isn’t a winner, doesn’t have that TB12 mentality. Overhyped with the TV commercials. Too much Jeff George.
George could throw it though. Just a jerk as person and teammate.
See, I look at it differently
If Chubb could catch out of the backfield, the Browns would have beaten the Chefs in that playoff game from a few years ago. No, I am excited to see what Mayfield can do as a Buccaneer!! It’s time to Bake
The browns are one of the worst run programs in the NFL and a graveyard for quarterbacks. Mayfield played hurt, played tough and produced in the middle of a nightmare organization.
He’s thrown more interceptions than anyone since 2018
Behind a brutal offensive line, in fact probably over bakers time in dogland, the worst offensive line overall in nfl history.
You lost all credibility with that comment. The offensive line is and has been considered their best position group. They routinely send 2 offensive lineman to the pro bowl every year. Baker Mayfield is similar to Mitch Trubisky. He’ll look decent at times but in the end he’s about the 25th best quarterback in the league
Worst OL in NFL history??
Lol
I thought they would give Trask the shot. Need to find out if Trask has any potential or if they have already decided and this year is just TANK for Caleb Williams!!
When will Trask see the field? I say by week 6-8. Baker will be ‘hurt’ and they need to ‘rest him for some time’.
Baker might thrive in Tampa. Completely different atmosphere than in Cleveland or Carolina. (No threat of coach being fired at any moment)
We’ll see. Didn’t show much in LA either & McVay is very secure in his job. I don’t even think the Rams made an offer to him.
He also was acquired midway through the year. This is different, even though they had one of those “QB competitions” that really just make the offense worse because it lasted too long for anyone to get their feet under them…besides, it’s not like Carolina or L.A. were good teams themselves last year.
In contrast to the commenter above, I saw plenty of Browns games where Mayfield and Chubb were the only starters who seemed to be trying (such as that Browns-Patriots game where Beckham and Landry were nowhere to be found). I’m not saying that Mayfield is that great, but in his defense, he was also stuck with Freddie Kitchens and Hugh Jackson to begin his career, and then saddled with two expensive starting wideouts who didn’t even show up to practice in the offseason. Baker needs a reset more than anyone does, but you are correct in that there’s no guarantee that he’ll be worth it. This doesn’t feel like a long term job either, minus anything but an All-Pro season.
Don’t be so sure about Bowles, he’s definitely no favorite among Buccaneer fans. Bad start could change things.
Basically they are playing for next season then?
Tanking the season is in effect.
I don’t think it’s a tank by choice. They’re cap-strapped and couldn’t afford anyone who wouldn’t take what Mayfield did. They should have a healthier Ryan Jensen back this year at center so that could make a difference. Unless things changed drastically, that division is still probably the weakest.
A little sarcasm was sprinkled in there, but I’d have looked at some other options that were or are on the market. He just rubs me the wrong way and apparently everyone and where else he plays.
Trey Palmer is going to be a STUD!
Watching a number of the younger QBs in preseason I’ve noticed they either hold the ball too long (not acclimated to the speed of defensive players) or they don’t have ‘game coordination’ with receivers or ‘backs’….maybe practices aren’t as juiced as they could be?
There’s also 40 players that might end up cut so with only 3 games before the season starts the Oline offerings are as porous as a fish net
Yuck
Winning this competition is the NFL equivalent of getting a stone as a prize in your box of Cracker Jacks.
Of the 98th Door Prize when there are only 97 door prizes?
Baker is just not a starting NFL QB.
In fact, he just plain stinks.
I am taking the opposite
Trask had to go back into Saturday night’s game because John Wolford suffered a scary neck injury that required a night in the hospital. That only helped Mayfield’s cause to be the Bucs’ QB1.
When the game is on the line Mayfield will make the big mistake, i.e., he’s perfectly adequate until you need him to be more than that.
#CrumbleForCaleb
#PaveWayForMaye
On the website it says that this story is 2 minutes old but it was posted 3 hours ago. Is it registering most recent edits or comments?
They re-post one of the day’s top stories every night, probably to increase engagement. Gets them more clicks with fewer articles.
It’s the time it’s edited not a repost persay, the edits are usually insignificant though
4-13
As an incentive to their home field fan base as well as a “welcome” to the new starting quarterback, at all home games started by Baker Mayfield, concession stands will sell corn on the cob for a BUCK AN EAR !!
Arians drove this decision from behind the scenes because he was enamored with Mayfeild despite him sucking. Bowles needs to become his own man and try to build his own offensive identity. Arians isn’t coming back to save your offense when it sucks just like he didn’t last year with Leftwich left to his own devices.