Baker Mayfield Takes on Role of Starting Quarterback for the Buccaneers

Mayfield secures the job over third-year pro Kyle Trask following an intense battle that commenced in the spring when he inked a one-year contract with the team.

TAMPA — Baker Mayfield captivates his teammates with an impressive debut.

He skillfully formed strong relationships with everyone, both on and off the field, through his openness and charm.

Next, he impressed his coaches and quickly grasped a new offense under the guidance of coordinator Dave Canales.

Mayfield claims victory as Bucs’ starting quarterback, outshining former Gators star Trask.

Coach Todd Bowles makes bold decision to name Mayfield starter after just two preseason games. Mayfield, who didn’t even play in one game, now has three weeks to prepare for regular season debut. Get ready, Minnesota!

“Baker is the starting quarterback,” Bowles said. “Kyle is No. 2.”

Bowles met with Trask on Tuesday morning to share important news, before updating Mayfield.

“There’s a lot that goes into it. I can’t sit up here and give you every detail,” Bowles said. “We go through minicamp, training camp and (organized team activities). We love everything Kyle has done and it’s gotten leaps and bounds better, and he has in the spring and he’s continued to get better and we’re excited about him.

“Baker is our guy right now, experience-wise and understanding the playbook just a little bit better. … We like both guys. We like where we’re at.”

Get ready for the news that has been looming since Mayfield inked his deal with the Bucs. Despite only being March, this already marks his fourth team in less than a year!

“Coach Bowles came up to me this morning. He’d told me he’d already talked to Kyle already and just informed me we’re going to roll with and just continue to make smart decisions and go from there,” Mayfield said. “Now I’ve just got to lead like I know how, and the real thing is right around the corner so it’s an exciting time.”

Mayfield triumphed once again, just as he did during his time as a walk-on at Texas Tech and Oklahoma, and when he faced off against Sam Darnold for the starting position in Carolina. This time, he emerged victorious in the competition against Trask, showcasing his ability to quickly take charge of the offense. His past experiences of resilience and adaptation to new teams undoubtedly played a role in his success.

Trask’s performance has been impressive in the preseason, with 28 completions out of 36 passes for 312 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. However, despite his improvement, he couldn’t surpass Mayfield’s dominance both on the field and in the locker room.

“I feel like I was comfortable enough in the system, had command of the offense and able to hit guys in the right spots,” Mayfield said. “That’s not saying anything against anybody else, I just feel like I’m in good command of the offense right now.”