With one preseason game to go, Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles named Baker Mayfield the starting quarterback for the 2023 season, filling the very large shoes of Tom Brady.
Mayfield, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft who has had stints with the Browns, Rams and Panthers, beat out 2021 second-round draft pick Kyle Trask.
"Baker's our starting quarterback, Kyle's our No. 2," Bowles said. "We love everything Kyle has done. And he's gotten leaps and
bounds better than he was in the spring and he's continuing to get better and we're excited about him.
But Baker's our guy right now -- experience-wise and just understanding the playbook just a little bit better.
But Kyle's on the come [up]. But we like both guys. We like where we're at. Baker's [No.] 1, Kyle's [No.] 2." Bowles first notified Trask on Tuesday morning, then Mayfield.
"Now I've just got to lead like I know how, and the real thing is right around the corner," Mayfield said. "It's an exciting time."
"Now I've just got to lead like I know how, and the real thing is right around the corner," Mayfield said. "It's an exciting time."
He then signed with the Rams and performed well enough to earn a fresh new start in Tampa.
But being named the starter in Tampa didn't make things any sweeter for him as he views this as merely the first step in a long road ahead.
I expect to be the starter, Mayfield said. "I know how talented I am. I kow what type of leader I am. Now it's time for the real thing. We're about to have the real games and everybody's excited here.
General manager Jason Licht, Bowles and offensive coordinator Dave Canales all acknowledged that continuing a lengthy quarterback competition so deep into camp would mean fewer reps
for the eventual starter, but the Bucs felt it was necessary to give Trask a true opportunity after two years behind Brady and Blaine Gabbert.