Head coach Todd Bowles has officially named Baker Mayfield as the Buccaneers’ starting quarterback for the upcoming 2023 regular season.
Kyle Trask, who was in competition with Mayfield for the coveted position, will serve as the backup to the No. 1 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
“Baker is our starting quarterback. Kyle is No. 2,” Bowles announced to reporters on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. The Buccaneers’ social media team promptly shared the news on “X” (Twitter).
Mayfield and Trask have been vying for the starting position throughout training camp, aiming to fill the void left by Tom Brady.
The first unofficial depth chart had listed the starting quarterback position as Mayfield “OR” Kyle Trask, reflecting the close competition between the two.
“Coach Bowles came up to me this morning,” Mayfield shared with reporters. “He told me that he had talked with Kyle already. He just informed me they were going to roll with me.”
Mayfield, who was given the starting nod for the first preseason game, completed eight of nine passes for 63 yards and a touchdown.
He expressed his excitement about the opportunity, stating, “Now I’ve just got to lead like I know how, and the real thing is right around the corner. It’s an exciting time.”
The Buccaneers signed Mayfield to a one-year deal in the offseason after he played for two teams during the 2022 NFL season. This move marks a fresh start for Mayfield, who is now playing for his fourth team in three years.
“I don’t need anyone on the outside to tell me what I can or can’t do,” Mayfield said in July, via the Buccaneers website.
“I know what I am capable of. Yeah, I mean I got hurt in Cleveland. That is why my run ended there. Then last year, it was what it was in Carolina. Everything happens for a reason. I am here now, and I am ready to go.”
Meanwhile, Trask, who was selected by the Bucs in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, is yet to start a game.
Despite this, his performance in Week 2 of the preseason against the New York Jets, where he threw for 218 yards and a touchdown, shows promising future contributions from him to the team.
As the Buccaneers prepare to open the 2023 regular season against the Minnesota Vikings, all eyes will be on Mayfield as he steps into his new role and seeks to lead the team to victory.
