The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered the spring with enough confidence in quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask to not take a signal-caller in the 2023 NFL Draft. Now, a favorite has emerged in the Buccaneers’ quarterback competition.
Trask, the 64th overall pick in 2021, has received little playing time since entering the NFL. Serving as Tampa Bay’s third-string quarterback for two seasons, he appeared in just one game and completed 3-of-9 pass attempts for 23 yards, recording a 42.4 passer rating.
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Even operating as the third quarterback on the Buccaneers depth chart, Trask had issues. He struggled picking up the playbook, keeping him behind backup Blaine Gabbert. When provided more opportunities in the preseason, the former Florida Gators star struggled.
- Kyle Trask preseason stats: 72-of-122, 59% completion rate, 769 passing yards, 6.3 yards per attempt, 2-4 TD-INT ratio, 12 sacks taken, 69.33 passer rating
Following Brady’s retirement, the Buccaneers wanted a starting quarterback who could play the position like a point guard. While Trask is now being provided a chance to become the starter, he will be in a battle with Mayfield in training camp.
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Who will be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting QB in 2023?
Appearing on Sunday’s SportsCenter, ESPN NFL insider Jeff Darlington provided an update on the Buccaneers’ quarterback battle with an early favorite emerging.
“In general, we’re hearing the words that have been used to describe Baker Mayfield since the start of his career. The positive ones, like moxie and leadership. And those are the things so far in Tampa it feels like could earn him the starting job. There is just definitely a little bit more of a vibe when I talk to people about these two quarterbacks, that Baker seems to be imposing himself. Now, Kyle Trask is still in the hunt. There is no determination on who the starter will be in this quarterback competition. But at this point, it does feel that Baker is imposing himself over the competition.”
ESPN NFL reporter Jeff Darlington on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback competition between Baker Mayfield vs Kyle Trask
Mayfield, signed to a one-year contract, is looking to resurrect his NFL career. After leading the Cleveland Browns to an 11-5 record in 2019 and making the playoffs, Mayfield has been one of the worst NFL quarterbacks in the last two years.
- Baker Mayfield stats (2021-’22): 81.3 QB rating, 60.3% completion rate, 8-16 record, 5,173 passing yards, 27-21 TD-INT, 6.9 yards per attempt, 199 pass ypg, 79 sacks taken
However, Mayfield showed signs of improvement in a brief stint with the Los Angeles Rams. Across five games, four starts, he posted an 86.4 passer rating and completed 63.6 percent of his passes with a 4-2 TD-INT ratio and averaged 6.6 yards per pass attempt.
Evidently, it’s Mayfield’s intangibles that are providing him with the early edge in Tampa Bay. While both quarterbacks will split first-team reps in training camp, Mayfield is in the best position to succeed. If he is named the starter, operating an offense with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Mayfield could be a rebound candidate in 2023.
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