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In the quest to find a worthy successor to the legendary Tom Brady, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been closely evaluating quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask during their offseason program.
Despite a recent embarrassing video showing both quarterbacks misfiring passes during practice, Mayfield appears to have the edge over Trask in the ongoing competition.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler provided some insight into Mayfield’s mindset, stating, “I’m told that Baker Mayfield has been working like a player who’s lost two jobs in the past, both in Cleveland and Carolina, and doesn’t want that to happen again. He’s had a nice edge to him behind the scenes.”
Mayfield’s experience dealing with numerous offensive coordinators throughout his career may prove beneficial in this quarterback battle. With a new coordinator in Tampa, Dave Canales, Mayfield’s adaptability and work ethic could give him an advantage.
On the other hand, Trask has reportedly made adjustments to his mechanics, showing improved accuracy during OTAs and minicamp.
Both quarterbacks have the potential to make a strong case for the starting role, making it likely that the competition will extend into training camp to assess their performance in various scenarios.
Mayfield, the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, had a rollercoaster career and recently signed a one-year contract worth up to $8.5 million after stints with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams in the 2022 season.
While he experienced a resurgence in his performance during the final games of the season with the Rams, Mayfield struggled to find a team willing to offer him a guaranteed starting job.
Trask, selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, spent the last two seasons learning from Brady as his backup.
Checking in on the Bucs' QB competition between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/8kZQzEbdsp
— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) May 30, 2023
Kyle Trask, Baker Mayfield, and John Wolford getting some work in with the tight end group. #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/GA7kkYhml0
— Logan B. Robinson (@LogansTwitty) May 23, 2023
Replacing Tom Brady will be a significant adjustment for the Buccaneers, as his leadership and stability in the offense were unparalleled.
Mayfield, despite his NFL experience, has yet to demonstrate the same level of consistency and success, while Trask is still an unproven quarterback who some analysts viewed as a reach in the 2021 draft.
The coaching staff will closely monitor their performance and ultimately make a decision based on who proves to be the best fit for leading the team in the upcoming season.