Getty Image / Cliff Welch
This offseason, there aren’t too many teams around the NFL with quarterback situations that feel unsettled.
Most teams around the league have an established starter or a rookie that is expected to take over some time this season even if they don’t begin the year at the top of the depth chart.
The big exception is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Following Tom Brady’s retirement, the team’s plan at quarterback is unclear.
They signed Baker Mayfield this offseason and he’s competing with former 2nd round pick Kyle Trask for the starting job.
Mayfield was expected to win the job and start for his 4th team in 3 years, but it looks like things are far from settled in this competition.
While speaking to the media last night, Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales was asked if the QB race is tightening and he revealed that it “absolutely” is.
Has Bucs QB competition gotten tighter? ‘Absolutely,’ Dave Canales says https://t.co/zTeAhxMzHw
— Sports by Tampa Bay Times (@TBTimes_Sports) August 1, 2023
“First couple of days, I think the experience that Baker brings — just playing in games, being in camps, going through installs — you could see where the offense was jelling really well,” Canales said, via Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times. “The timing of the snaps and all that is really critical for us, so probably a little bit of an edge for Baker to start off, just in terms of the smoothness of the offense. But it just took a couple of days for Kyle to really settle in, and then what we saw is, the last two practices Kyle really showed what he can do: stretching the field with his arm, getting the ball out quickly, making decisions. So I’m really excited about both of those guys and the progression that they’ve made throughout the last couple of days.”
Whoever does end up winning this battle will be set up pretty well for the 2023 season with an interesting group of pass catchers.
They’ll have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Russell Gage at receiver and Cade Otton at tight end after he showed some solid potential in his rookie season.
It looks like it may be a while before we find who will be throwing to the group for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.