Baker Mayfield addresses being named Buccaneers starting quarterback

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield spoke with reporters Tuesday shortly after it was learned he defeated 2021 second-round draft pick Kyle Trask in a competition for the starting job that seemingly was decided before the club's first preseason game. 

"(Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles) came up to me this morning," Mayfield explained, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "He’d told me he’d already talked to Kyle already and just informed me we’re going to roll with and just continue to make smart decisions and go from there. Now I’ve just got to lead like I know how, and the real thing is right around the corner so it’s an exciting time."

This is the second straight summer Mayfield had to earn his place atop the depth chart with a new employer. He initially joined the Carolina Panthers via a trade from the Cleveland Browns in July 2022 and then won that team's starting gig over fellow 2018 first-round draft pick Sam Darnold. 

Mayfield failed to cement himself as Carolina's long-term QB1 before the club released him in December. He enjoyed a brief stop with the Los Angeles Rams through the remainder of the campaign and then signed a one-year "prove it" deal with the Bucs in March. 

It was reported ahead of Tampa Bay's preseason opener versus the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 11 that Mayfield would get the nod over Trask for at least the Week 1 game at the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 10. 

Mayfield then outperformed Trask against Pittsburgh, and the fact that the 28-year-old sat for all of this past Saturday's exhibition matchup at the New York Jets caused individuals such as David Harrison of FanNation's BucsGameday to say that Tampa Bay had "clearly...made the decision to move forward with Mayfield as its starter." 

Mayfield sounded unsurprised while addressing the news confirmed by Bowles on Tuesday.

"I feel like I was comfortable enough in the system, had command of the offense and able to hit guys in the right spots," Mayfield noted. "That’s not saying anything against anybody else, I just feel like I’m in good command of the offense right now."

Mayfield completed 8-of-9 passes for 63 yards and one touchdown against Pittsburgh while still working to master an offense installed by new coordinator Dave Canales. 

Tampa Bay's bye arrives after a Week 4 contest at the New Orleans Saints, meaning Bowles and Canales theoretically could use that break to get Trask ready to face the Detroit Lions in Week 6 if Mayfield produces four straight duds early this season. 

"We need everybody in there to be a part of it and we're pushing for the same goal -- to win games," Mayfield added about the team's quarterback room, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. "I've been in that spot that Kyle's in first-hand last year. So it's all about support. You never know when your chance is going to come. You just have to stay ready and be the same guy for your guys every day."