Buccaneers GM insists Baker Mayfield will compete with Kyle Trask

It appears Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht heard suggestions that head coach Todd Bowles may favor quarterback Baker Mayfield over career backup Kyle Trask. 

"Baker is a tough competitor who plays with the kind of passion and confidence that you look for in a quarterback," Licht said in a statement regarding the signing of Mayfield that was shared by Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "He’s a young veteran with good upside who should thrive in our new offensive system with receivers like Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Russell Gage. He had an impressive 2020 season when he led the (Cleveland Browns) to their playoff appearance and did some good things during his brief stint with the (Los Angeles Rams) at the end of last season." 

Licht may have buried the lede. 

"I know from speaking with him that he is excited to come in and compete for the starting job," the executive ended the statement. 

Shortly after it was learned the Buccaneers were signing Mayfield to a one-year contract worth up to $8.5M, NFL Network's Rich Eisen raised eyebrows when he said during his Roku program that "Bowles hopes Baker Mayfield’s the guy" who can ultimately replace retired living legend Tom Brady this year. 

That was after Armando Salguero of Outkick and Fox News wrote for a piece published on March 1 that Bowles first coveted Mayfield while serving as head coach of the New York Jets ahead of the 2018 NFL Draft. 

Mayfield is a polarizing figure for multiple reasons. The first-overall pick of the 2018 draft guided the Browns to a playoff appearance and a postseason win at the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he more recently flopped with the Carolina Panthers last fall before he enjoyed some personal success during his cup of coffee with the Rams. 

It's also worth noting this is Mayfield's first full offseason as an active participant with a club since the spring of 2021, as the Browns replaced him with Deshaun Watson last March.  

One thing nobody can deny is Mayfield is far more proven at the highest level than Trask. Trask entered the NFL as a second-round selection in 2021 and was able to sit and learn behind Brady, but the 25-year-old also has attempted a total of nine career NFL regular season passes. 

Mayfield defeated Sam Darnold to win the Carolina starting job last summer, so a quarterback competition likely wouldn't bother the 27-year-old later this year. For such a battle to be even a possibility, though, Licht and Bowles may need to make sure they're on the same page.