Buccaneers reveal timeline for naming Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask starter

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has an unofficial timeline in mind for naming a starting quarterback between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. 

"Some time during camp or right after there will be a decision made," Bowles told reporters, as shared by Fred Goodall of the Associated Press. "It’s still a competition right now. We’re not going to award (anybody) in shorts and T-shirts. In any competition, there’s waiting involved. You have to see who wins."

Trask has been with the Buccaneers since they made him a second-round draft pick in 2021, but the 25-year-old spent the majority of his first two pro campaigns as the third option on the depth chart beneath future Hall of Famer Tom Brady and primary backup Blaine Gabbert. In total, Trask has attempted only nine regular-season NFL passes. 

Meanwhile, Mayfield signed a one-year "prove it" contract with the Buccaneers after he most recently completed 63.6% of 129 pass attempts for 850 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions across five games and four starts with the Los Angeles Rams late last season. The first pick from the 2018 NFL Draft reportedly has the upper hand over Trask in the alleged quarterback competition and said during this week's mandatory minicamp he wants to enjoy "quick success" with the Buccaneers.

New Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales noted last month he isn't worried about scheming for a "shorter" quarterback with Mayfield listed at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds and Trask at 6-foot-5 and 236 pounds. Bowles spoke on Thursday about how Mayfield can avoid turnovers that may or may not be related to his lack of ideal size for playing the sport's most important position. 

"I have to see all of them first to see what kind they were, but you try to get the ball out of his hands and make sure he's making the right read," Bowles said, per the Buccaneers' official website. "If the guy is covered, try and throw it out of bounds. If you're a quarterback, you're going to take some chances and you're going to have some turnovers – just try to limit them as much as we can."

Bowles indicated that waiting until right after training camp to name a starter shouldn't prevent that signal-caller from being ready to open the regular season at the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 10. The job seems to be Mayfield's to lose, but Trask should receive opportunities to impress once the Buccaneers begin preseason play against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 11.