Buccaneers OC gives insight into Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask competition

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales revealed that Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask must avoid turnovers to win a quarterback competition this summer. 

"And then the other way, the other way of looking at it is these guys both play absolutely lights out," Canales recently explained during an appearance on the "Pewter Report Podcast," per Adam Slivon of Pewter Report. "They play out of their mind – we’re talking like 80% completion in training camp, preseason. And they’re just ripping it and neither one of them turns it over...Then it’s who has the most explosive plays? Yeah, that guy will get the job. Or throws the most touchdowns? That guy gets the job." 

Trask originally joined the Buccaneers as a second-round pick during the 2021 NFL Draft but has attempted just nine regular-season passes and seemingly trails Mayfield in a battle some assume is already decided. Head coach Todd Bowles said earlier in June, however, he won't name a starter until "some time during camp or right after." As for Mayfield, StatMuse shows that his 64 regular-season interceptions are the most by any NFL quarterback since he entered the league as the first choice of the 2018 draft. 

Canales previously raved about Mayfield's "swag" and dismissed concerns related to the fact that the 28-year-old is listed at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds. The coordinator who most recently served as the quarterbacks coach with the Seattle Seahawks somewhat compared Mayfield to Denver Broncos signal-caller Russell Wilson and current Seattle starter Geno Smith during the podcast discussion. 

"One of the things that just jumped out right away is his ability to throw the ball down the field to anybody," Canales said about Mayfield. "Putting the ball in a catchable place down the field, I was like, 'Oh, this is cool, I’m used to this.' Whether it was Russell or Geno, I’m used to this guy being able to launch it. I think one of the things that Baker has also brought is that ability to know when to fold ’em and say this is not the coverage for this play, get it down quick, get it out; next play." 

Canales added that Mayfield must improve "his specific footwork and timing for the different concepts." The coach was sure to mention that Trask also impressed during springtime workouts. 

"I think one of the coolest things that popped up for me was his ability to see the vertical seams on all-go, four verts, two-by-two, three-by-one, empty [sets], with some end-of-the-game situations," Canales said about Trask. "His ability to see where the defender’s at on this guy running vertically, and layer the ball. Put it on his back shoulder...throwing it lower. He had all kinds of cool throws in between the numbers." 

While many doubt Trask will start when Tampa Bay opens the upcoming season at the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 10, Canales indicated the competition is far from over in the early days of summer.