Buccaneers QB Mayfield comments on position battle

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield comments on position battle

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated Aug 5, 2023 8:08 PM ET

Entering his sixth professional season, Baker Mayfield is again competing for a job, but as he told Sara Walsh of NFL Network, it's old hat to the former No. 1 overall pick.

"It's nothing really new to me. I've been doing it since high school having to battle for a spot," Mayfield said. "It's just being comfortable within the internal pressure and trying to elevate my own game."

How is the QB competition going in Tampa?@Sara_Walsh sat down with Baker Mayfield after practice. pic.twitter.com/XtEaLKjG4x
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 5, 2023

Regarding the competition for the starting job in Tampa Bay, the more experienced Mayfield has the upper hand over Kyle Trask, but the second-year QB is reportedly closing the gap.

Trask, selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, saw 10 snaps his rookie year, going 3-of-9 for 23 yards and an interception.

Meanwhile, Mayfield split 2022 with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams. Mayfield went only 2-8 in 10 starts, finishing with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions with a 79.0 passer rating.

However, while he's hoping to grab the No. 1 spot ahead of Trask, he said the overall goal for each signal-caller is to get better together during camp.

"When it comes to quarterback battles, you just want the whole quarterback room to improve and progress as camp goes on," Mayfield said. "It's all about us pushing each other in there. I'm comfortable with this competition and enjoying it as I go."

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on Twitter at @mike__sb

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