Insider: Buccaneers have made Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask decision

It appears the quarterback competition between Tampa Bay Buccaneers free-agency signing Baker Mayfield and 2021 second-round draft pick Kyle Trask is essentially over. 

As shared by the JoeBucsFan website, Buccaneers insider and Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Ira Kaufman reported Thursday that the "Bucs internally have Baker Mayfield as the No. 1 quarterback" and "will start" the 28-year-old for the Week 1 clash at the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 10. 

Kaufman shared his update one day after Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles confirmed Mayfield will start over Trask in Tampa Bay's preseason opener versus the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday night. Bowles made it known Wednesday that Trask is on track to start at the New York Jets on Aug. 19, but it seems the coaching staff may settle on a QB1 before that exhibition contest gets underway. 

During a Wednesday appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Bowles hinted that there is a definite leader in the clubhouse regarding the quarterback battle. According to JoeBucsFan, Bowles also discussed how Mayfield has matured, survived and grown since his days as a rookie in 2018. 

"He’s been through some things where he’s learned some things," Bowles said about Mayfield. "He’s learned how to be a professional. He’s learned humility on the outside. He’s learned how to fight and come back on the inside. And he has a chance to do something special if he starts here." 

As recently as Wednesday, it was thought Bowles would want to name a starter shortly after the preseason matchup against the Jets, if not sooner. Mayfield theoretically could produce a dud on Friday night and leave the door open for Trask, but it looks like the 25-year-old who spent the bulk of his first two pro seasons as a backup behind Tom Brady won't rise to the top of the depth chart before the upcoming campaign begins.