Buccaneers Name Baker Mayfield Starting QB

The veteran and former No. 1 draft pick beat out Kyle Trask for the job.

The Buccaneers named Baker Mayfield as their starting quarterback Tuesday, as the veteran beat out Kyle Trask in their preseason competition. Trask will open the season as the backup.

A former No. 1 pick for the Browns, Mayfield spent last year with the Panthers and Rams. In 12 games, the quarterback totaled 2,163 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions with Carolina (seven games) and Los Angeles (five games).

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Mayfield was a free agent in the offseason and signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay as the Buccaneers move on from retired legend Tom Brady. However, Mayfield had to compete with Trask, a former second-round pick, for the starter job this summer.

TIME TO BAKE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7GTdEbdUgU

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 22, 2023

Although Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles waited until Tuesday to make the announcement, it’s not a shocking development, as Mayfield sat out Tampa Bay’s second preseason game while Trask played most of the game against the Jets.

Tampa Bay opens the season against the Vikings on Sept. 10.