Buccaneers Name Baker Mayfield Their Starting Quarterback

Dustin Satloff. Getty Images.

The Buccaneers announced Baker Mayfield as the starting Quarterback today. Mayfield was in a competition with 3rd year QB Kyle Trask for the job which was announced as an open competition. So much so, what when the depth chart was released two weeks ago, the Quarterback position had an "OR" between the two competitors.

Early on through mini-camp and the early part of training camp, Baker held a sizeable lead over Trask. But then Trask put on what some said were an incredible two weeks of camp that led new Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales to admit that Trask had closed the gap considerably and it was a "true competition". 

One of the main factors in the decision was turnovers. Canales and Bucs Head Coach Todd Bowles had both said whoever turns it over the least will likely win the job. That counts for both training camp and the pre-season games. And while Mayfield turned it over a few more times than Trask, he showed more composure, better grasp of the offense, and a willingness to push the ball down the field. Trask played it a bit too safe in camp and in the first pre-season game vs. the Steelers went 6/10 for 99 yards with 0 TDs and 1 INT. Mayfield in that game was 8/9 for 66 yards with 1 TD and 0 INTs getting the start.

They alternated starts with Trask getting the nod on Saturday vs. the Jets and he played well. He went 20/28 for 208 yards with 1 TD and 0 INTs and some impressive plays. But what was telling was that Baker didn't play at all. They kept him on ice and Bowles announced today what most suspected, that Baker Mayfield will get the ball Week 1 in Minnesota.

It makes sense given that Bowles is on the hot seat after a rough 8-9 year last year. Even though they won the division, the hopes were much higher for a Tom Brady-led Buccaneers squad. He's going with the guy who gives him the best shot to win now and I think it's a good move. If Baker struggles, Kyle Trask will be the most popular guy in town, but the last time we saw Baker fully healthy in Cleveland in he threw for 26 TDs to just 8 INTs and led the Browns to their first playoff win in decades. Hopefully he can recapture some of that Baker magic and lead the Bucs to a successful season in a woeful NFC South.