Buccaneers named Baker Mayfield QB1

With 1 preseason match to go, Tampa Bay Buccaneers manager Todd Bowles named Baker Mayfield their QB1 for the 2023 campaign, as he will need to fill the shoes that Tom Brady left.

Baker, the 1^st pick at the 2018 NFL Draft, who played until now for Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, and Carolina Panthers, was chosen ahead of 2021 2^nd round selection Kyle Trask.

The #Bucs are going with Baker Mayfield as their starting QB, coach Todd Bowles announced.

The former No. 1 overall pick, Mayfield beat out Kyle Trask for the right to succeed Tom Brady and will start the Sept. 10 opener at Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/Fvcc47uI6J

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GM Jason Licht, Bowles, and offensive coordinator Dave Canales agreed that carrying on a lengthy QB competition so deep into the preseason would mean fewer reps for the eventual 1^st choice. Still, the organization felt it was the right decision to give Trask a true chance to compete after 2 seasons behind Tom and Blaine Gabbert.

Baker’s experience was the crucial factor in being chosen ahead of Trask, who showed great things during the training camp, but Mayfield has 69 regular season matches as a starter in the NFL to his name.