Tampa Bay Buccaneers make Baker Mayfield decision after he was told to retire

07 August 2023 , 21:54

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Baker Mayfield signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year deal worth $8.5 million (£6.6m) (Image: AP)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will start Baker Mayfield at quarterback in their first preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers before Kyle Trask will get his chance the following week.

Last season, Tampa Bay struggled to finish with a losing record of 8-9 yet they somehow emerged victorious in the NFC South. Their unlikely trip to the playoffs was fuelled on the back of the strength of the defence as the offense under NFL legend Tom Brady faltered en route to the wild card loss versus the Dallas Cowboys.

Brady then announced his retirement, opening the door for Mayfield to sign with the Bucs, providing competition for Trask who the franchise drafted after their Super Bowl LV win in 2021. Mayfield is expected to be the starter for the 2023 NFL season but Trask is highly regarded within the organisation.

After a torrid stint with the Carolina Panthers last season, Mayfield impressed with the Los Angeles Rams but opted to sign with the Bucs to compete for a chance to start in the NFL. He will start against the Steelers to open preseason while Trask will start versus the New York Jets in the next warm-up contest.

It is perhaps unsurprising that Mayfield and Trask will split starts; the pair have been rotating first-team reps daily throughout the offseason and training camp. The Bucs gauge who fares better over the course of preseason before the Florida franchise kick off their 2023 campaign against the Minnesota Vikings on 10 September.

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The revelation that Mayfield will start the first game of preseason for the Buccaneers comes after NFL analyst Colin Cowherd urged the quarterback to retire on his FOX Sports show, ‘The Herd’. Cowherd said: “I'd like to be Baker Mayfield's agent and I'm going to tell him at 28 years old, retire, save your brand and go to college football and be an analyst. You'll be able to make seven figures.

“I just saw a story this morning where Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask - it's a battle to see who will start at quarterback. It's time to retire. You lead the NFL in interceptions since you entered it. You're not a franchise quarterback.

“You've never grown out of the chutzpah and the tough guy thing. And like Tim Tebow or Cam Newton, he's just too relevant to be a backup.”

Baker Mayfield is hoping to secure the starting job at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2023 season and beyond (AP)

However, the first overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft has managed to avoid the noise thus far, insisting he is enjoying his time with the Bucs. Mayfield also suggested he is looking forward to battling with Trask for the starting role in Tampa.

“I just think overall competition, in general, brings out the best in everybody,” Mayfield told NFL Network. “It’s nothing really new to me, I’ve been doing it since high school, having to battle for a spot. So just being comfortable with the internal pressure and trying to elevate my own game.

“When it comes to quarterback battles, you just want the whole QB room to improve and progress as camp goes on. So it's just about us all pushing each other in there. I’m comfortable within this competition, and enjoying it as we go.”

Andrew Gamble