“Close Competition” For Baker Mayfield In 2023
June 9th, 2025
So was the Kyle Trask-Baker Mayfield competition a sham in 2023?
A man who was very close to the situation has weighed in.
Joe’s referring to former Bucs assistant general manager John Spytek, who bolted to the Raiders in January to be Tom Brady’s underboss.
Speaking on the 3-And-Out podcast, Spytek fielded a question from host John Middlekauff that included a preface that “at least from the outside, there was a quarterback competition with Kyle Trask.”
Middlekauff went on to ask how Mayfield went from that role to becoming the heartbeat of a strong team and a top-6 or top-7 quarterback in the league.
Spytek didn’t let the Trask-Mayfield line skip through.
“It was a competition in 2023 and it was a close competition,” Spytek said. “And I think the thing that I respect most about Baker is he didn’t come in with any kind of attitude other than, ‘I’m here to compete. I’m here to give you guys my best, and I’m gonna let it rip.’ And him and Kyle [Trask] went back and forth for a while and then really Baker found his rhythm kind of halfway through the camp and let it rip.”
It’s somewhat odd that Trask was allegedly “this close” to beating out a stud quarterback but no team is interested in Trask as a potential starter. Hopefully, one day Trask will get his shot to start a game.
Spytek went on to say the Bucs are lucky to have Mayfield for many reasons. “He is all those things that you want as a quarterback,” Spytek said, adding Mayfield is very mature. “There’s a self-awareness to him that I think is probably underappreciated.”
June 9th, 2025 at 11:41 am
Yet Spytek made no effort at all to sign Trask, even though the Raiders had a pile of steaming garbage at QB when he got there….
June 9th, 2025 at 11:44 am
Good point, StormyInFl. Then again, perhaps the Bucs were offered a deal and they rejected it because they need a quality backup.
June 9th, 2025 at 11:50 am
Trask was a FA. No deal would have needed to be offered.
June 9th, 2025 at 11:51 am
I thought it was close in preseason then Baker took off. I thought at one that it should have been Trask but really glad I was wrong.
June 9th, 2025 at 11:57 am
I think a realistic view is that Trask could be a starter in the NFL. He’s probably a better player than Daniel Jones and Russell Wilson is at this moment. Certainly better than an Anthony Richardson or Mason Rudolph. However that’s not good enough to move the bar and actually want him to lead a team. Being the 25th or 30th best QB in the world for the NFL means a team wants to replace you as fast as possible. Guys like Trask either have to deal with it and accept their role or walk away. Personally I’m glad to have him, and also glad he’s not the starter.
June 9th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
Baker was definitely the right choice and has clearly shown that as the starter. Not sure about other teams being not interested is odd or not because none of them were at the practice to evaluate Trask v Mayfield when the competition was close. Nonetheless Baker was the right choice. Let’s hope he does not get hurt because Trask is an unknown in the regular season, not only to us, but to every team in the league. I agree would be nice for Trask to get a start, but let’s hope it’s not because of Baker being injured.
June 9th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
Cause trask was a number 2 pick he had some sort of gravitas. baker rolled in to destroy that gravitas. trask had his chance, it wasnt meant to be. i mean trask was second behind JTS in 2021, need we say anything more?
#jasonfail
June 9th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
Rodgers with the Jets or Trask in Bucs preseason… not sure he shouldn’t be a starter go away.
June 9th, 2025 at 12:02 pm
Haha… autocorrect of somewhere was “go away”
June 9th, 2025 at 12:16 pm
Here is why Spytek likely didn’t go after Trask, part owner Tom Brady
I think there may have been some issue between Brady and Trask. Brady insisted on being backed up by Blaine Gabbert and ignored Kyle Trask when he was here.
I’d like to know if Brady mentored Trask in any way. Joe, can you ask around?
June 9th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
And he could have had him dirt cheap.
So either Spytek didn’t want him, or Pete Carroll didn’t want him or Tom Brady didn’t want him. And Spytek and Brady knew him better than any other team not in Tampa.
At a bargain basement price.
June 9th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
Yea I’m not buying it either. Super Todd had his mind made up from the get go. How can you say it was close when you never let Trask take 1st team reps in the games? Some will say “They see all they need to in practice”. I think thats BS to. The decision was made by Pre-season week 2. None of it sounded like a “close competition” to me…
June 9th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
The Bengals are releasing Germaine Pratt, LB
Pratt ranked in the top 10 in the NFL last season in tackles and was a team captain. Now, he hits the open market. Hope the Bucs are kicking the tires
June 9th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Sorry Spytek, no sale.
June 9th, 2025 at 12:58 pm
SB Says:
June 9th, 2025 at 12:33 pm
The Bengals are releasing Germaine Pratt, LB
Pratt ranked in the top 10 in the NFL last season in tackles and was a team captain. Now, he hits the open market. Hope the Bucs are kicking the tires
*******************************************
If he goes anywhere it’ll be to the Colts. The Bengals DC from 2024 is now there, and he’s a good fit for that scheme.
June 9th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Joe Says:
Yet Spytek made no effort at all to sign Trask, even though the Raiders had a pile of steaming garbage at QB when he got there….
So either Spytek didn’t want him, or Pete Carroll didn’t want him or Tom Brady didn’t want him. And Spytek and Brady knew him better than any other team not in Tampa.
*****************************
Or Trask didn’t want to backup Geno Smith, who Carroll wanted more than anyone else available.
June 9th, 2025 at 1:04 pm
Joe says “ Hopefully, one day Trask will get his shot to start a game.”
Let’s hope not unless Mayfield retires.
June 9th, 2025 at 1:24 pm
My interpretation from what Spytek said is that the competition was close for the 1st half because neither guy separated themselves — seems to me that Baker and Trask were maybe pedestrian in that 1st half of the competition.
Then when: “…and then really Baker found his rhythm kind of halfway through the camp and let it rip.” Was when Baker showed that he is a starter in this league and Trask probably still looked pedestrian.
It seems if you are going to make it these highest levels you know how to say how one guy looked better without ripping the other guy.
June 9th, 2025 at 1:33 pm
When the Raiders signed Carroll they gave him the QB that he wanted. Gino will do fine there. Raiders have a back up under contract for 1.03 million that was not too bad and has some experience.
You can say all three of the decision makers passed on Trask but they just didn’t need him.
Broncos and Commanders drew the road map to beating the Bucs. Shut down screens and take way the quick hitting routes. If you force Mayfield to hold the ball he’s going to tuck it and try to run, overthrow the deep ball or turn it over.
Eventually the 50/50 balls to single covered receivers are going to come up tails.
Trask has an opportunity to showcase his ability in the Pre Season. Even if he “Holds a Clipboard” he will still make more that 99.5 % of the households in the United States. Not having to uproot that beautiful young wife of his from the career she worked hard for is a bonus too. Hell if the Bucs front office are ready to throw a $240 million extension to their Franchise QB as the early predictions are saying maybe she can help as I believe she does counseling in the Mental Health Field.
June 9th, 2025 at 1:41 pm
I don’t get why “In Licht we trust” covers every move the Bucs make, EXCEPT deciding to keep Trask as our backup.
June 9th, 2025 at 1:47 pm
SB and Louis Friend: from what I’ve looked at Pratt sounds a good bit better than Anthony Walker. And, yes…pundits expect him to try to latch on with Indy. While admitting that PFF grades are about as reliable as a weather report, Pratt rates much higher. I also see that Walker is set to make about a million and a half. Pratt was set to make about five and a half mil.
Getting back to Trask.
Trask seems like he should be ok for a game or three if we need him. I’m glad we kept him. I don’t think he’s quite the inspiration Baker is, but he doesn’t need to be.
June 9th, 2025 at 2:22 pm
Trask was better than Baker Mayfield in training camp and we all know it . But Bowles promise Baker Mayfield. And the fake competition was to sale the fan base Baker Mayfield. But it doesn’t matter anymore Baker Mayfield has to get us to a conference championship game this year . It’s crazy how much the meadi and fans kill Dak for not making it to the NFC Championship even though he came second in the MVP votes and lost in the playoffs but Baker Mayfield gets praised for just having a good season and no one asked or even care about winning playoffs games and getting to the NFC Championship. Their is no pressure on Baker Mayfield getting to a Superbowl or at least a conference championship game like it is in Dak , Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert and others.
June 9th, 2025 at 2:25 pm
How many times did we see Baker get twisted like a pretzel and miss a play or two. Im telling you this year Trask will start a game maybe more than one. So Bucs fans will you stand behind Trask then or just talk shyt
June 9th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
@OnelilbucSays:
“Trask was better than Baker Mayfield in training camp and we all know it .”
Do we?
June 9th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
Ideal formula for a Trask start:
The Bucs are 14 and 1 with first seed in the NFC locked up.
Evans already has 1,000 yards.
The Bucs dominant run game means that Baker has no records on the line, the Bucs rest Baker in week 17, and the Bucs only play Baker in the first half of week 18 for a tune up before the bye week for the first seed in the playoffs.
June 9th, 2025 at 2:55 pm
Well, Joe was at every training camp practice and this is news to Joe.
June 9th, 2025 at 3:12 pm
Donald G Says:
June 9th, 2025 at 2:25 pm
So Bucs fans will you stand behind Trask then or just talk shyt
Donald, I reread the posts on Trask above. I thought it was well balanced.
June 9th, 2025 at 3:14 pm
Trask the controversial. The greatest unknown commodity mystery likable player the Bucs have ever drafted. One day i would like to see what he could do in live nfl action. But for now i only want to see him in garbage time of a blowout win. Go Bowles!
June 9th, 2025 at 4:06 pm
Being a biased Baker fan, I can’t imagine Trask –or almost any other quarterback– giving him competition. Given that, I think the explanation for saying the competition was real is that at the beginning of pre-season activities
the challenges are lower and are raised as time goes on. It’s like lifting weights. If everyone starts lifting 25 pounds, no one can lift more; raising the weights results in separating the lifters’ abilities. As the summer went on, the challenges to Trask and Mayfield became more difficult, and the latter ‘let ‘er rip” and showed his superiority.
June 9th, 2025 at 4:30 pm
Trask wants to play. His only way to tge field anywhere including uf is if the starter gets hurt.
I think he is a backup intentionally to survive.
Anyone that thinks we live a pretty world isn’t paying attention.
Bakers great but he’s an injury risk and his position coach said it politely right here on jbf.
Will trask cone alive at this level when that day comes? God only knows. But I bet he does and you all can blister me for saying so. I think Jason privately agrees btw
June 9th, 2025 at 4:59 pm
Donald. If Trask ever gets a chance and play because Baker Mayfield goes down and I don’t want to see Baker Mayfield get hurt him or any player but I can promise you they’re going to hope we lose and Trask fail. Some of the people on here cares more about the name on back of the jersey than the name on the front of the jersey. Again with fans like that Baker Mayfield doesn’t have to lead us to a Superbowl or at least a conference championship. Even the Joe’s don’t care about if we can win a Superbowl with Baker Mayfield or not. That’s why they don’t never talk about it or even ask that question but in the same breath they will talk bad about quarterbacks like Dak who has never played in a conference championship game. One of the Joe’s even talked about Larmar Jackson only winning 3 playoff games and he actually played in a conference championship game and try to compare Larmar Jackson to Baker Mayfield? That’s a joke Larmar Jackson doesn’t have near receivers that Baker Mayfield has. But Baker Mayfield doesn’t have to get to a conference championship game or Superbowl and that’s on with some of fans on here including the Glazers.
.
June 9th, 2025 at 5:13 pm
My thought on the “close competition” is a question: Was Trask so GOOD that he gave our “stud” QB Mayfield a run for his money OR was Mayfield just as BAD as Trask when he first got here because his confidence was shaken, considering all Baker had been through and the initial pressure of having to prove himself for a paltry $3M deal to win the job over a kid with zero experience?
My money is on the latter. I think when camp started we had 2 guys not impressing at QB until Mayfield got settled in and comfortable.
June 9th, 2025 at 5:29 pm
I believe Licht and Bowles trust Trask to deliver should Mayfield go down at any point. The fact that he is still here says this to me. He would not necessarily be expected to perform as well as Baker but he surely is expected to have something we could rely on. As a Bucs fan I surely would want Trask to succeed.