Baker Mayfield Was In Denial About 2023 QB Competition
August 7th, 2025
“It was all a dream, Kyle.”
Two years ago at this time, Bucs fans were barking at each other and picking sides in the Baker Mayfield-Kyle Trask battle for the starting quarterback job.
But, it seems, per a prominent Bucs official speaking today, Mayfield didn’t believe he was competing.
That feels like such a Mayfield mindset, or maybe he just didn’t think Trask was any good.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht pulled back the curtain a bit on this subject during his chat with SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Licht was asked what’s different about Mayfield since he arrived in Tampa two years ago. The GM said Mayfield is the same alpha male he was when he signed his Bucs contract.
“He hasn’t changed a lot since we’ve signed him,” Licht said. “I know he has changed a lot since he was drafted. But he walked in here with confidence that he was gonna win the job. I mean, ‘I told him, you know, you’re gonna be competing.’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, I understand.’ But basically he was like, ‘Okay, but yeah, but I got the job.’
“The players just naturally just are attracted to him because of the toughness and just the way he carries himself. You know, part of the reason that I think he’s having success is because … I saw this quote somewhere and it totally fits him. It’s, ‘slow success builds character and fast success builds ego.’ And I think what he’s been through, what he’s seen both on and off the field, I think he’s in a really good spot.”
Mayfield could prove to be the greatest signing in Bucs history if he wins a Super Bowl. It’s been that great of a rise for a guy pulled off the street.
As for Mayfield making it clear to the boss it was his job from Day 1 is very telling. It’s probably a huge part of what allowed Mayfield to get off to such a great start Week 1 in Minnesota in 2023 — after he beat out Trask, of course.
August 7th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Cue the “Mayfield didn’t win the competition” mob in 3….2…1…
August 7th, 2025 at 6:13 pm
He’s right, there was no competition, of course it could have been the contract he was given and had already signed? That tends to give one confidence. Now , Que the Mayfield lapdogs .
August 7th, 2025 at 6:17 pm
DO YOU KNOW BAKER MAYFIELD?
He had college offers for football and baseball. He chose to walk on at Texas Tech.
He won the job … even though they had QBs under scholarship.
He had multiple college offers after TT and chose to walk on at Oklahoma.
He won the job … even though they had QBs under scholarship.
Walking on and winning the starting job is Baker’s thing!
August 7th, 2025 at 6:18 pm
There were never any competition between Baker and Trask
Baker was signed to be the Starting QB
The shame of it all, is that Trask could never see the field
Blowout games, Trask still could not see the field
August 7th, 2025 at 6:49 pm
Lakeland Buc: and the fact that Kyle was lied to about there being a competition, If you don’t have the courage to tell a man the truth , face to face ,how could you ever believe anything else You were told? Major red flag.
August 7th, 2025 at 6:54 pm
I don’t think Kyle Trash is very good
August 7th, 2025 at 7:11 pm
Maybe Trask just isn’t as good as some believe
August 7th, 2025 at 7:21 pm
If that’s true Jeff why did they resign him…months before looking at Bridgewater?
Anyway, Joseph saying Mayfield could be the best signing in Bucs history over Simeon Rice, Tom Brady, Suh, Gronk and AB is hilarious. Baker has regressed the past season by not being able to outplay a rookie at home in the playoffs. But that’s OK, who needs playoff wins when you’ve got moxie.
August 7th, 2025 at 7:30 pm
U forgot a key part “Bee”…u can’t move on in the playoffs if u never get there in the first place…unless going 5- 12 with Trask makes u happier…seems like it
August 7th, 2025 at 7:49 pm
Kyle Trask can win the same amount of games with the talent we have on offense. What happened to Baker Mayfield in Carolina he had DJ More and C Mac with a ok receiver as a number 2 and Baker lost his job to Sam Donald? IRA already said that it wasn’t a real competition and the other Joe’s agreed so now it’s NFC Championship or bust no more excuses for Baker Mayfield or less a game like Houston happens again.
August 7th, 2025 at 7:51 pm
What always made me the most mad was we drafted a guy for the future, but then immediately put him 3rd string behind the jaguars huge bust of a QB. We never once let him touch the field even when we are blowing people out or getting blown out, and the coaches admitted they didn’t know what they had in him, because they didn’t have time to watch or coach him while they were failing to make a superbowl.
Later we couldn’t trust him with the starting job because he didn’t have starting experience.
This was one of the most bungled coaching jobs, and fueled my anger towards Leftwhich
August 7th, 2025 at 11:22 pm
If we are to believe the practice notes on these here pages, Mayfield didn’t beat out Trask, he was gifted the starting job.
August 8th, 2025 at 1:34 am
Bee says “Baker couldn’t outplay a rookie”
Baker:15-18 for 185 yds @ 83.3% for PR of 146.5, avg 10.3, 2 tds, 0 int
Daniels: 24-35 for 268 @ 68.6% for PR of 110.2, avg 7.7, 2 tds, 0 int. Daniels didn’t beat Baker in anything. Baker even out rushed Daniels with an avg of 3.3 to 2.8.
In fact, if you noticed, Daniels had exactly double the number of throws as Baker had, 18 vs. 35. So, if Baker would have gotten the same, his passing yards would have been 370 instead of 185. But he didn’t get the same, which by the way was Bakers 2024 season average-35. The ONLY reason we lost, was due to Dan Quinns game plan of keeping the ball out of our quarterbacks hands. The quarterback that leads the NFL in playoff passer ratings. Yeah that guy, who the #3 head coach in the league thought it was important enough to devise his whole game plan around keeping the ball out of his hands.
You might be good when the 3rd best NFL head coach says, above all else don’t let that guy touch the ball. Because if he gets his normal number of touches, we lose. Yeah, that guy.
August 8th, 2025 at 2:33 am
Good crikey.
Simply stated. Trashk is one of those >50% of super successful college QBs who will never be real starting NFL material. His ceiling is Mike Glennon.
I am a Gator. I watched every snap of the Kyle Trask Gator run.
Great dude. Very good college QB.
Had sucked, has sucked, sucks, will suck, and will have sucked as an NFLl starting QB.
August 8th, 2025 at 6:45 am
Bake vs Trask. LOL Could anyone honestly see Trask sprinting 50 yards downfield to throw a block for Bucky Irving? Does anyone really think Trask could hold of Nick Friggin Bosa with one arm while throwing for a first down on a fourth down play? And does anyone really think Trask has the moxi (I know you love that term Joe) to stiff arm a DB to the ground and remind him that he needs to hit the weights more? Trask never had a chance, competition or not. Like Aqualung, I am a Gator fan, and I knew Trask was never going to be a starter in the NFL. Great dude, great backup, but a starter…mmmm no.
August 8th, 2025 at 6:46 am
Usedtocould Says
“I don’t think Kyle Trash is very good”
Aqualung Says:
“Trask is one of those >50% of super successful college QBs who will never be real starting NFL material. His ceiling is Mike Glennon.”
Where is your evidence of this?
There is none. Because he never got a fair chance.
In regard to the “competition”, the Bucs paid Baker to NOT be the backup. It was the plan from the start. Trask, if Baker had not been signed, may have developed into one of the best, one of the worst, or an average quarterback. That’s the thing…no one knows.
Lots of people have opinions on it, but those are only opinions, not facts…because there is a complete lack of evidence.
Is it too late now? Probably.
If Baker were to go down for the season, and if the Bucs miraculously chose to start Trask over Bridgewater, would the fans tolerate a growth period of 6-8 games? Nope. If Trask had one bad game, fans would scream for his head and want Bridgewater.
The only way for Trask to get a fair 6-8 game chance now is if the Bucs have zero other options.
Has the drive to succeed left Trask? It’s a good question. Knowing his chances of starting are very low, he still chose to re-sign. That would SEEM to suggest he has given up.
But then we have to realize the Bucs are one of the best organizations to be a part of…and they drafted him. Team loyalty could be the reason…that and he knows the GM builds aroung the offense.
August 8th, 2025 at 6:59 am
Unfortunately Trask was a bust pit as far as future starting franchise quarterbacks go. The bucks have done good by him by trying to allow him time to develop but he doesn’t seem to be progressing, 31 other teams have no interest in him as a starter either.
August 8th, 2025 at 10:11 am
I am a Gator fan as well and I hope we never have to see Trask on the field during a real game, unless it is in mop up duty.
August 8th, 2025 at 11:34 am
The evidence is demonstrated on the practice field for five years. It’s the evidence that coaches, players and management sees every farging day. Just because the fans haven’t seen him ever start doesn’t mean he’s been treated unfairly. Quite the opposite. He has done plenty to earn his spot on the bench and maybe have earned a demotion. Get over yourselves with the conspiracy crap.
August 8th, 2025 at 12:35 pm
Aqualung. It’s not about conspiracy it’s the truth and it was well documented by the same guy who notes you believe today. Trask was better but Trask don’t have a fan base like Baker Mayfield does. Baker got fans in Dallas TX and Oklahoma and Cleveland where some of you come from on this site. So that tells me that Baker Mayfield was a business decision more than a football decision. That’s like Shadure Sanders will be the staring quarterback in Cleveland rather he deserves it or not because he brings money to the browns more than any of those other quarterbacks. Politics or a big part of sports look at Arch Manning in Texas they already have him as the number one pick in next year draft and haven’t started one season because of his family. Eli was not that good in college especially to be a number 1 over all pick .
August 8th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
The world could be ending- Baker Mayfield: “I got this”
Thats my Quarterback!!!!!!!
August 8th, 2025 at 2:18 pm
Onei, because Baker has fans in those 3 places, that tells you it was a business decision? I’m not sure that’s logical on your part.
You do realize by continuing to talk about the Trask/Mayfield quarterback competition you are not only beating a dead horse but you are also discussing a mute point, right? It’s a meaningless argument at this point. Baker is going to be our quarterback for a while. They guaranteed him $30 million. There is only 1 quarterback guaranteed more that i can think of. Yep, they are planning on keeping him around for a long time.
August 8th, 2025 at 2:42 pm
Davyboy. Read the article and 30 million ain’t nothing compared to what other quarterbacks are getting. And please stop saying us you are only here for Baker Mayfield not the bucs. The NFL is a business and a lot of times the best players don’t play. And yes I know Baker Mayfield is the starter and that’s cool but facts are facts. And as far as the regular season goes he will have a good year when it comes to stats because this is the weakest division in football now. So for me I want to see what he does in the playoffs when the games are in his hands to either close them out or win them because he’s choked every time. NFC Championship or bust no more excuses!!
August 8th, 2025 at 4:35 pm
I did read it. The article isn’t about whether it was an actual competition or not. It’s about Bakers attitude and has he changed since then. Like I said Baker is here and has been guaranteed $30 million to drive that point home just in case someone is questioning that fact. And no one other than Watson is guaranteed more per year.
August 8th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Ok, just saw Josh Allen’s NEW 2025 contract. It has $41 guaranteed. But other than Allens and Watsons. It tells you a lot about what the next contract will be.