Baker Mayfield Suspected to Fight Yet Again For QB1 Seat

Tom Brady’s retirement in 2022 marked the beginning of a new era for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As they aim to move forward from Brady, it seemed that they have included former No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield in their plans. However, it looks like might have to fight for the QB1 seat.

With the Buccaneers bringing in rookie Kyle Trask, Mayfield’s position as the team’s starting quarterback may not be secured. Mayfield’s past struggles with the Cleveland Browns have raised doubts about his ability to lead the Buccaneers. Head coach Bruce Arians has shared his thoughts about the 28-year-old quarterback but Mayfield may still have to prove his worth in training camp and upcoming preseason games.

Fight for QB1 seat

The Buccaneers’ quarterback situation has been a topic of discussion for many, with doubts about Mayfield and Trask’s ability to lead the team next season. However, the organization appears to have kept its options open for the future, as they look to acquire their franchise quarterback.

“If you’re a Buccaneers fan, here’s what you want to do: You want them just good enough to entertain you but just bad enough to lose because you want one of those two top quarterbacks Todd is talking about in 2024, ” said former NFL player, Booger McFarland.

Competition for the starting quarterback at Tampa Bay will certainly be fierce, and Mayfield will need to prove his worth if he hopes to hold down a spot on the team. McFarland also raised concerns about the team’s ability to have one of the top two quarterbacks in the draft and although the defense is solid, the team’s level of play hinders their access to first and second-draft picks.

Buccaneers’ head coach on Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians shared his admiration for quarterback Baker Mayfield, whom he rated above any other prospect in his draft class. Despite Mayfield’s struggles in Cleveland, Arians said “I can honestly say out of these four, I had Baker rated higher.”

Arians acknowledged that Mayfield had a rough time in a painful game and that the environment in Cleveland was not conducive to his success. He cited former Browns quarterback Tim Couch as an example, who struggled with situations out of his control.

Read more: After Years of the “Bad Teammate” Rep, Baker Mayfield Gets His Name Cleared From Inside the Locker Room

Now that Tom Brady has retired, Mayfield will have a chance to compete with second-round pick Kyle Trask for the starting job. Arians expressed confidence in both quarterbacks and said “I think this is going to be a nice battle.” Whether Mayfield can find a starting job in Tampa Bay remains to be seen. Still, Arians’ endorsement is certainly a good sign for the young quarterback who has faced his fair share of criticism over the last few years.

Only time will tell if Mayfield can live up to Arians’ lofty expectations, but with a solid performance in training camp and the preseason, he could have a real chance to prove himself as the Buccaneers’ next franchise quarterback.

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