Last season marked Tom Brady‘s final year as the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, concluding a three-year tenure. Despite reaching the Wild Card Round and facing the Dallas Cowboys, he ultimately announced his retirement from the NFL for the second time after a few days of contemplation. Unlike before, this time it appears to be serious.
The 2023 season is on the brink of commencing, and the Bucs hadn’t yet decided on who would formally take the helm and succeed the seven-time Super Bowl champion. However, this reality officially changed on Tuesday.
Why was Baker Mayfield chosen as the Bucs’ starter?
Tampa Bay’s head coach, Todd Bowles, revealed in a press conference who would be leading the team’s offense at the Raymond James Stadium starting from Week 1 when they visit the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 10.
“Baker (Mayfield) is our guy right now, in terms of experience and a little better understanding of the playbook. Kyle (Trask) is on the rise, but we like both of them, we like where we’re at. Baker is number one, Kyle is number two,” said Bowles.
Who is Baker Mayfield?
Recall that after being selected as the overall first pick in the 2018 Draft by the Cleveland Browns, Mayfield was traded last year to the Carolina Panthers following Deshaun Watson‘s arrival at the Ohio Stadium team. However, the University of Oklahoma graduate didn’t finish the year in Charlotte, getting transferred for the last games to the then-champions, the Los Angeles Rams.
“I’m looking forward to being the starter,” Mayfield said, noticeably excited. “I know how talented I am, I know what kind of leader I am. Now, it’s just time for real action. We’re about to have the real games, and everyone here is excited.”
