Buccaneers QB competition between Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask is about 'respect'

Many criteria exists in determining the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come Week 1 of the 2023 regular season.

Grasping the offense, reading defenses and having moxie are just a few parameters head coach Todd Bowles cited while speaking with the media this week at OTAs. Newly-hired offensive coordinator Dave Canales has added another one while discussing 2018 No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield and 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask.

Speaking on the “No Days Off” podcast from FOX 13 Tampa Bay, Canales brought up the term respect.

“I think it’s partly just respecting the team. Respecting what’s best for everyone, and then also respecting Kyle’s process,” Canales said, via JoeBucsFan.com. “You know, he comes in as the second-round pick with high hopes. Obviously, what a great thing, Tom Brady’s been here, so he’s been able to learn from him… At the same time he’s worked really hard to try to have an opportunity to show what he can do.”

Ultimately for Canales and the Buccaneers, the goal is to field the quarterback who will make the right plays and not put the football in harm’s way. That’s been a problem for Mayfield in the past, who threw 56 interceptions in four seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Mayfield signed a one-year deal worth $4 million guaranteed with the Buccaneers coming off a season in which he started 10 games for the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams. He threw for 2,163 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 60.0% passing.

Buccaneers moving into new offense under Dave Canales

“On the flip side, too, I think Baker, would he love to be named the starter?” Canales said. “I’m sure. But Baker also knows this is his road back, too. From Cleveland to Carolina and L.A., you know, he’s been told, ‘No,’ a couple of times. And so for him to be able to come out here to win the team over in his own right, to perform and to show them that he can be the caliber quarterback that he believes he can be, I think I owe it to both of them and to the team to put the best guy out there.”

Trask, meanwhile, has thrown just nine passes in two seasons in the NFL, sitting behind Tom Brady and Blaine Gabbert. Trask is looking forward to diving into Canales’ offense, which helped turn Geno Smith from journeyman to Pro Bowl quarterback.

“Just how creative the offense is,” Trask said Tuesday, via Buccaneers.com. “I think everybody has really bought into the scheme… I am just really looking forward to seeing how it looks versus a defense. You see what they did in Seattle with Geno [Smith] and the weapons they had. I think with our weapons we are due for some really explosive plays.”