Baker Mayfield to Start Buccaneers Preseason Opener against Steelers

The Tampa Bay Bucs' No. 1 draft pick, Mayfield, will start the preseason opener against the Steelers, according to coach Todd Bowles.

In a thrilling turn of events, the Tampa Bay Bucs have announced that the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft, Mayfield, will be starting in their preseason opener against the Steelers tonight at Raymond James Stadium. This exciting news comes straight from the mouth of coach Todd Bowles, who revealed that Mayfield and Kyle Trask will both be given the opportunity to start in the first two preseason games. Trask, the Bucs' second-round pick in 2021 from Florida, will take the reins in the game against the N.Y. Jets on Aug. 19 at MetLife Stadium.

When asked about the decision to start Mayfield, Bowles simply stated that there was no specific reason behind it. He explained, "Just go until we switch them out [when it] happens to be their turn." This suggests that the coaching staff is simply following a rotational plan rather than favoring one quarterback over the other.

The competition between Mayfield and Trask for the starting quarterback position has been intense. Mayfield has thrown nine interceptions in practice, accounting for the majority of the team's 15 interceptions. On the other hand, Trask has had his fair share of struggles, with five interceptions to his name. The third-string quarterback, John Wolford, has only thrown one interception in comparison.

Both Mayfield and Trask have shown flashes of brilliance during training camp. However, Trask has struggled to connect on deep passes, while Mayfield has showcased his ability to find the end zone with touchdown passes to Mike Evans and Dominique Dafney. In a recent practice, Trask managed to connect twice with tight end Cade Otton for red-zone touchdowns, while Wolford made a standout play by throwing a deep ball to rookie Kade Warner for a touchdown.

Bowles has made it clear that he has a timeline in mind for naming a starter, drawing from his experience as the quarterbacks coach in Seattle last year. In that instance, Geno Smith was not named the starting quarterback over Drew Lock until after the Seahawks played their third preseason game. The coaching staff is likely looking for cohesion and consistency before making a final decision.

While preseason games often play a crucial role in determining position battles, the outside linebacker position seems to be the most competitive for the Bucs. Shaquil Barrett, Anthony Nelson, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and rookie YaYa Diaby are considered locks for the position. However, there is a tough decision to be made between rookie Jose Ramirez and Cam Gill.

Bowles acknowledged the difficulty of this decision, stating, "All of them can play. That's going to be the toughest one." The outside linebacker room is filled with talent, making it a challenging choice for the coaching staff. The final decision will likely be influenced by the performance and depth of other positions on the team.

In addition to the quarterback and outside linebacker battles, cornerback Jamel Dean is determined to prove the doubters wrong. Dean has faced adversity in the past due to knee injuries, but he has always used doubt as motivation. With national pundits projecting low expectations for the Bucs since Tom Brady's departure, Dean is eager to showcase the team's capabilities and prove the naysayers wrong.

As the preseason kicks off, all eyes will be on Mayfield and Trask as they compete for the starting quarterback job. The Bucs' coaching staff will closely evaluate their performances, along with the battles at other positions, to make informed decisions for the regular season. Excitement and anticipation fill the air as the team prepares to take the field and show the world what they're capable of.