The Florida weather isn't the only thing heating up in Tampa Bay this summer.
Buccaneers quarterbacks Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask and John Wolford took the field for the team's first day of training camp on Wednesday. The organization has made it clear it'll be a true dogfight for the prized QB1 position.
"Anything can happen," Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said.
The battle for QB1 starts now.#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/WPjNtuecPD
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) July 26, 2023
Mayfield and Trask, the favorites for job, appeared to receive equal treatment in drills. Both got their fair share in snaps and rotated with starting center Ryan Jensen.
#Bucs QBs taking snaps from the centers while Dave Canales coaches them on. They all rotated so Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask both worked with Ryan Jensen. pic.twitter.com/qUGQHyA0XS
— PewterReport ☠️ (@PewterReport) July 26, 2023
The quarterback workouts included everything from footwork drills to pocket scrambling to a non-contact scrimmage. Both players looked quick on their feet, a stark change from Tom Brady — who finished last season with a negative rushing yard.
#Bucs QBs Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask showing their mobility during this rep. pic.twitter.com/vP5KjdlAK4
— PewterReport ☠️ (@PewterReport) July 26, 2023
Expect a lot more movement from the Bucs quarterbacks this year vs last year. Lot of bootlegs, rollouts and waggles in this new offense. Kyle Trask worked really hard last year to improve his body composition and overall athleticism so this change hasn’t been too demanding on him pic.twitter.com/GbIc9pgwZ1
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) July 26, 2023
Licht said the Bucs will be "hyper-focused" on how the QBs perform in coming weeks, noting it's the first true QB competition since he became GM nearly a decade ago, relays Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud.
When Chris Godwin was asked about the differences between Mayfield and Trask, the veteran receiver said Mayfield has "a chip on his shoulder," while Trask is a bit more "laid back." He concluded that he didn't think one was better than the other.
Chris Godwin gives his thoughts on the difference between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/ZDrHEIOumx
— BucsGameday (@BucsGameday) July 26, 2023
The Bucs signed Mayfield to a one-year, $4-million deal this offseason. The former Heisman Trophy winner has bounced around teams since the Cleveland Browns took him No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Trask has yet to make his regular-season debut after riding the bench behind Brady since being drafted in 2021.
The uncertainty surrounding the starting job already has Tampa Bay fans in a frenzy. And with training camp footage surfacing, they're already overanalyzing everything from Mayfield wearing a hoodie to Trask being excluded in a laugh with Mike Evans.
QB vs QB #GoBucs
— (@ZacOnTheMic) July 26, 2023
Baker goes with the hoodie
Kyle goes without the hoodie
WHAT DOES IT MEAAAAAAN pic.twitter.com/m79AOSQ90c
Sad face. pic.twitter.com/230NdZ0WMf
— Salty Buccaneer☠️⬜️ (@SaltyBuc91) July 26, 2023
For what it’s worth, Baker got the first couple of reps with the 1st team & here you see Trask mixing in as well #GoBucs @953WDAE @JayAndZWDAE pic.twitter.com/BbIehfypiq
— Jay Recher (@jayRecher) July 26, 2023
Notice how only one QB has his head down staring down his toes going through the bags…yikes pic.twitter.com/sqrhKyjnVm
— N_V_S✋ (@2STARTHEU) July 26, 2023
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