Baker Mayfield reacts to officially replacing Tom Brady as Buccaneers starting QB

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Baker Mayfield revealed Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles informed him on Tuesday morning that he beat out Kyle Trask for the starting quarterback job. With the season starting in two weeks, the Buccaneers have finally named Tom Brady's successor - it is the first overall pick of the 2018 NFL draft.

“He had told me that he’d talked to Kyle already. Just informed me that we’re going to roll with me [and said] keep making smart decisions and go from there. So, now just have got to lead like I know how and the real thing’s right around the corner.

So, it’s an exciting time," Mayfield said, via Pro Football Talk.

Mayfield on the Buccaneers picking him ahead of Trask

Although Mayfield was expected to win the starting quarterback job when he signed with the Buccaneers in March, the team insisted for months that it was an open competition between him and Trask.

In recent weeks, the Buccaneers spoke positively of Trask and it did look like the second-round pick from the 2021 NFL draft had a shot at winning the starting quarterback job. “I expect to be a starter. I know how talented I am.

I know what type of leader I am. Now, it’s just time for the real thing. So, we’re about to have the real games and everybody’s excited here," Mayfield said. After saying his expectation was to be a starter, Mayfield also added Trask and John Wolford have been doing well throughout the offseason.

“Yeah, I mean, I’ll say this — our QB room has been playing extremely well this camp. Between John and Kyle also, everybody pushing each other. So I can’t say enough about those guys and that room that we have as a whole.

The chemistry’s great. But, I feel like I was comfortable enough within the system, commanded the offense, and was able to get guys in the right spots. That’s not saying anything against anybody else. But I just feel like I’m in good command of the offense right now," Mayfield said.