Jason Licht Says Staff “Really, Really Impressed” By Baker Mayfield
May 3rd, 2023
Third-year QB Kyle Trask has a tough battle on his hands.
The starting quarterback battle at One Buc Palace began a few weeks ago behind the scenes.
Media doesn’t have access to see anything. So Joe was extra pleased to hear general manager Jason Licht provide an update yesterday on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
And kudos to Licht for doing a couple of post-draft-week interviews. That’s not typical. Joe loves when Licht talks to the fans — and he’s got a ton of them.
“Baker’s been fantastic here getting adjusted to his teammates and the culture here,” Licht said of Baker Mayfield. “Everybody, our staff, everbody downstairs has been really, really impressed with how he’s handled himself so far. And then Kyle [Trask] is just the Steady Eddie. He hasn’t changed. He works very hard. He’s very smart. Nothing seems to rattle Kyle. And that goes all the way back to his high school days waiting for his opportunity and then thriving when it comes up. So this is going to be a really, really, interesting competition all the way through [training] camp. Because it truly is going to be a competition. And I know that they’re both very excited to get this thing going.”
Let the games begin. Joe hopes it is a legitimate competition between the two QBs, but it sure smells like it’s Mayfield’s job to lose.
Joe can’t shake Todd Bowles’ “natural born leader” comment about Mayfield five weeks ago, and Bucco Bruce Arians sure thinks Mayfield has the tools and experience to succeed.
May 3rd, 2023 at 2:37 pm
Prefer Trask to win out but at the end of the day just want the better player to start and hopefully be good enough for a second contract.
May 3rd, 2023 at 2:39 pm
IF Trask beat him out then we have ourselves a QB if he doesn’t then we need to tank for Caleb đ¤ˇââď¸
May 3rd, 2023 at 2:40 pm
Baker is here for One Reason and One Reason alone.
To make everyone appreciate Klye that much more for doing what he has always done.
Wait his turn and then. DOMINATE.
NONE of the QBs that have been drafted since Klye have had the RESUME that Kyle put together for himself. He is most certainly the future face of the franchise. Mark my words, Kyle will send ME into retirement with his most prolific season of his career.
Baker will be a mighty fine back up for someone, no doubt about that either. The Bucs are doing a good job of making sure the OL is ready before handing the keys to Kyle. Hence why Baker is here. We need a really mobile QB until the OL is ready.
May 3rd, 2023 at 2:46 pm
Really, really, really, really, really impressed with the way the Bucs are spinning this. LOL
May 3rd, 2023 at 2:48 pm
^^^ đ
May 3rd, 2023 at 2:51 pm
Off season pie in the sky everything is positive pre TC talk ⌠there will be new vet names added before camp . Enjoy this painless time of the football calendar.
May 3rd, 2023 at 2:55 pm
If baker was so great we/ he wouldnât have signed for backup money. Kyle will start, no way they let a 2nd round pick hit the free agent market without playing in a regular season game.
May 3rd, 2023 at 2:57 pm
Just another political correct comment…
Could he have said something different? In today’s world is rather impossible…
Geeeez is boring!!!
May 3rd, 2023 at 3:03 pm
From your mouth to God’s ears CrackWise. I hope Trask plays well but I don’t know. We haven’t seen much of him with the starters. Time will tell.
May 3rd, 2023 at 3:04 pm
I agree with every post so far unless something unexpected slips in before this posts. BUT of the 6/7 posts, I’m going with LOL on this one!
May 3rd, 2023 at 3:14 pm
All you Trask fans crack me up! LOL! Trask may start someday but it won’t be soon unless Baker gets injured or very sick. You’ll find this out at some point! I’m not saying KT can’t be a starting qb in this league, I’m saying…not yet!!
May 3rd, 2023 at 3:17 pm
Glad we can crack you up.
May 3rd, 2023 at 3:23 pm
If you crack up over Kyle support, you should do a little research on your boy Baker…
Does he still have the Keys to Cleavland I wonder???? WHOOOOO
Wait, what? DOPE!!!
May 3rd, 2023 at 3:27 pm
Dear Jason Licht. Stop the hard sell on Baker. We all know his numbers especially last year. Don’t insult our intelligence.
May 3rd, 2023 at 3:36 pm
Infome, lol. Let’s pray baker doesn’t get killed in a car accident too. Then whatever crap bag third stringer they bring in will be the starter. Couldn’t get much worse IMO. From the goat to the float. My new mantra
May 3rd, 2023 at 3:38 pm
Time will tellâŚ.
May 3rd, 2023 at 3:39 pm
Wow, you guys are getting tribal/turning partisan over QBs now? đđđ
May 3rd, 2023 at 3:43 pm
Of course Mayfield is impressive……award winner……1st overall pick…..experience……
Let’s face it…..Jameis was impressive….until he wasn’t.
This is a competition in name only……Mayfield will start…..but, depending on how the season goes, with a one year contract, he’ll be on a relatively short hook.
May 3rd, 2023 at 3:46 pm
Licht said heâs impressed with the way Baker is getting adjusted, not throwing the ball. But he did complement Trask for his play. Hint, hint!!!
May 3rd, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Close your eyes and imagine the headline ….
“(Mayfield/Trask) leads the Bucs to a Super Bowl Victory!”
Does either name fit in that sentence?
Neither sounds right because neither can do it. This conversation is much ado about nothing. Either guys is just keeping the seat warm for next year’s starter.
May 3rd, 2023 at 4:06 pm
Licht has received a lot of heat for drafting Trask. Most fans on this site have already decided he’s never going to be good. It was a wasted pick, we could’ve won another S.B. had we drafted any player but Trask. He was a bust when we drafted him, and fans here believe he won’t be better two years later. Licht I’m sure wants all of you Trask haters to have to eat crow. Anyone who thinks Licht isn’t going to give his hated 2nd round pick a fair shot hasn’t been paying attention to Licht. Look how long he stuck with Spence, and some of his other second rounders. If Trask doesn’t win the job, it won’t be because he wasn’t given a good, fair chance. You can believe Licht wants Trask to win this job, and will give him more than a fair chance.
May 3rd, 2023 at 4:10 pm
The negative nancies and the debby downers have been flooding the zone of the JBF comment threads with predictions of guaranteed failure for one, or both of the two quarterbacks now on the roster.
Why the compulsive need to crap all over two guys who both are hard workers and high performers? I don’t really have a preference for one over the other, and I do not believe that the Bucs feel that way either. They truly want to see how it goes in tine pre season programs right up thru the three pre-season games, or as long as it takes to pick the number one.
Also, just ask the FortyNiners about this – no matter who you think is the number 1, there is a very significant probability that you’ll have to rely on number 2 at some point during the season. To have two quality quarterback candidates on the roster should be a big plus in a league where, despite attempts to protect the quarterbacks, they’re still getting injured and missing games.
May 3rd, 2023 at 4:11 pm
Wasted second round pick Trask will never start unless Mayfield gets hurt and if they sign another veteran Trask would be third string.
May 3rd, 2023 at 4:12 pm
I read that Jason Licht was considering adding a Vet QB. That sounds messy to me since neither Mayfield nor Trask are rookies. There are only so many footballs to throw in a practice. Does this mean the Bucs will dress three QBs? I can not imagine a long-time vet on a roster, but not dressed for games. I would rather have an undrafted QB even if he stayed on the practice squad until there was a game injury.
May 3rd, 2023 at 4:21 pm
Kyle Trask was drafted during the “no risk it no biscuit” era when it made sense to develop a prototypical pocket passer. I like Kyle Trask and respect what he accomplished against SEC competition.
However – I believe Baker Mayfield is a better fit with the new offense that is being installed…
May 3rd, 2023 at 4:28 pm
It’s like Bruce Arians says… if you two quarterbacks, you got none.
May 3rd, 2023 at 4:53 pm
Any veteran QB brought in via free agency will almost certainly be a proven “third stringer” and not interfere with the competition. We know know that both Trask and Mayfield came into the league having demonstrated their potential during their college careers. The point of the competition will be to see if one can emerge at the NFL level this year. We have about four months to find out.
May 3rd, 2023 at 4:55 pm
know know LOL … my “spell checker” failed me.
May 3rd, 2023 at 4:56 pm
You seriously expected the Bucs to say anything different? Of course you didn’t.
May 3rd, 2023 at 5:11 pm
Everyone acts like a genius selecting Mayfield to start.
When $4,000,000 has already decided lol
May 3rd, 2023 at 5:19 pm
Trask will have his chance.
Baker will miss time more likely than not.
Yes. It will be super interesting. Hopefully a lot of fun too.
May 3rd, 2023 at 5:23 pm
Mayfield has been pedestrian at best so far. Trask must be really bad if Mayfield is just handed the job. Let’s just tank for the #1pick. One quick year of suffering then emerge instantly as a contender again.
May 3rd, 2023 at 5:24 pm
Kyle’s resume as it were consists of exactly one year of production at the collegiate level. Granted, a good year. But then 2 years as an understudy to Brady. Or to be honest and understudy to the understudy. He was drafted for what will probably turn out to be a vastly different system than the one we are now implementing. Yes, the team painted itself into a corner here. And who knows, a strong running game if we can create one might be just the thing Kyle needs to be successful since the onus won’t be on the QB only. But in the short term I would think it’s hard to beat out a youngish veteran who has a lot of starting experience and has played in the postseason as well. And who is inarguably a more athletic QB which may fit the current offense better. But I guess we’ll see.
May 3rd, 2023 at 5:29 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsOX9RSZOGQ
At the 1:50 marker Shannon refers to Pitt tackle.
Nice pickup Jason
May 3rd, 2023 at 5:36 pm
As long as they have equal time with the 1’s in preseason, it will be there for all to see.
May 3rd, 2023 at 5:42 pm
Unless the first team o-line is with Mayfield and the scrub lineman are with Trask then you know!
May 3rd, 2023 at 5:45 pm
Thereâs always the first competition and then thereâs that point where Baker screws up and loses a couple games and Trask comes in or of course vice versa. Iâd be surprised if either one can really light the World on fire early in the season. They need a defense that can consistently hold opponents to 16 points or less and not just in the first few games like last year.
May 3rd, 2023 at 6:02 pm
Remember Brad Johnson. We donât need a QB to drive us to the Super Bowl. We need a good offense and a great defense.
May 3rd, 2023 at 6:11 pm
Shouldâve traded Brady to the fins last year. Couldâve seen what we had in Trask and probably still won 8-9 games.
May 3rd, 2023 at 6:29 pm
Doesn’t matter which one starts, If we are as predictable as we were last year (coaching) we will be hard pressed to reach .500
May 3rd, 2023 at 6:33 pm
Trask was a Bruce Arians pick. And everyone knows that as a head coach Bruce Arians has never drafted a QB that succeeded or even developed. That is why Bruce Arians can only Buy a QB.
May 3rd, 2023 at 6:55 pm
Baker talks the talk. Wait until it’s time to walk the walk. Then suddenly he’s not that good anymore. Or good at all
May 3rd, 2023 at 6:59 pm
I am a Trask fan, but he will have to break the internet by being the second coming before he starts.
That might be good for everyone, as the O-line gets figured out.
I do not think Mayfly will hold the starting job for long. He will have the Jameis touch and get sat, then Trask can show us what he is worth. I hope it is a 40 mill a year offer.
May 3rd, 2023 at 7:27 pm
Donovan Smith signs with KC Chiefs
May 3rd, 2023 at 7:34 pm
But I thought KC was trying to make their line better…
j/k… I hope Donnie does well, there.
May 3rd, 2023 at 8:02 pm
Just a fair competition is all I ask, the start the best.
May 3rd, 2023 at 8:04 pm
Baker likely has the inside track as he can leverage his experience into making less mistakes early and get first crack at the starting job. It will be a true competition, but I feel it will be one that spans the entirety of the season. Short leash on the starter. Trask doesnt need to be the day one starter, he just needs to be ready. Too many new moving pieces in a new offense that is not likely to align to start the season. Let the veteran run for his life early this season.
May 3rd, 2023 at 8:17 pm
Mayfield is a good QB. Just needs to get is confidence back
Trask isnt.
Not an insult- Im not an NfL QB either.
The Bucs will sign a vet QB to back up Mayfield.
The âcompetitionâ was over- the Day they signed Baker.
I wonder, you Trask fans werent part of the âMike Glennon is our saviorâ gang?
Sooo similar.
May 3rd, 2023 at 8:24 pm
I remember Brad Johnson, and he wasnât just along for the ride to the SB. He more than just carried his weight. Dungy was fired because he couldnât put an offense on the field. The Bucs couldnât get past the Fleagles with just an iconic Defense. They needed something from the offense. Johnson was the key. Gruden came along and added some pieces, but none of it would have worked without Brad Johnson. Check out his stats, particularly in the playoff run.
The similarities between Brad Johnson and Kyle Trask are remarkable. Mayfield looks like a midget in comparison, and the Bucs won both of their Lombardi trophies with pocket passers. Just sayingâŚâŚwhy buck the trend?
May 3rd, 2023 at 9:18 pm
Duane, loved your post. Negative nellies and chicken littles indeed.
The sky is always falling on the Bucs here at JBF. Sometime it might be interesting to do a project…I’m too lazy now but perhaps in the future.
Simply track JBF posts for a week and categorize the # of…
Positive posts…Negative posts…Down the middle posts and see what the ratios or %’s are. I’d be big money on the Negative even though we are all posting on a blog title JoebucsFAN.
BTW this is not intended as any kind of jab at the Joes. They’re down the middle when needed but do not apologize for being FANS!
May 3rd, 2023 at 9:30 pm
Donovan Smith is probably going to be a back up at KC. If he starts on their line, there is a good chance the Chiefs’ offense will take a step back this fall as Mahomes will be scrambling more and KC drives that used to result in points will stall due to numerous holding and false start penalties.
May 3rd, 2023 at 9:39 pm
Baker is all fake hype. No other teams wanted him as a starter except Todd B. That is a bad news for Bucs future. They should have drafted a qb instead to compete with Kyle Trask.
May 3rd, 2023 at 10:02 pm
@rrsrq
Been saying that since about halfway through last season. Worst thing we did was beat Carolina and slop into the playoffs. Went from having a top 10 pick to picking at 19.
May 3rd, 2023 at 11:45 pm
Norm Snead will shock the world.
May 4th, 2023 at 12:08 am
“…Kyle [Trask] is just the Steady Eddie…”
Nickname!!!!
May 4th, 2023 at 12:13 am
The way I see it…There is no way we win with Baker. He’s proven more than once that he shouldn’t be a starter.
That means…depending on what veteran comes in, Trask is our best hope for 2023.
If the veteran is Joe Flacco…that may just change everything. I know he appears to be washed up but he was good before, maybe coming in at the right time will change things for him.
May 4th, 2023 at 7:01 am
Ok Joe
Licht just said it really is a competition.
You say you hope so.
Somehow you hear its not a competion and sounds like Mayfield has got it.
Ummm …wait…What?
Why even bother asking any questions or listening to any answers?
We are all gonna just make up what we want it to mean.
Geez!
May 4th, 2023 at 7:12 am
Hodad Says:
May 3rd, 2023 at 4:06 pm
Licht has received a lot of heat for drafting Trask. Most fans on this site have already decided heâs never going to be good. It was a wasted pick, we couldâve won another S.B. had we drafted any player but Trask. He was a bust when we drafted him, and fans here believe he wonât be better two years later. Licht Iâm sure wants all of you Trask haters to have to eat crow. Anyone who thinks Licht isnât going to give his hated 2nd round pick a fair shot hasnât been paying attention to Licht. Look how long he stuck with Spence, and some of his other second rounders. If Trask doesnât win the job, it wonât be because he wasnât given a good, fair chance. You can believe Licht wants Trask to win this job, and will give him more than a fair chance.
Don’t know if you are correct but at least your post shows you have given it some thought. And I do like your reasoning. Versus the usual Trask sucks because he couldn’t beat out Gabbert. Or the classic because he played in Gainesville.
Bravo!
May 4th, 2023 at 7:26 am
Mike Says:
May 3rd, 2023 at 5:36 pm
As long as they have equal time with the 1âs in preseason, it will be there for all to see.
Hmm
But But But What will we debate about then?
Who or what will be the chosen victim…oops… topic of the JBF forum then?
Seriously Mike a very valid point…One of the few on this thread.
May 4th, 2023 at 7:33 am
Baker Mayfield will be our QB for years to come. Bucs will win NFC south this year!
May 4th, 2023 at 6:22 pm
Bakers had his ups and downs. Let the games begin.
May 5th, 2023 at 4:35 pm
Interesting, The Mayfield groupies want Baker because he has âexperienceâ, and bad mouth Kyle because his coaches seemed to belong to the School ofâ Donât go in the water until you learn how to swimâ , Well Mayfield has had to be pulled from the water three times and is now on his fourth resuscitation in two years, how many chances does he get? The guy canât swim! Itâs Time to let Kyle jump in and get his toes wet.
May 8th, 2023 at 10:02 pm
Iâm sure the coaches and management at One Buc never watch Trask. They spent a second round pick on the guy so they could waste the pick and destroy the player, hence hurting the team.
The âletâs see what weâve gotâ crowd who havenât seen him know way more about Traskâs abilities than those who have seen him every day for two years. Clearly.
âBecause we havenât seen him he must be great.â
Idjits.