Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask Buccaneers QB Battle a 'Win-Win', OC Dave Canales Says

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales believes the team is in a "win-win" situation by fostering a quarterback competition between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask.

Canales told reporters he's prepared to be deliberate in evaluating both candidates:

"Wait as long as you can, as long as possible. Our offense and defense — they don't need us to name a starter, trust me. We got studs up front on the offensive line, veteran presence. We got veteran presence at the wide receiver position. We got a really good group of backs, and the defense is fantastic. The way we're building it, even with the draft, this is not a team, that's like, 'We gotta know who the starter is gonna be so that we can move forward and figure out who we're going to be.' I don't think so. I think the way that we're going to play it, I'll have both guys ready to be really, really successful and efficient at what we're doing." "

He added that Mayfield and Trask are "already cohesive" and "doing really well together."

While Canales was saying what fans typically hear in the offseason when a team doesn't have a clear-cut starter, his words didn't ring hollow based on how Tampa Bay approached the draft.

Officials from the Buccaneers spoke with Will Levis at the NFL Scouting Combine, and the Kentucky quarterback made an official visit with the team ahead of the draft. If the Bucs had selected Levis or another quarterback on Day 1 or early into Day 2, then it would've sent a message: the front office and/or coaching staff didn't believe Mayfield or Trask was the guy.

Instead, Tampa Bay passed on Levis and didn't come out of the draft with any other quarterback.

Trask is largely unproven in the NFL, having attempted nine total passes in the regular season while backing up Tom Brady. Mayfield, meanwhile, has been discarded by two teams that thought he could be a viable starting solution.

Neither inspires a ton of confidence right now, but the Buccaneers clearly have enough faith Trask or Mayfield can work out.