22 August 2023 , 20:57
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Baker Mayfield has been named as the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The QB is preparing for his first season in Tampa after signing a one-year $8.5 million (£6.7 million) deal in March. Mayfield had previously spent the 2022 season with the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams, having been the starting QB for the Cleveland Browns for four years.
Mayfield, the No.1 overall pick from the 2018 NFL Draft, is now preparing to officially replace Tom Brady. The NFL legend retired at the end of last season, shortly before the Bucs signed Mayfield as their next starter.
However, going into offseason practice there were doubts over whether or not Mayfield would be the starting quarterback in 2023 in Tampa. Kyle Trask is also in the QB room alongside Mayfield and is expected to compete for the starting spot.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles confirmed in a Tuesday press conference that it would be Mayfield who would be the starting quarterback in 2023, with Trask serving as back-up. The Bucs open the regular season with the Week 1 opener against the Minnesota Vikings, and Mayfield will be a starter.
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"Baker's our starting quarterback, Kyle's our No. 2," Bowles told reporters on Tuesday. "We love everything Kyle has done. And he's gotten leaps and bounds better than he was in the spring and he's continuing to get better and we're excited about him.
“But Baker's our guy right now -- experience-wise and just understanding the playbook just a little bit better. But Kyle's on the come [up]. But we like both guys. We like where we're at. Baker's 1, Kyle's 2."
Mayfield signed a one-year deal worth $8.5 million (£6.7 million) with the Bucs earlier this year, but it seems that more than half of that could arrive from incentives rather than basic salary. has reportedly revealed the list of incentives that have been placed in Mayfield’s contract for the forthcoming season.
The majority of the potential bonuses will come from the percentage of offensive snaps that Mayfield features in. The amounts range from 66 percent equating to a $500,000 (£392,000) bonus, all the way up to a $2 million (£1.57 million) bonus for 85 percent and the Bucs reaching the playoffs.
More potential bonuses will be heading Mayfield’s way if he finishes in the top 10 in the NFL or top five in the NFC in five statistic-based areas - passer rating, touchdown passes, total passing yards, pass completion percentage and yards per pass. Mayfield would receive $300,000 (£235,000) for each, with a maximum payout of $1.5 million (£1.18 million) should he achieve all of them.