In the midst of a quarterback competition in Tampa Bay, Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David has spoken out in support of veteran signal-caller Baker Mayfield.
The team is keeping the competition open between Mayfield and the young Kyle Trask, but David’s endorsement of his new teammate has to make Mayfield feel good.
During an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio, David commended Mayfield’s presence around the team, stating, “Baker is great for our locker room. I like the way Baker carries himself, coming in with a ready-to-work mentality. Everybody loves him already, and the way he approaches practice is great to see.”
“There’s definitely some great things to see out of Baker. He’s a guy who’s done it before – took his team to the playoffs and done some great things so far. So the competition with those guys is going to be very, very competitive, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
David’s high praise for Mayfield suggests that the quarterback has already made a positive impact on the team, especially in terms of his leadership qualities.
As a former #1 pick, Mayfield is no stranger to the pressures of being “the guy” on the field, and his experience could play a crucial role in this quarterback battle.
The Buccaneers offseason workouts have been intense and competitive, with both Mayfield and Trask displaying their skills and vying for the starting role.
According to David, the competition has been “really fun to see,” as the two quarterbacks push each other to perform at their best.
For Mayfield, this opportunity with the Buccaneers represents a chance for redemption after a rollercoaster career. He helped lead the Cleveland Browns to snap their playoff drought in 2020, but his performance dipped the following year, with 13 interceptions in 14 games.
Eventually, he was replaced by Deshaun Watson and ended up with the Carolina Panthers, where he had a less than stellar tenure – followed by a short, yet strong stretch with the Los Angeles Rams.
Now, at 28 years old, Mayfield is determined to prove that he still has what it takes to be a successful starting quarterback in the NFL.
Despite being the likely front-runner over the inexperienced Trask, Mayfield will have to earn the starting job during training camp and demonstrate his ability to maintain peak and consistent performance throughout the season.
Can Baker resurrect his career?
Will he ever live up to what’s expected out of a #1 draft pick?