The worst kept secret in football is over. After trying to hide it following Saturday night’s preseason game, Todd Bowles publicly announced on Tuesday that Baker Mayfield is going to be the starter for the Bucs. It was pretty telling after Mayfield didn’t play in Saturday’s game even after an injury to Jon Wolford.

Now it’s time to let Baker bake.

The Bucs’ new QB1 spoke after to give his reaction to being named the starter.

Baker Mayfield Reacts To Winning The Starting Job

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“The ultimate goal is always to be playing, so it’s one of those things where – you look at the big picture – it’s one of those things [where] you have to check the box,” Baker Mayfield said. “Now’s the time to really ramp it up and go from here and start winning ballgames that count.”

Kyle Trask certainly pushed the envelope and improved. He didn’t make it easy for Mayfield, but now the focus is on the start of the regular season. Baker Mayfield was immediately given all of the first-team snaps on Tuesday and that continued on Wednesday. There’s a sense of ease now that the whole team, especially the offense, can move forward with one guy.

“I think now we’re going to treat this [like a] real game week, like in-season type,” Mayfield said. “Practice schedule-wise with the carded periods and stuff. It’ll be nice to get one week under our belts until it’s the real thing and, yeah, it’s time to get rolling.”

An Upgrade From Practice To Preseason

The biggest key to winning this job was taking care of the football, but that wasn’t necessarily Baker Mayfield’s forte during training camp. He certainly threw more interceptions than Trask, but had way more splash plays. In the Bucs’ first preseason game against the Steelers, Baker Mayfield completed 8-of-9 passes for 63 yards, with one touchdown, a QB rating of 132.9 and no turnovers. Trask was very solid in the game, going 6-of-10 passing for 99 yards, but did have an interception.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield, WR Trey Palmer – Photo By: Cliff Welch P/R

“I think during training camp, you can look at turnovers – obviously, taking care of the ball is the main thing – but it’s practice for a reason,” Mayfield said. ” [You’re] trying to get timing down with the receivers, trying to test certain things out, see [on] 50-50 balls, which guys are going to make plays.

“When it comes down to the game, it’s time to take care of the football and be the quarterback you’re meant to be. I don’t know, I haven’t gotten the details, nor do I really care. I’m just going to roll with it now and just go win games.”

So did Mayfield think he earned the job? It definitely wasn’t handed it to him.

“I’ll say this: our QB room has been playing extremely well this camp. Between John [Wolford] and Kyle [Trask] – everybody pushing each other,” Mayfield said. “I can’t say enough about those guys in that room that we have as a whole. The chemistry is great. But yeah, I feel like I was comfortable enough within the system, commanded the offense and was able to get guys in the right spots. It’s not saying anything against anybody else, I just feel like I’m in good command of the offense.”

It’s What Baker Mayfield Wanted All Along

Baker Mayfield has been through a lot over the past couple of seasons. Most notably switching to multiple teams, and getting benched in Carolina. It’s certainly been humbling, but the chip on his shoulder that won him a Heisman Trophy way back when still remains.

Asked if given the journey he’s been on if it makes getting the named the starter in Tampa Bay any sweeter, Mayfield replied:

“No, I expect to be the starter,” Mayfield said. “I know how talented I am, I know what type of leader I am. Now, it’s just time for the real thing. We’re about to have the real games and everybody is excited here.”