There’s yet another indication that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask is a clear underdog in the competition involving free-agency signing Baker Mayfield.

“In general, we’re hearing the words that we’ve used to describe Baker Mayfield since he started his career — the positive ones, like moxie and leadership,” ESPN NFL insider Jeff Darlington said over the weekend about the Buccaneers’ quarterback battle, as shared by the JoeBucsFan website. “And those are the things that so far in Tampa it feels like could earn him the starting job.” 

JoeBucsFan noted that Darlington “is not a hot-take guy” and “has excellent access with the Bucs.” Some may remember how the reporter was all over the Tom Brady retirement news in February and seemingly was correct in saying this past winter that Brady is “done-done.” 

Darlington interestingly used “moxie” to describe Mayfield less than two months after Buccaneers senior advisor Bruce Arians mentioned that exact trait while describing the first pick from the 2018 NFL Draft. Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Dave Canales said in May he liked how Mayfield “has such a great swag.”

NFL Network personality David Carr reported earlier this month that “Trask is going to have to do something extraordinary” to leapfrog Mayfield on the depth chart before the Buccaneers open the regular season at the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 10. Just last week, Tampa Bay pass-rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka gushed over what Mayfield has already shown during springtime workouts. 

Meanwhile, Darlington suggested that Trask, a 2021 second-round draft pick who has attempted just nine regular-season passes in the NFL, isn’t entirely out of the race ahead of summer training camp sessions.

“There is just definitely a little bit more of a vibe when I talk to people about these two quarterbacks, that Baker seems to be imposing himself,” Darlington continued. “Now, Kyle Trask is still in the hunt. There is no determination on who the starter will be in this quarterback competition. But at this point, it does feel like Baker is imposing himself over the competition.”

Unless the Buccaneers are leaking smokescreens for reasons that would make little sense to outsiders, it looks like the club is preparing for Mayfield to enter September as its QB1 as he attempts to resurrect his career following stints with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams last season.