The quarterback battle was the closest over a roster spot for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. Baker Mayfield versus Kyle Trask was followed closely for the entire offseason and preseason, but it did always seem obvious that Mayfield would win the job.

That much did seem very clear, but Mayfield's future was still somewhat uncertain.

While everyone did agree that Mayfield was going to be the guy come Week 1, it did also seem obvious that Mayfield was not cemented in stone as the starter for the full year. Recent betting odds seem to back that up.

VERY INTERESTING: The 1st #NFL QB to lose their starting job during the 2023 Regular Season odds

1) #Buccaneers Baker Mayfield, 2/1
2) #Commanders Sam Howell, 4/1
3) #Titans Ryan Tannehill, 6/1
4) #Texans CJ Stroud, 7/1
5) #Patriots Mac Jones, 7/1
6) #Falcons Desmond Ridder,… pic.twitter.com/p0tiJoItay

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 4, 2023

This is probably a tough pill to swallow for Baker Mayfield and his fans in Tampa and around the NFL, but Mayfield getting replaced by Kyle Trask seems more a matter of when rather than if.

Mayfield does have a track history. Acting like that will go away, even with better weapons in Tampa than those he has seen in his career, is silly.

Plus, the Bucs did invest a second-round pick in Kyle Trask. It does make some sense that the team would give him starting reps in a season that probably won't go perfectly, and Todd Bowles may think that giving some reps to the younger Trask could be a good way to preserve his job.

One way or another, don't bet against it.

Buccaneers: There’s more to Kyle Trask’s game than people think

Don’t put the third-year QB in a box, folks.