Is Baker Mayfield A Good Fit With The Buccaneers?

Former number one overall pick Baker Mayfield has had a rollercoaster of a career - from being dubbed as the savior of the Cleveland Browns and winning them a playoff game, to being outcast for Deshaun Watson and cut from the Carolina Panthers in the same season, to his improbable fourth quarter comeback in primetime as the Rams’ quarterback, Mayfield finds himself in free agency once again.

After a resurgence late in the season with the Rams in 2022, Mayfield has been generating buzz on the free agent market with many teams facing quarterback questions heading into the 2023 season.

The prime candidates to sign Baker are none other than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are avidly searching for a Tom Brady replacement. Is Mayfield a good fit in Tampa?

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Why Are The Buccaneers Targeting Baker Mayfield?

Prior to free agency kicking off, reports came out that the Buccaneers would be targeting Baker Mayfield.

Despite these reports, the two sides have yet to agree on a contract. Why Mayfield, of all quarterbacks that Tampa could go after?

Tampa is well over the salary cap and has the worst salary situation in the NFL despite restructuring $50 million in cap space.

Pursuing a big-ticket free agent like Lamar Jackson was off the table for them unless they could somehow cut a ton of cap, at which point they would no longer have a strong roster construction. Baker Mayfield will require an affordable salary that Tampa can realistically adjust for.

Kyle Trask is currently the only quarterback on the Buccaneers’ roster and grabbing a top rookie would require trading up. Bringing in Baker Mayfield to compete with Trask is a reasonable move, as Mayfield has shown that he has upside and can be acquired for a discount.

Is Baker Mayfield A Good Fit For Tampa Bay?

Tampa had to do something to address the quarterback position and while fans may not be enthusiastic about Baker Mayfield, signing him gives them a chance to compete in what should again be the NFL’s worst division. 

If it pans out, the Buccaneers win the NFC South and march into the playoffs. If it doesn’t, Tampa doesn’t waste money on a long-term deal and they likely secure a top-10 pick in 2024. 

While punting a season is never ideal from a fan standpoint, teams searching for a quarterback in the 2024 class could be set up nicely for the future. Heisman winner Caleb Williams is joined by the likes of Drake Maye and Quinn Ewers at the top of the board, with many other potential breakout stars in waiting.

Bringing in Mayfield at least gives hope to Tampa fans for this season, is a good move for his career, and gives them a chance to pivot to 2024 if the signing does not work out.

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