Report: Buccaneers to target Baker Mayfield in free agency

Posted by Josh Alper on March 12, 2023, 12:17 PM EDT
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Baker Mayfield may be on his way back to the NFC South.

NFL Media reports that the Buccaneers are expected to target Mayfield once they are allowed to begin negotiating with free agents from other teams on Monday. Mayfield opened last season as the starting quarterback in Carolina and ended the year as the starter for the Rams after being waived by the Panthers.

Kyle Trask is currently the only quarterback under contract in Tampa and head coach Todd Bowles has said that the 2021 second-round pick will compete to be the starter as the Bucs move into life without Tom Brady.

Mayfield would provide some experienced competition for Trask and the coming days should bring more of an idea if that’s how things will be shaping up in Tampa.

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65 responses to “Report: Buccaneers to target Baker Mayfield in free agency”

  3. In 2023, Baker is going to be one of the top quarterbacks on his team. Guaranteed.

  4. TB doing its best to become the Panthers of 2022. Good for them. High bar to clear there

  5. Can’t believe anyone would put their coaching or front office career on Baker Mayfield.

  6. I mean if you fire your superbowl winning offensive coordinator for calling too many passing plays with Tom Brady under center seems like a no brainer to bring in a QB who you would want to pass as little as possible. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me. Though at this point depending on what Atlanta does the Buccaneers could be going from having the best QB in the division to the worst almost overnight now that the Panthers have the number 1 pick and Derek Carr is the Saints starter.

  7. The Bucs are taking a massive cap hit in ’23 from Brady’s retirement, they’re not going to the playoffs, why bring in Baker? Who cares if you go 7-10 rather than 5-12? They should see what they have in Trask.

  9. I’m not the biggest baker fan, but I’m surprised there has been next to no talk about baker. I think he still has potential as a starter in the right situation.

  10. This will be a breath of fresh air for Tampa fans. They’ve waited long enough to finally see some great quarterback play.

  11. I live here and i would love him to sign with the Bucs. He would be an upgrade over Kyle Trask.

  12. Mayfield left Cleveland, and now the Browns are in cap hell. Mayfield is leaving the Rams, and if they keep Stafford, this team will be in cap hell. I’m surprised the Raiders aren’t going after Mayfield.

  13. Given the cap situation with Brady’s departure, Mayfield could be all they can afford while they rebuild. Belicheck had the same problem post-TB12. The Bucs went all in on his last year, as would most teams who knew Brady was only there on the short term, and now has to deal with the cap carnage. The Bucs got their SB and like the Rams probably concider the going up was worth the coming down.

  14. It would be a far better business decision to stay with the Rams, even if it meant getting a short term deal. Stafford is getting closer to retirement and McVay is a far better fit than going to a Todd Bowles led team which will likely end his career.

  17. He’ll do better than Tommy did last year. Funny what happens when Tommy doesn’t have elite coaching for the first time in his career…

  20. As a bucs fan I’m praying we get one of these 2nd or 3rd round rookies that end up being a hidden gem. I think baker is a good qb he’s just never been consistently great. This would probably be the most talented team he’s played on. We’ll see how fa and draft goes.

  25. It’s called taking for Maye or Williams in ‘23. If you want to lose enough games to get one of those QBs, than Mayfield is your guy.

  26. Trask will beat him out in camp but he is a cheap backup QB to have, if they can work out a fair contract. This franchise is doomed for the next five years anyway, so they will opt for any average QB that signs for cheap. Trask will likely prove all the doubters wrong – most of his detractors never watched him play and only regurgitate garbage they read on various sites, posted by other geniuses who also never watched him play. That’s the era we are stuck with. Lazy “fans” who spend more time gambling, running 20 fantasy teams, and echoing other people’s opinions rather than make an intelligent assessment with their own eyes.

  27. I doubt an offense that looked that pathetic with Tom Brady at QB is very tempting for others to play in.

  29. Not good enough for Cleveland or Carolina, not good enough for the Bucs. I would rather we tank with Trask and rebuild for the future.

  30. Baker and Jimmy G. are the Rodney Dangerfields of NFL QBs: they don’t get no respect.

  31. Unless Tampa is tanking for Caleb Williams in next year’s draft, they’d better bring in Mayfield or any veteran! I watched WAY too much of Trask’s fat ass standing immobile at Florida – he’s not a franchise QB by a mile! He needed that great line and top talent to pull that off against weak college competition. He’ll never have that perfect environment in the NFL.

  32. misterdizz says:
    March 12, 2023 at 1:53 pm
    Trask will likely prove all the doubters wrong – most of his detractors never watched him play and only regurgitate garbage they read on various sites, posted by other geniuses who also never watched him play.
    ____________

    Trask has only played in one NFL game and only attempted nine passes. No one has watched him play.

  34. The free agent market for QBs is terrible. I would absolutely roll with a rookie or somebody already on my roster instead. Unless you strike gold with a rook, a lot of these teams aren’t making the playoffs.

  36. Gotta have 3 qb’s at LEAST. Mayfield would make 2. Best outcome for the Bucs would be for Trask to kill it, and he’s on a rookie contract

  37. The Bucs are taking a massive cap hit in ’23 from Brady’s retirement, they’re not going to the playoffs, why bring in Baker?
    ——————
    As evidenced by his stint in Carolina, Mayfield is not going to elevate a team to be competitive. If Mayfield goes to TB, I’d say he’s officially become Fitzpatrick. Mayfield adds depth. Furthermore, Tampa may not want to totally submarine Bowles.

  38. Baker will be just fine. He may be Bart Simpson in cleats but slapping the Browns down after a week before they said “he is our guy” has to count for something.

  39. ‘Caleb Williams’….

    Awe, People and their yearly obsession with high draft qb that Bust more than make it!

  40. Either the Bucs or the Commanders will be competing for Caleb Williams in 2024 for the Number One draft choice.

  41. Either the Bucs or the Commanders will be competing for the Number One draft pick whoever loses out will draft Mayes, who could be a better pro than college quarterback.

  42. it blows my mind when I read these comments, Baker Mayfield getting great praise and when I read article about a much better QB Lamar Jackson, you’ll are trashing him.

  43. portis26 says:
    March 12, 2023 at 12:55 pm
    The Bucs are taking a massive cap hit in ’23 from Brady’s retirement, they’re not going to the playoffs, why bring in Baker? Who cares if you go 7-10 rather than 5-12? They should see what they have in Trask.
    ————————————————
    8-9 with Brady to a 7-10 team with Baker Mayfield. Ok.

  44. Herman Peters says:
    March 12, 2023 at 4:43 pm
    it blows my mind when I read these comments, Baker Mayfield getting great praise and when I read article about a much better QB Lamar Jackson, you’ll are trashing him

    =========================================

    Totally agree. And it does not take a rocket scientist to figure the reason why. Mayfield was battling Zach Wilson for the worst QB in the NFL last season.

  45. Baker Mayfield, Derek Carr, Desmond Ridder, Bryce Young. Worst division in football again.

  46. Herman Peters says:

    it blows my mind when I read these comments, Baker Mayfield getting great praise and when I read article about a much better QB Lamar Jackson, you’ll are trashing him.

    —————————————————————————————-

    Society has always shown a willingness to tolerate and overlook many red flags BUT greed is usually NOT one of them!

  47. DrewSports says:
    March 12, 2023 at 1:31 pm
    Ravens should be targeting him to replace Jackson

    ==========================================
    Lol. That’s like saying the Eagles should replace Hurts with Zach Wilson judging by their pro football focus grades closest comps. Beyond ridiculous

  48. it blows my mind when I read these comments, Baker Mayfield getting great praise and when I read article about a much better QB Lamar Jackson, you’ll are trashing him.

    —————————————————————————————————————
    You are leaving out the price tag. For the same contract, I would take Jackson in a heartbeat. In fact, I’d surely pay Lamar twice what I’d pay Baker. LJ is obviously the better QB. However, I suspect I can get Baker for $12M to $15M per season with minimal guarantees. Lamar wants $50M per season guaranteed for 5 years. I think Baker is the better deal out of those two.

  50. Baker Mayfield had a top 5 defense, a top 3 oline, two pro bowl running backs, two pro bowl wide receivers and two pro bowl tight ends in Cleveland and was terrible. Yet he turned down a massive contract to get greedy and bet on himself and performed worse than Zach Wilson by many metrics and will be on his 4th team in 2 seasons and will soon get his 8th head coach fired. If only he had an agent. Oh wait…….

  51. it blows my mind when I read these comments, Baker Mayfield getting great praise and when I read article about a much better QB Lamar Jackson, you’ll are trashing him.
    ——————
    Where? I missed the Mayfield great praise.

  52. tyelee says:
    March 12, 2023 at 5:28 pm
    Herman Peters says:

    it blows my mind when I read these comments, Baker Mayfield getting great praise and when I read article about a much better QB Lamar Jackson, you’ll are trashing him.

    —————————————————————————————-

    Society has always shown a willingness to tolerate and overlook many red flags BUT greed is usually NOT one of them!
    ___________________________________

    Mayfield turned down a $35 million per year contract extension. So that’s definitely not it. But I agree that it’s a societal problem.

  53. My first reaction is ‘they could do worse’. In all likelihood, they are looking at him as a high-end backup, possible bridge-starter, not a long-term solution. They are hoping Trask can beat him out and prove to be that.
    If Trask face-plants, Baker has at least proven he can compete at this level and be a viable starter. Not the best, but far from the worst.

  54. Not that Jimmy G is the best QB in the world or anything, but he’s a much better option than Mayfield.

  55. hazydavey says:
    March 12, 2023 at 5:32 pm
    it blows my mind when I read these comments, Baker Mayfield getting great praise and when I read article about a much better QB Lamar Jackson, you’ll are trashing him.

    —————————————————————————————————————
    You are leaving out the price tag. For the same contract, I would take Jackson in a heartbeat. In fact, I’d surely pay Lamar twice what I’d pay Baker. LJ is obviously the better QB. However, I suspect I can get Baker for $12M to $15M per season with minimal guarantees. Lamar wants $50M per season guaranteed for 5 years. I think Baker is the better deal out of those two.

    =========================================

    Jackson was 9th in QBR and Baker Mayfield was last. Jackson was closer to third than Mayfield was to 31st. Mayfield had the worst QBR since rookie year Josh Rosen in 2018. Jackson is much closer to a $50 million a year player than Mayfield is to a $15 million a year player. Reality does not back up this asinine take.

  58. Baker Mayfield had a top 5 defense, a top 3 oline, two pro bowl running backs, two pro bowl wide receivers and two pro bowl tight ends in Cleveland and was terrible. Yet he turned down a massive contract to get greedy and bet on himself and performed worse than Zach Wilson by many metrics and will be on his 4th team in 2 seasons and will soon get his 8th head coach fired. If only he had an agent. Oh wait…….
    ——————————————————————————————————————
    Baker’s not a franchise QB, but he’s a lot better than you make him sound. Amazing how that “great” Cleveland team went 7-10 the year after Baker left, including only 3-3 with Watson. That team is average across the board.

  59. mikecrabtreeschain says:
    March 12, 2023 at 5:21 pm

    Herman Peters says:
    March 12, 2023 at 4:43 pm
    it blows my mind when I read these comments, Baker Mayfield getting great praise and when I read article about a much better QB Lamar Jackson, you’ll are trashing him

    =========================================

    Totally agree. And it does not take a rocket scientist to figure the reason why. Mayfield was battling Zach Wilson for the worst QB in the NFL last season.

    ===

    Maybe it does take a rocket scientist, because you’re not getting it either.

    People don’t like greed. If Jackson had signed the Josh Allen-sized contract the team has been offering him for 2+ years, no one would have batted an eye and he’d just be another well-paid QB who some people like and some people don’t, like every other QB. Instead, he’s making outrageous demands that everyone knows are far out of line with his results.

    Mayfield has the same number of playoff wins as Jackson.

    What’s made Mayfield a sympathetic figure is that he was humbled and had to work his way back from it – he’s now an underdog. No one thinks he deserves anywhere near as much as Jackson. They’re just at different points in their cycle of public perception. Mayfield has gotten just as much or more negative sentiment over time as Jackson.

  60. Baker was the last QB to lead the Browns to a playoff win and he comes at a low salary. Not Joe Montana but not Rex Grossman either

  61. hazydavey says:
    March 12, 2023 at 8:00 pm
    Baker Mayfield had a top 5 defense, a top 3 oline, two pro bowl running backs, two pro bowl wide receivers and two pro bowl tight ends in Cleveland and was terrible. Yet he turned down a massive contract to get greedy and bet on himself and performed worse than Zach Wilson by many metrics and will be on his 4th team in 2 seasons and will soon get his 8th head coach fired. If only he had an agent. Oh wait…….
    ——————————————————————————————————————
    Baker’s not a franchise QB, but he’s a lot better than you make him sound. Amazing how that “great” Cleveland team went 7-10 the year after Baker left, including only 3-3 with Watson. That team is average across the board
    ==========================================

    Don’t blame me. ESPN QBR is the place that gave him the lowest grade since 2018, Pro Football Focus is the place that graded him slightly ahead of Zack Wilson only. The ringer ranked him behind Gardner Minshew and Trey Lance. That great Cleveland team had to shed Talent to pay a QB in order to get rid of Mayfield. It’s quite telling that they were willing to break the bank for Watson if they thought Mayfield was serviceable. Teams chose Davis Mills, Pj walker and Sam Darnold over him.

  62. stuvian says:
    March 12, 2023 at 8:57 pm
    Baker was the last QB to lead the Browns to a playoff win and he comes at a low salary. Not Joe Montana but not Rex Grossman either

    ==================================

    Means nothing. Mark Sanchez is the last Qb to lead the Jets to a playoff win. The guy Mayfield beat also lost to Blake Bortles and Tim Tebow. Should tell you something.

  63. He hope he stays with the Rams as a quality back up but either way the Rams win. Baker stays and we get a quality back up, Baker signs as a starter with the Bucs and we get a comp pick next year for losing him to FA.

  64. @krycek21 – Thanks for the laugh! Loved it – Baker Mayfield still hasn’t returned the keys to the Cleveland Browns Stadium!

  65. This division seems to get worse by the hour. Saints win this division by 3 games next year

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