The Buccaneers will be one of the teams exiting this season with quarterback uncertainty. They have Baker Mayfield on a one-year, $4MM deal, one that came about due in large part to the $35.1MM dead-money hit from Tom Brady‘s expired contract. Mayfield has recovered from a 2022 regression, though he is still three months from free agency.
Tampa Bay is believed to be open to a second Mayfield contract (though, no talks are believed to have taken place), and it is not a lock the quarterback commits to testing free agency now that he has reestablished some momentum. Mayfield said (via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio) he is interested in staying with the Bucs beyond this season.
After ranking last in the NFL in 2022 QBR, Mayfield sits 18th. He rallied the Bucs on a go-ahead scoring drive to topple the Falcons in Week 14, moving Tampa Bay into first place (via tiebreakers) in the again-underwhelming NFC South. The former No. 1 overall pick has thrown 20 touchdown passes compared to eight interceptions, forming a strong connection with Mike Evans, who joins him as a free agent-to-be.
It will be interesting to see if Mayfield’s showing will garner first-year OC Dave Canales any HC interest, but for now, the Bucs have a chance at their third straight division title — in a season that was loosely deemed a retooling year due to the void years-driven Brady bill that hit the 2023 cap sheet.
In addition to Mayfield, the Bucs have Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr. as looming UFAs. Playing at an All-Pro level, Winfield will be in position to command a deal in the Jessie Bates neighborhood — should the Bucs let him reach the market. Although the Bucs were able to re-sign DBs Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean after letting each hit free agency, the team may well consider the franchise tag for the former second-round pick. Mayfield would not seem an especially strong tag candidate.
The Bucs’ draft position may also help determine their path with Mayfield. Should Tampa Bay not close out its bid for another division title, its pick could land near the top 10. That would put the team in range to potentially trade up in Round 1 or nab the best non-Caleb Williams/Drake Maye prospect. Tampa Bay defending its NFC South title and landing at No. 19 or below would alter its draft equation.
Mayfield, 28, stands to join Kirk Cousins as a top QB available in free agency. Gardner Minshew and Ryan Tannehill are set to accompany the NFC duo as starter-level arms unsigned beyond this season. Mayfield has done well to earn himself a better market, but there probably will not be many teams looking for free agent QB1s next year — especially if the Bears decide to trade Justin Fields and select a quarterback with their Panthers-obtained pick. Moving parts exist here, but wherever Mayfield ends up in 2024, he should be attached to a higher salary.
The bucs aren’t in position to draft, they’re gonna give Mayfield 10mm/yr
What he’s done there with that disaster of a running game and OL and then on top of that the defense that has blown 2-3 games (and almost again last week) is pretty impressive. Then you add in Bowles coaching and I can’t believe this team is in first. Yeah, hes not Mahomes and never will be, but he’s shown he can start and win games in the league. He currently has a better qbr than Carr, love, Geno, stafford, Howell, Pickett, ridder and is in the same area as burrow and Lawrence (and making tons less then all of them). For a lousy 4 million, the Bucs got a steal here. I get there’s tons of fans that hate him and want to start trash or draft his replacement. Thing is, if the Bucs keep winning, there won’t be a replacement worth a dam to draft. After about the top 3, good luck with the rest. Daniels will be lonnnnnng gone. If the Bucs want to move on, then that’s fine, but baker has played himself into another multi year starting qb contract which is good to see.
I agree and I’m very happy for the guy. He made mistakes in Cleveland, both in the field and in the media. But he never deserved the level of vitriol he got from the fans. The Browns absolutely blew it in every way imaginable when they decided to run Baker out of town while painting him as a scapegoat… but then turned around and signed Watson for way, way more money. I’m not even sure how many people would agree that Deshaun is even a better player than Baker at this point, certainly not multiple times better, let alone a better person.
Good for Baker. He’s quietly worked his behind off to prove that he can win in this league.
Win? He’s 6-7
The team is 6-7 and is one of 11 on offense.
6-7 and in the worst division in the NFL
Yeah 6-7! When the defense gives up over 400 yds of offense to the other team, you usually lose the game!
The dude is 18th in the league in passing. That’s not on his defense. Mayfield is average. He’s been average his whole career. He doesn’t elevate a team
Baker is ranked 18th. Quit trying to make him out to be anything but average. He’s not going to be anyone’s long-term solution. I know that breaks your heart but that is reality. He’s going to be a bridge quarterback. Fitzpatrick. Bridgewater type guy
The running game has improved!
Richaad White has improved markedly
I don’t see how Baker can be anywhere close to comparable to Burrow and Lawrence. That really doesn’t make sense to me and wouldn’t make sense to every GM and NFL executive. If the Bucs had a chance to get Lawrence and Burrow, even with their contracts, Baker would be shown the door incredibly quickly.
Run game has been good recently White and Edmonds return. The defense vs Texans was terrible and maybe another game. Baker hasn’t player well though as the defense gets turnovers and he can’t help the offense get in the endzone. He misses too many passes to Mike and does not get Godwin going. The defense created turnovers in the first ATL game and the Colts game and he did little to nothing.
They need to trade up if a QB is near their range. Daniels is a 1 year wonder can’t be terrible every college year and just flick it on. Most of his great games were against bad teams.
The Bucs as of now have few options. Trask probably isn’t the answer. Baker has heart. With Bowles as HC, this team needs it.
Good for Baker! He had his ups and downs with my Browns, but ultimately they did him dirty. He should have been given the final year of his contract to prove himself. The Browns put him out there hurt, and he still managed to hang tough. Baker could be a pain in the butt, but he was ultimately a good guy. The player we traded for, well he doesn’t come with the greatest reputation. I wish nothing but the best for Baker.
I think he has found a home and the Bucs are improving
Plus, they have a running game now
Improving? They beat Atlanta
Their ground game has improved leaps and bounds
They beat Atlanta and they’re 6-7 in the weakest division ever. They’ll get humiliated against a good team
Or draft Drake maye
Y’all hating on a git-er-done QB who’s got his team in position to make real noise late in the season.
The Buccaneers control their destiny for the NFC South. The prize for them is a playoff game in swampy Tampa, likely vs. Philly or Dallas.
He’s 6-7 in the weakest division in the history of football. Git-er-done? What exactly has he gotten done. Every team but Carolina controls their own destiny
He wants to stay, he’s hardly in it for the money. Hes done alright. My guess is he will be the starter but they will also draft a QB and make Baker the bridge QB.
I doubt they get Maye, Williams or Daniel’s but they could grab Penix/McCarthy/Nix. Of that bunch I like Bo Nix that most for them