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Baker Mayfield expected to be targeted by Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per report
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Baker Mayfield is set to be a free agent, and his next team may already be known. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to target the former Oklahoma quarterback.
The Bucs are in need of a starting quarterback with Tom Brady retired.
When free agency begins, the #Bucs are expected to target ex-#Rams QB Baker Mayfield as a potential starting QB option, per me and @MikeGarafolo. This could be competition for Kyle Trask, their former 2nd-round pick, who the team likes a lot. As TB plots life without Tom Brady… pic.twitter.com/9PmbTG0tYW
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2023
If Mayfield finds a new home, it will be his fourth NFL team. The Cleveland Browns selected Mayfield at No. 1 overall in 2018. After 4 seasons, the Browns acquired Deshaun Watson and traded Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers.
Mayfield’s time in Charlotte did not go as planned. He played in 7 games, including 6 starts, before he requested a release.
The Los Angeles Rams picked up Mayfield off of waivers. He made 5 appearances for the Rams, including 4 starts. Mayfield’s stat line for 2022 was 201-of-335 passing for 2,163 yards, 10 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
Baker Mayfield vs. Kyle Trask in Tampa Bay?
As the NFL Media report notes, Tampa Bay’s front office has expressed confidence in Kyle Trask as the team’s potential starting quarterback for 2023. Bringing in Mayfield, though, shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Former Bucs head coach Bruce Arians, now a senior advisor for the team, said the club would check out other options.
“But just like three years ago, you’ve gotta search what’s behind door No. 2,” Arians said in a February appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. “Three years ago, we never would’ve guessed Tom Brady was behind door No. 2. So you do your research, you do all your homework, and you decide what’s best for you. But right now, I’m very comfortable if Kyle’s our guy.”
Trask, Tampa Bay’s second-round pick in 2021, has only played in 1 regular-season game during his 2 seasons with the Bucs. Mayfield has started 69 games in his career.
We’ll see if the Bucs go with the young quarterback who has waited for a chance or a veteran starter looking to bounce back from a disappointing year.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
