Previous reports indicated that the Buccaneers would like to re-sign Baker Mayfield before the start of free agency, and the organization is apparently making progress on that goal. According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Buccaneers and Mayfield have had “preliminary talks” about a new deal.
[RELATED: Buccaneers Want To Re-Sign Baker Mayfield Before Free Agency]
While nothing is imminent, it’s a positive sign that the two sides are already engaging in negotiations. Per Stroud, Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht is expected to meet with Mayfield’s agent, Tom Mills, next week, and both camps have expressed interest in completing a new contract.
Following a standout season that saw Mayfield pass for a career-high 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns while guiding his squad to the postseason, the Buccaneers have already started preparing for the former top-overall pick to be under center in 2024. After offensive coordinator Dave Canales left to become the Panthers head coach, the Buccaneers brought on Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who previously worked with Mayfield when the two were in Los Angeles.
While the Buccaneers seem to be making it clear that they want Mayfield back, the feeling is apparently mutual. Per Stroud, Mayfield wants to stick in Tampa Bay because he believes it would give him the best opportunity to win. Mayfield’s 9-8 record in 2023 was only the second time in his career that he’s finished with a winning record, and the veteran is surely looking to carry that momentum into the 2024 campaign.
Of course, while both sides are interested in a new pact, it may be easier said than done. Mayfield will surely earn a significant raise on the $7MM he earned this past season (including incentives), and as Stroud notes, a deal worth $40MM-plus wouldn’t even necessarily put the QB into the upper echelon of his position.
Friday afternoon’s unveiling of the 2024 salary cap brought clarity to the QB franchise tag, which would come in at $38.3MM. That could be an option for the Buccaneers if they can’t agree to a long-term deal with Mayfield, although Stroud cautions that the organization isn’t “expected to use that designation.”
Baker comes across a s sold guy, but I would tag him this season and let him prove he’s able to keep the winning going. He’s had lots of up & down seasons; hence playing 3 teams in 2 years(?) something like that.
Since they’re going to use it on Winfield that will make it hard to use it on Baker.
I’d sign Winfield. They know what they have there, & tag TBD Baker. Safeties can be replaced, above average starting QB’s is what drives the league. GM’s priorities are backwards.
He may be the poster child for a player that flourishes under the right system and coaching. He was productive in Cleveland, bad in Carolina, decent in LA with a team that had a ton of injuries, then good again in Tampa with good coaching and players around him.
My guess is he’d be more flexible knowing the Tampa system puts him in a better place, but then again, the potential for more money (especially with greedy agents in their ear) tends to influence these decisions.
I think the expectation from the start was that Mayfield would be a stop gag solution and I think the Bucs should stick to that plan. Most QBs if given the opportunity to play in half a dozen systems would look capable in at least one of those situations.
Tampa was 1 game over .500, 9-8 record. Taking on the mighty trio of Ridder, Carr & Young! Baker isn’t the long term answer.
To clarify, Baker was 1 game over .500 in a year the team significantly cut costs to fix their Brady-related cap hangover. Most experts had them pegged last in the division. Context counts…
What context? Look at their record. They beat non-playoff teams and lost to playoff teams. That’s what .500 teams usually do. Baker isn’t that great, that’s the bottom line. Just be prepared for another average season in Tampa if they sign him. His career says so.
link to en.wikipedia.org
Tampa should not lose sight of the fact that Mayfield is only a middle of the pack kind of guy. Thus he is a bargain at $4 million plus incentives – but a huge overpay at $38.5 million.
That’s why I would tag him and let him prove himself again next offseason. I see an average QB as well.
They are not tagging him as it is for Winfield. If Winfield hit the market he isn’t coming back. He would go to the highest bidder.
I know Tampa isn’t tagging Baker. And they’ll make the exact same mistake NYG did last year. Signed a mediocre QB to a multi year deal, only to watch Dan fail yet again. And Barkley will hit the market this year. Exactly what did NYG gain from that, besides another sub .500 season in 2023 & most likely again this year?
Baker has 7 seasons under his belt and never shown constant success. That’s why he’s on his 4th team in 7 years.
It’s a lot faster, easier, & cheaper to replace a good safety vs a bad QB.
6 years in the league….not 7. He was drafted in 2018.
8 head coaches including some of the worst ones ever to get a HC job. (Hue Jackson, Kitchens, and Rhule)
Now on his 7th offensive coordinator with Coen.
No other QB has had that type of turnover where he has had to learn a different scheme and philosophy literally every year and sometimes multiple times a year. I’m not absolving Baker of all blame but there’s more to it than just his performance. He played through injury in Cleveland which he never should have done and instead sat out the season. Carolina is a dumpster fire and you’re seeing why when Bryce Young is doing no better than Baker did there. On the rams he was a stop gap to finish out a bad season. His top WR was van freakin Jefferson who is a WR3 on his best day and he still won 2 out of 5 games with that group. The rams might have kept him if he would have accepted a backup role or stafford was retiring.
And he’s only played in 6 seasons, not 7. I get you have a bias against him and you’re not the only one but he’s got 2 playoff wins under his belt and was a top 10 qb this past year. Glad you’re not a gm because apparently you have no idea what a “bad qb” is. Also, he’s not likely going to get Daniel Jones money or contract length. It’ll be closer to Geno Smith money and contract who is he better than.
Little edgy? Too much coffee? I’m not biased against any player or team. I look at someone’s overall body of work and form an opinion. Baker is an average QB, which makes him a backup.
Name 1 QB that doesn’t have constant change on the assistant coaching staff? There are 17 new OC’s this season. 14 for DC’s. That’s roughly 50% of the league with turnover. It happens every year. Stop using that an excuse.
It seems like that Geno Smith contract is bad as well! Like Baker, he turned in 1 good season then reverted back to be an average QB. Same deal for Danny. Teams are blind to a QB’s overall body of work and focus on 1 season which is why their mistakes get compounded.
But I look forward to Baker signing a multiyear deal with Tampa, then have another average year and the same excuses are made for him next offseason.
Not edgy at all, just refuting your terrible take….don’t dish it if you’re too sensitive when you’re called out on it.
Keep up with the Baker is awesome routine next season. I look forward to mocking you like I did all the Bill B choir boys this past season.
Least I can count how many seasons he’s played.
$90/3yrs, 67.5 gauranteed. Puts him just under 12% of the cap, necessary to have a SB winning roster
First off, every guy bagging on the author of the article over and over needs to drop it. You come off as someone w anger issues and a problem. Get over it. Drop it already. One bad article, or a few bad takes during a slump in the season doesn’t make a guy an idiot. Your repeated comments make YOU look bad. Get a life, dude.
As far as I see it, and I have been a fan since the team was born, (older than that, really) they will prob tag AWJ. Baker has said he would take a bit of a discount to have M13 back. I would, too, if I was Baker. Considering, their chemistry. Beyond that, numbers mentioned by Sam 4 aren’t out of the picture. Mike deserves to be a Buc for life and HE is my biggest concern, Baker being #1b, Mike as #1a. Lavonte is another one. Call him #3 behind Baker and Mike. His leadership is paramount for our Defense. The others may be a bit of Russian roulette. Let the chips fall where they may. I just pray those core guys are here for training camp. An incentive laden contract for Baker makes sense here.
2 years 80 million
get my 2 cents in .Any QB not named Mahomes , is just average really some are getting huge money for what, not winning the big game . Baker will win you games with the right core personal on the team, same as any other NFL team . That is how KC won the big show , even though SF , BALT & DET may have been better strengthen teams they didn’t have the core players & it wasn’t their QB situation.