Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Bucs will be signed by an AFC East team.
Signing quarterback Baker Mayfield to a one-year contract
At quarterback, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have discovered Tom Brady’s replacement.
Baker Mayfield, the former No. 1 overall pick, is nearing a deal with the Bucs, according to sources cited by NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero on Wednesday.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network Insider, Mayfield, 27, will agree to a one-year contract costing up to $8.5 million. Pelissero noted that Mayfield’s contract with Tampa Bay included a $2 million signing bonus.
After being acquired by the Carolina Panthers in July of last year, Mayfield played six games there before being cut and joining the Rams a few days later. There, he started four games in lieu of an ailing Matthew Stafford.
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Although Mayfield’s career has taken some unexpected turns in recent years, he is now in a position where he may easily get a starting position. It’s also anticipated that incumbent Kyle Trask will compete for starting honors.
Formerly the Cleveland Browns’ first-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, Mayfield had a terrific rookie season before faltering a little in his second year.
During the turbulent 2020 season, he made a significant comeback and guided the Browns to the postseason for the first time in 18 years.
The Browns won their first postseason game on the road since 1969 and their first playoff victory in 26 years, thanks to quarterback Baker Mayfield’s three touchdown passes against the Steelers in the wild-card round.
However, things took a bad turn in Cleveland when Mayfield was having problems and was engaged in a public spat with Odell Beckham Jr.A few weeks before training camp last year, Mayfield—who had played with a damaged shoulder in the 2021 season—was moved to Carolina after being singled out as the scapegoat.
It didn’t work out with head coach Matt Rhule, a limp duck. Before being benched, Mayfield started the Panthers’ first five games. He would start again the week before his release.
The Rams were quick to seize Mayfield, who, three days later, miraculously played most of their game against the Raiders, inspiring an unlikely victory with a game-winning touchdown pass in the final seconds.
Mayfield has completed 61.4% of his passes in 72 career games (69 starts), throwing for 16,288 yards, 102 touchdowns, and 64 interceptions. He has also rushed for 660 yards and six scores. His squad has a 31-38-0 career record when Mayfield is the starter.
Mayfield and the Bucs will play the Panthers twice in 2023 without Rhule, but they won’t get an opportunity to exact revenge on the Browns during that season.
When Mayfield was a rookie, he beat the Bucs at Raymond James Stadium with two touchdown throws. The Browns rallied from a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win in overtime.
The following season will bring new quarterback dynamics to the NFC South, with Mayfield in Tampa and Derek Carr in New Orleans.
It is widely anticipated that the Panthers would select a quarterback with their first-round choice because every team in the division added a new quarterback this summer.
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