Biggest Obstacle To Signing Baker Mayfield No Longer An Obstacle
March 14th, 2023
Options.
So during the first day of legal free agency tampering yesterday, it was learned that yes, the Bucs covet journeyman quarterback Baker Mayfield.
But it seemed the Bucs were not Mayfield’s only suitor. Among other teams, the 49ers for days were rumored to have interest in Mayfield. That’s now off the board.
Yesterday, the 49ers, trying to CYA themselves in case Brock Purdy doesn’t fully recover from elbow surgery, signed Sam Darnold (!).
To Joe, if the Bucs were really serious about Mayfield, the biggest chance of swinging and missing was San Francisco’s interest. The 49ers regularly appear in the NFC Championship game (lately). Why wouldn’t Mayfield want to be on the roster of a winner and Super Bowl favorite?
On face value, Joe believes Mayfield’s best chance to resurrect his career is with the Bucs. No one will expect him to do much. And he will have the best targets of his career (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin).
The Bucs offer just about the perfect opportunity for Mayfield to demonstrate he could once again be a franchise quarterback leading his team to the playoffs.
The only way Joe can see Mayfield turning his nose up on the Bucs now is if they want to sign him to a prove-it contract and some other team offers more cash — and more years on a contract.
March 14th, 2023 at 4:02 am
How much are Bucs willing to pay? White and Winston both making 8 mil I believe. Baker probably looking for more than that possibly. I think Bucs end up with Drew Lock and maybe a Nick Foles type.
March 14th, 2023 at 4:27 am
I guess Canales want a R Wilson type which Mayfield is. Could it be an issue that Mayfield want to come in as the starter and compete? I like J Brissett but as I said before maybe Canales like the Wilson type, 6’0 pocket passer who can run.
March 14th, 2023 at 4:49 am
I’d like to get him cheap as possible.
March 14th, 2023 at 5:06 am
Pay the man. Give him free room and board at Raymond James Stadium.
March 14th, 2023 at 5:14 am
Washington still hasn’t re-signed Heinicke… just saying.
March 14th, 2023 at 5:24 am
Heinike is best fit for this season
March 14th, 2023 at 5:39 am
Rams are looking at Mayfield to replace broken down Stafford who they will try to trade for peanuts
March 14th, 2023 at 5:55 am
Wow! The Rams gave up a lot of picks for one good year from Stafford. I think they keep him.
March 14th, 2023 at 6:03 am
The Bucs offer just about the perfect opportunity for Mayfield to demonstrate he could once again be a franchise quarterback leading his team to the playoffs.
I would agree with that statement if you remove the word franchise. He is a QB that was in the playoffs with his team for 1 year, a team with a great running game.
I dont understand the fascination that some of fans and a few of the media have for Mayfield. He has played 5 years and had 1 good year as a QB. Reminds me of the Winston conversation.
If you have one good year out of five seasons i m not expecting you to give me that. What i m expecting is what you have done for four years. Otherwise i m building a team on wishful thinking.
Just go with Trask, if he is not good then you can position yourself to draft a QB next year.
Go Bucs
March 14th, 2023 at 6:17 am
Mayfield is a ass after a few games he will piss off half the team there is a reason the 49ers didn’t approach him. If Licht signs this guy hes stupider than I thought. The panthers released him after Sam Donald came off the IR. And if he can’t beat out Trask he will disrupt the whole locker room. Buyer beware!
March 14th, 2023 at 6:20 am
Mayfield got two head coaches fired in Cleveland but the GM finally realized maybe Mayfield was the problem not just the head coach.
March 14th, 2023 at 6:22 am
Heinicke starts to seem like a better fit with Canales, the locker room, and the cap.
March 14th, 2023 at 6:22 am
It was actually a brilliant move not firing Bowles by Licht, when this cap hell/no QB season falls off the rails, Licht can blame Bowles, and still fresh off riding BA n Brady’s coattails, can hire a 4th head coach Dirk, BA, Bowles, Lovie hired Licht, that’s pretty insane these days for a GM to go through 5 HCs
March 14th, 2023 at 6:23 am
does not matter what third rate QB they bring in, because the O-line is in shambles.
March 14th, 2023 at 6:32 am
Sign somebody,then draft Hendon Hooker!
March 14th, 2023 at 6:39 am
Mayfield got head coaches fired? Come on Mayfield.
March 14th, 2023 at 6:44 am
Hopefully someone else signs him…
He’d be a stud in the XFL…
March 14th, 2023 at 6:49 am
Build an Oline if you have ANY real football sense about you Licht.
March 14th, 2023 at 6:52 am
Hendon Hooker tore his ACL in mid November of 2022 and had surgery in late November of 2022.
NFL Training camp begins on July 30th.
Realistically, Hooker will not be physically ready to fully participate in any NFL training camp as he will only be roughly 8 months post op from ACL surgery.
That means Hooker will not be ready to play in the 2023 team because he will have received zero live reps with any team in training camp.
These are things any GM must consider when thinking about drafting Hooker.
March 14th, 2023 at 6:57 am
Not sure he’s the right fit for our locker room. Mayfield is a household name, a personality. Think the the Bucs want less of the threat to Trask, but a veteran who could still compete. I’m thinking Lock, Brissett, or even Gabbert who’s well liked by Bowles.
March 14th, 2023 at 7:07 am
We sure are back to being the bastard stepchild of the NFL. We take the players that no one else wants. I’d rather have 3-4 wins with Trask than 5-7 wins with Carson Mayfield.
March 14th, 2023 at 7:22 am
he’s not a journeyman yet…
he’s a journeyman after his next stop…
he never got a chance to really settle in to the position in carolina…
his next spot is his last stop before pinning the journeyman tag on him…
he’s got one more shot
March 14th, 2023 at 7:25 am
The idea of Mayfield is growing on me… there’s more and more names growing on me as less and less become available as we’re looking at cheap alternatives, as we’re inching closer to Trask being the guy. Given the restructuring and signings, I don’t think we’re playing for a draft pick.
Like Mayfield, Wentz is an interesting prospect given we wouldn’t be asking him to carry this team. He’s big and mobile…under this new scheme, perhaps either of these guys can resurrect their careers here. I look to a guy like Brad Johnson who wasn’t anything special when we acquired him, but he could run John Gruden’s offense and he did enough to win.
The other names out there like Brissett and Heineke have already hit their ceilings and at no time have they proven themselves to be full-season starting caliber QBs. If Trask can’t beat Brissett or a Heineke out for starting duties, we are certainly fracked for the season. That’s what concerns me. It’s a win win with guys like Baker or Carson, Trask wins the job, he certainly would have earned it, he loses, we still have potential to compete this season.
March 14th, 2023 at 7:31 am
The Karen’s are out in full force this morning..some of you can’t get out of bed to start the day without complaining.. I bet your wife’s can’t wait for you to leave the house.
March 14th, 2023 at 7:32 am
Mayfield and Wentz days in the nfl are numbered. Both have to screw there helmets on before the game. Both need to get a psychological exam before they sign a contract.
March 14th, 2023 at 7:33 am
If the Jets dont get ARod then they will take Baker
March 14th, 2023 at 7:36 am
Bad idea
March 14th, 2023 at 7:45 am
Hmmm? SF signed Darnold over Mayfield, WHY? I would think Mayfield is a more system like guy. FYI Joe, Landry and OBJ aren’t too shabby. Mayfield did ok in Cleveland, look at the coaches he had to deal with not to mention the premadona players that were around him. OBJ wasn’t exactly humble back then. He’s.a good fit, probably get killed from this current oline but he will get back up. I wouldn’t expect too much but you will finally get to see what Trask has. Winsten 8mil as a backup, Bucs looking at 12-$15M for Baker.
March 14th, 2023 at 7:47 am
mayfield has tiny hands next to drew brees…and is shorter…
a pic joe posted a day or two ago shows them together on a previous thread…
brees looks all wicked and alpha as he eyeballs baker, while baker looks like a subordinate…but most notable was his height and hand size
March 14th, 2023 at 7:49 am
if i’m the gm i smokescreen with baker tryfield and swoop in and steal lamar…
as the chants for “we are the new america’s team” start to get louder in the background
March 14th, 2023 at 7:55 am
We have a small window to land a franchise QB in the next 2 years…Baker will crush those dreams by being just average enough to keep us in the 12-20 range again.
You can make any argument you want, he’s never gonna be good enough to be a franchise guy but good enough to trick people into thinking he’ll be successful on his 4th team…SMH
March 14th, 2023 at 7:58 am
If Mayfield signs for $15 million, then the Bucs would need $25 million because $10 million plus is required to sign the 2023 draft class.
The Bucs have already restructured all of the salaries that they could to get under the cap.
I just don’t see how they sign a veteran QB like Mayfield.
March 14th, 2023 at 8:09 am
@BelleGaldeBuc
Not very often one of the better QBs in a draft is being projected to go outside of the top 32. All reports seem to indicate Hookers’ rehab is trending upward, he’s doing light jogging, and has been throwing again since late January. IF the plan were to have Trask, sign Mayfield to compete and then draft Hooker to finish his rehab I’d be all for it. It would allow Hooker to be drafted into a situation where he’s not being rushed back to start week 1 like most QB needy teams tend to do with rookie QBs. I mean, GMs also see a guy who was crazy efficient, maybe not the best in the open field with his legs, but can certainly create if a play breaks down, and a player who still finished 5th in Heisman voting after winning SEC OPY post-injury. Even as QB3 Hendon Hooker would be a “W” of a draft pick for us considering you know you’re getting day 1 potential, for a day 2 price. It all equates to 3 viable options at QB heading into 2023
March 14th, 2023 at 8:21 am
LOL ‘The Tampa Bay Truth’ thinks FREDDY KITCHENS (lol) and HUE JACKSON (he who went 1-31 the two seasons BEFORE we drafted Mayfield) are NFL head coaches. That’s cute. His ‘truth’ must be sarcasm.
In reality, Baker Mayfield is the only QB in NFL history to turn an 0-16 team into a winning team in one season. He’s the guy you want if you need a QB who is capable of going to the play-offs picking from anyone currently available via FA or trade. Take it from a Clevelander who saw his incompetent team finally win because of Mayfield and then throw it in the trash. Whenever he’s healthy, he wins more football games than he loses. You could do way worse than that.
March 14th, 2023 at 8:23 am
2 year 15 mil
plus a commercial deal…and a bunker under the stadium…aka baker’s crash pad
March 14th, 2023 at 8:25 am
What happened to Gabbert has he not been on this team and learned from the best Brady? Would rather give him the shot than one year of Mayfield,lets step on the gas and go backwards. I agreee on getting the oline in shape and getting players in the draft for defense.
March 14th, 2023 at 8:27 am
Take it from a lifelong Clevelander who watched the Browns since 1977 and saw this incompetent-for-the-millenium team finally win because of Mayfield and then throw it in the trash: whenever he’s healthy, Baker wins more football games than he loses. You could do way worse than that. If I’m the Bucs he’s the guy I would sign. I guarantee you’ll make the playoffs if you do -and you obviously know, anything can happen once you get there. Without a doubt the best option available at this time.
March 14th, 2023 at 8:29 am
Gee- ‘The Tampa Bay Truth’ thinks Freddy Kitchens (lol) and Hue Jackson (he who went 1-31 the two seasons BEFORE we drafted Mayfield) are NFL head coaches. That’s cute. His ‘truth’ must be sarcasm.
In reality, Baker Mayfield is the only QB in NFL history to turn an 0-16 team into a winning team in one season. He’s the guy you want if you need a QB who is capable of going to the play-offs picking from anyone currently available via free agency or trade. Take it from a Clevelander who saw his incompetent team finally win because of Mayfield and then throw it in the trash. Whenever he’s healthy, he wins more football games than he loses. You could do way worse than that.
March 14th, 2023 at 8:31 am
Probably the best available ( realistically…unless The Bros. Glazer go big with a Lamar J. blockbuster ) FA QB left for the Bucs to sign. I like it for 3 reasons:
1) Mayfield showed a little something at the end of 2022 against all odds
2) Arians loves the guy…may keep him engaged for one more year as the “QB Whisperer”
3) It’ll put the Trask Force FanBoys into orbit
March 14th, 2023 at 8:32 am
@Dooley
All valid points.
When it comes to Hooker, I agree that he’s a terrific player, but I don’t really trust reporters who relay information about a player’s injury that they are receiving from that player’s agent.
There’s only one Adrian Peterson, who recovered from ACL surgery in less than a year’s time and came back like nothing happened to him.
The player that I would love for the Bucs to draft and who nobody on here is talking about is the Aaron Donald clone at Pitt in DT Calijah Kancey.
March 14th, 2023 at 8:44 am
No.
March 14th, 2023 at 8:44 am
@BelleGladeBuc
The point I was trying to make was we may not even need Hooker to be ready week 1. Also, I’d say Chris Godwin is just as good an example of a player having a shorter rehab than what used to be expected of an ACL injuries recovery time. Canales, being credited with reviving Geno Smith, would be getting a clone of Geno Smith in Hooker with some serious arm talent. That’s all I’m saying is our QB room would be a occupied with guys who have contrasting strengths, weaknesses and play styles all playing in the same, brand-new system.
I will say if not Hooker, than we better be looking at DTR.
March 14th, 2023 at 9:02 am
Falcons signing Heinecke.
March 14th, 2023 at 9:05 am
Taylor Heinke to falcons
March 14th, 2023 at 9:28 am
At this point why not bring back Gabbert he’s 32, reminds me of age is career path, probably more athletic than Geno too
March 14th, 2023 at 9:29 am
Reminds me of Geno’s career path I meant, let him and Trask battle it out, winner gets us a top 5 pick or has a career year and a shiny new contract next year
March 14th, 2023 at 9:31 am
Baker or Brissett will probably keep us in QB purgatory, drafting too far to move up for a QB
March 14th, 2023 at 9:53 am
Joe do you think we could trade Trask and recoup our 2nd round draft pick. Another one of many of Licht draft f__kups. No.– Joe
March 14th, 2023 at 9:57 am
Sign BM, he’s the best qb available to have a chance of winning a weak division. If Trask can beat him out as the starter, then so be it. They may not get along, so what. May the best qb win the job!!
March 14th, 2023 at 10:09 am
NEfan wrote – “Landry and OBJ aren’t too shabby”, referring to the “great receivers” Mayfield had, I suppose.
They sure as heck were horrible in Mayfield’s final year in Cleveland. OBJ, as usual, was injured most of the time and when he wasn’t injured, he was bitching about why the ball wasn’t thrown to his completely covered a$$ more. He only played a few games for Cleveland in 2021 before leaving for a better team.
Landry was on his last legs – just ask New Orleans how great Landry was for them last year! He had 25 catches for 272 yards and one touchdown, playing only nine games and most of those yards and catches came in the very first game where he had 7 catches for 114 yards.
March 14th, 2023 at 10:20 am
“I woke up this morning feeling dangerous” let’s go baker!! I love his toughness n leadership, LFG!!!
March 14th, 2023 at 10:22 am
Worst case we move up next year n snag one of the blue chip Qb’s but I really feel Mayfield can be all he can be with our BUCS
March 14th, 2023 at 10:28 am
@TBBucsfansince’76 – 100% agree! Invest in the O-line. A stellar line makes ordinary role players seem extraordinary (i.e. QB & RB especially).
March 14th, 2023 at 10:56 am
We got Mayfield if between us and Washington. Nobody wants to go to that franchise. The only potential road block is if rodgers stiffs the jets. Then jets get Mayfield. But starting options are running out.
We do need to address tackle cause the oline has to be a strength of the team.
March 14th, 2023 at 11:21 am
Its true Guys, You get what you pay for. Bottom feeders get the bargains at the 99 cents stores. And most bargains sorta fall apart once they are used once.
March 14th, 2023 at 12:17 pm
We should be all in on Kyle Trask! Mayfield would be disruptive and eventually a cancer in the locker room. Sign someone who will mentor and be positive influence on Trask. That should be the focus!
March 14th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
Frankly Bucman… if Trask can’t beat out Mayfield, he likely isn’t a starting caliber QB. Let them compete. Steel sharpens steel. And may the best man win.
March 14th, 2023 at 12:27 pm
Give Baker a 1-year prove-it deal. He will take the chance with our offensive weapons to get a payday later. This is the only chance he has left to compete for a starting role. After another failed year and he’s looking to kick it with “Eatin’ W’s.”
March 14th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
Ugggh
March 14th, 2023 at 12:29 pm
BUCman,
When does it sink in that the team doesn’t think Trask is the guy to just hand the keys to the car? Competition is good for him. He will get a shot to win the job.
March 14th, 2023 at 1:28 pm
You heard it first here. Hooker & Richardson will be NFL busts. McKee or Hoerner would be better picks. IMHO
March 14th, 2023 at 4:18 pm
Competition is fine but Mayfield would bring more than just competition. He will bring a whole lot of unhealthy and
unnecessary drama to the QB room. Not a great thing when you are trying to develop and evaluate a young QB. And by the way they are giving the keys to the car to Trask and they are his to either keep or lose. Mayfield would only get the keys if Trask drops them.
March 14th, 2023 at 4:28 pm
Since when is baker bad for a locker. OBJ didn’t like his targets 3 years ago and he is bad for a locker? He has arm talent and upside. Let Trask beat him out for the job.
March 14th, 2023 at 4:45 pm
Baker made J landry look like an all pro. Circu-s boy and his dad were, are a cancer. Baker went 11-5 and playoff win @Pitt 48-37 without circus boy who got hurt week 6 of 2020 season. Baker threw to J landry , R higgins and DPJ (rookie) that season. Some pretty high scoring games for a supposed dink and dunk qb.
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March 14th, 2023 at 4:46 pm
Compare his stats to Trent Dilfer, adjust for how the NFL has changed stat wise, then get back to me.
Rather than having this loser around, just give the job to Trask and lets see what we have. Baker literally lost his job and got cut by the Panthers last year, now the Rams are telling him to hit the bricks.
He’s a loser, and he stinks, and I don’t like him.
March 14th, 2023 at 4:48 pm
chark Says:
March 14th, 2023 at 4:45 pm
Baker made J landry look like an all pro. Circu-s boy and his dad were, are a cancer. Baker went 11-5 and playoff win @Pitt 48-37
———
You forgot the whole thing about having the best 1-2 running game in the NFL, how they lead the NFL in rushing and rushing attempts, and how he wasn’t asked to do much either than not screw things up. Oh, and they had a good defense that year.
Oh, and you forgot about the other 4-years of his career where he’s been terrible.
March 14th, 2023 at 5:02 pm
Munch, go watch another sport if u think he’s comparable to dilfer
March 14th, 2023 at 5:19 pm
Honestly I’m tempted because having Skip continue to fangirl over the Bucs and Shannon get all upset about it would be slightly entertaining
I like Baker don’t get me wrong, he’s got moxie. He’s a competitor.
I just think Trask is the better QB for this team.
March 14th, 2023 at 5:29 pm
There is realistically 7 teams left in play for a QB. Bucs, Washington, Balt, Indy, Panthers, Houston, with an outside chance LA Rams get rid of Stafford for him. 3 of those teams will draft a QB and one will sign Lamar. Bucs dont need to rush to sign him.
March 14th, 2023 at 5:29 pm
Chark. Dilfer never had a 60% completion rate in any season of his career.
He did start a bunch of games and win a Superbowl though.
March 14th, 2023 at 5:30 pm
What we know of Mayfield is this:
Cleveland traded him because they thought he wasn’t a franchise quarterback and replaced him with the highly character flawed Deshaun Watson who was under investigation for multiple crimes at the time.
Baker was 1-5 with Carolina and was cut by the Panthers who determined that Sam Darnold and PJ Walker were better quarterbacks.
Baker was 1-3 with the Rams, who decided not to resign him even though they don’t have a QB2.
The San Francisco 49er’s, who are Super Bowl ready and in desperate need of a quarterback, signed Sam Darnold over Baker.
Scott Fittier, Les Snead and John Lynch as talent evaluators have built teams that have gone to the Super Bowl in the Seahawks, Rams and 49ers, 2 winning the Super Bowl.
It’s not crazy to agree with Fettier, Lynch and Snead about Baker not being a franchise quarterback. If Baker was, they all would’ve kept him or signed him when they could have.
March 14th, 2023 at 6:11 pm
SF signed Darnold because Shanahan has always liked him. Their incoming DC and former Panthers interim HC Steve Wilks likes him. Trey Lance meanwhile is their Trask. He’ll get a shot, but he he can’t figure out the playbook. 49ers are even considering trading for Lamar Jackson. They’re going nuts.
March 14th, 2023 at 7:40 pm
Steele. Lol 😂😂 that’s a narrative bro the reason why Trask didn’t get a chance to compete and practice with the starters was because of Brady. Remember Brady got Jimmy G ran out of New England because he didn’t want to compete against Jimmy G that’s a proven fact. You guys don’t know what Trask is rather he’s good or bad .