The Double-Edged Baker Mayfield Sword
December 28th, 2023
Wins = cash.
Baker Mayfield has become the talk of the NFL in recent weeks after leading the Bucs from the brink of a franchise reboot to the cusp of an unprecedented third-straight NFC South crown and perhaps a 10-win season.
There are reports the Bucs and Mayfield have had preliminary talks about a new contract. Mayfield is under a one-year deal with the Bucs and his base salary of some $4 million plus incentives is one of the best bargains in football.
Of course, Joe is foaming at the mouth with the thought of the Bucs clinching another division title by beating the slimy Saints on Sunday at The Licht House. Dan Graziano cautions Bucs fans about the cost of more wins.
The BSPN analyst notes that for every additional Bucs, Mayfield’s asking price will rise.
I’m curious to see how Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers finish this thing off. Mayfield is playing great for one of the hottest teams in the league, and if he musters a strong finishing kick and then wins a playoff game or two, he could be looking at a pretty big contract in the offseason. Imagine predicting that four or five months ago, when he was in a camp battle with Kyle Trask for the starting job!
Joe guesses if Mayfield and the Bucs win two playoff games (one seems reasonable; two seems a bit far-fetched) Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and perhaps Team Glazer will be happy to pay the price of having a franchise quarterback.
If the Bucs win on Sunday, Joe doesn’t think expecting the Bucs to win the first-round playoff game is nuts. The Cowboys are not playing good ball when they go on the road.
December 28th, 2023 at 4:00 am
I think we will win the divsion probably in the final week against Carolina. Sadly Dallas is probably just a bit too talented for us to beat in round 1. However second youngest team in nfl with 60 million in dead cap space. Let’s resign Baker, Winefield, and Evans improve this roster and come back next year thinking about making a serious run.
Bowles has done a incredible job this season was set up to fail and still produced. He deserves a extension as well.
December 28th, 2023 at 4:14 am
So hard to think playoffs when we’re not yet in the playoffs. Aside from the recent successful years, it’s still a novel concept for any longtime Bucs fan.
December 28th, 2023 at 4:19 am
I doubt if there’s been comtract talk during this stretch of wins just like Baker wasn’t going to get benched when we were on a losing streak. Jason said, he’s betting on Baker doing good, but he’s hasn’t placed any money on that bet. I believe because of our cap, Jason will let the market set Baker’s price. Baker wants to be here, no need bidding against ourselves. Baker is having a good year, but I’m not sold on teams lining up to sign him to a big deal. There’s to many QBs in this draft, and teams will look there with that 5 year rookie deal before going ga ga over Mayfield.
December 28th, 2023 at 5:12 am
Would anyone have had such thoughts when Brady got here?
As I recall it was more about how quick he can get BAs offense down. and will we be better than Cleveland.
Go Bucs!
December 28th, 2023 at 5:21 am
I had big doubts about Mayfield and he’s proving a lot of people wrong. Let’s see how the rest of the season unfolds. If he makes a playoff mark, I think you give him a worthwhile contract. He could be a strong starter for a few years considering his age.
December 28th, 2023 at 6:07 am
If he plays consistently well the last 2 games and the playoffs the man deserves the stability of a longer term contract. My mind believes what my eyes have seen this year. I sip the Baker Kool aid not gulp it like a lot of his fanbois. We got him for a bargain for a reason and he’s played reasonably well at times, but he has to show he’s consistently playing well before he’s paid franchise qb money and if Trask continues to eat pine then he continues to eat pine or he moves on. His record is not just because the teams he played on sucked as fanbois will have you think, he had a hand in it too. The one thing I will say different from our qb last year is that Baker doesn’t dirt the ball just because he’s afraid he’s going to get sacked he tries to make positive plays every time.
December 28th, 2023 at 6:16 am
If they keep playing at this level one playoff win is definitely possible. Two playoff wins is stretching it a bit but possible. But then again I thought San Francisco was playing great then the Ravens smoked them. So you never know the Bucs could reach the final four!
December 28th, 2023 at 6:34 am
It would behoove everybody to remember what Baker said.. “One game at a time”. As soon as we/they start looking ahead to the playoffs before they’re there then bad things happen. In my mind and hopefully the teams mind nothing else exists except the Saints right now.
December 28th, 2023 at 6:42 am
Fans also need to keep in that like it or not we are in a rebuilding mode. So if we are able to get into the playoffs that really says a lot about the organization and the GM. Think about it; no Brady, Gronk, AB, Jenson, Fournette, JPP, Suh, Whitehead, etc…..That’s a lot of star power to lose in a two year period.
December 28th, 2023 at 7:10 am
What came first the chicken or the egg? Did the Bucs offense improve so much over the last few weeks because Mayfield started playing better or did Mayfield start playing better because Canales finally opened up the offense and dropped the game plan of run twice up the middle for 2 yards and throw a 4 yard pass on 3rd and 8? Either way the team seems to be catching fire at the right time. Sunday should be interesting. I have been an extreme Bowles critic as a head coach since day one, but the Bucs are now are playing with a lot of energy. Did Bowles and Canales get better? We will see, but right now they deserve some credit.
December 28th, 2023 at 7:36 am
Denver interested in Mayfield.
December 28th, 2023 at 7:37 am
Happy for the Bucs and Baker,the Bucs have been blessed to have some thrilling quarterback play from veteran players and I hope this is another Cinderella story. Mayfield is showing savvy reminding everyone to take it one game at a time…
December 28th, 2023 at 7:42 am
The double-edged sword is this.
The Bucs won’t win much if anything in the playoffs, Mayfield will be gone next $ea$on, and 2023 will have been a season for naught, a Bucsesque missed opportunity to develop Trask, who “outplayed Mayfield in training camp” (JBF).
And if Mayfield does return, it will be worse. Trask will leave and we’ll be stuck with a 7th year .500 journeyman being hyped as our franchise quarterback.
It’s a Bucs life.
December 28th, 2023 at 7:54 am
So Dan Buc fan, have you seen the Cowboys on the road this year???
December 28th, 2023 at 7:54 am
The only people who thought it was a QB “battle” in camp are delusional Trask fans
December 28th, 2023 at 8:03 am
I would love to keep Mayfield, if we can afford him.
First, we need to lock up Winfield, Evans, and Wirfs.
On the bright side, we get out of salary-cap heck this off-season. Last I looked, $62 million of room for 2024 and less than $1 million dead money so far.
A 4-year deal for $80-100 million, plus incentives, sounds about right. I think he will play here for that, and I think we can swing that deal.
December 28th, 2023 at 8:06 am
Erick Says: “The only people who thought it was a QB “battle” in camp are delusional Trask fans”
Hey, thanks for conceding there was never a “battle” and Mayfeld was gifted the job when he signed.
December 28th, 2023 at 8:18 am
Kyle Trask 😢 😭 😿 😢 he woulda been soooo good 😢 😭 😿 😢. But 😢 they 😢 won’t 😢 let him 😢 😭 🤣 there’s always that guy 🙄. Can we just enjoy this fun team. Get lost grey cloud Traskies. Go Bucs!
December 28th, 2023 at 8:36 am
Let’s have fun with this as long as we can. Mayfield went from a 144 yard game which was a little under his average to two 300 yds + games. I’m all about enjoying it but it’s a little early to mortgage the future after two games. How bout prove he’s worth it then resign him if we can afford it
December 28th, 2023 at 8:38 am
Lot of If’s there Joe.
If the Saints do not not lay lay down the Bucs could lose.
If Young takes the confidence he gained from his career game against Green Bay (the same Green Bay 5 other QB’s had career days against this season) and wins out. Bucs may be out.
Bucs are be just as likely to be out as to winning 2 Playoff games.
Playoff Game or Two? Surely that’s two over two seasons. Are we dreaming of Mayfield taking the Bucs to a Conference Title Game?
If Dallas or Philly immediately go to a bottom 5 Defense.
Bucs might win one.
Right now the Bucs are sitting with Ace / King and about to see the Flop.
Perhaps Literally.
December 28th, 2023 at 8:38 am
Worrying about all the big contracts you’ll need to figure out how to give out in the offseason is awesome lol..that my friends is called a champagne problem
December 28th, 2023 at 8:44 am
I was predicting a team friendly contract of 2-3 years at 20-25 million per year a couple weeks ago. If we hit 10 wins and a playoff win then 30 will be team friendly and high of 35 maybe 37 million per year for 3-5 years. Geno Smith is 25 million, Kirk cousins is 35 million, Rodgers is 37.5. Stafford,Dak and Daniel Jones are 40. Yeah. Look up the pay rates and a winning QB who is top half of the starting qbs can get that.
So if we miss playoffs then he gets 20. We make playoffs it’s 25. Each playoff win gets him 3-5 million more. But if we do that well and he is team friendly and wants to win again like Brady then he needs to cap at 30-35 per year.
December 28th, 2023 at 8:51 am
INTERESTING CHESS MATCH
Baker’s market is starter with the Bucs or bridge-starter/backup with a handful of teams. If Tampa offers $20-$25/year they’ll be the highest bidder. A top 10-12 QB get $40-$50/year, so Baker may hold out.
If Baker holds out, Licht could draft a really good QB (ie. Nix/Penix). The Bucs would have Trask and Rookie QB on the roster which lowers Baker’s value. If the Bucs move on from Baker, he’s looking at a $8M-$14M deal somewhere else.
I see the Bucs holding all the cards in this negotiation.
December 28th, 2023 at 8:55 am
People coming on to give their opinions despite previously stating that the team wouldn’t win four games… seriously. We don’t need to hear from you. A few guys, like me, predicted far better. I said from the start that this was a 10+ win team. Stumbles vs the Texans and Colts messed that up though we’re only one loss more than I predicted at this point. This is a good core of a team. The young talent has finally arrived. Canales is getting his head above water. This team should absolutely win in the first round. Round two would be a whole tougher task. But round one … I’m feeling it. We are peaking at the right time.
December 28th, 2023 at 8:57 am
Joe let’s make some comparisons between Baker after his shoulder injury and moving on from the Browns and Drew Brees after his shoulder injury In San Diego and moving to the Saints.
Do we have the next Drew Brees with Baker Mayfield?
December 28th, 2023 at 9:01 am
Who has an accurate crystal ball? Nobody. Just take it one game at a time and stay focused on the next opponent. Get that win this week or next. Win or lose, a playoff game is a much unexpected result after that mid-season slump. Hopefully those younger Bucs players have learned a lot as the season progressed and are for real enough to compete consistently against good opponents. With a really good draft, next year could be their year to be serious contenders. Or not. Haha.
December 28th, 2023 at 9:06 am
I see a seismic shift in Mayfield sentiment among the many doubters here. The same doubters are now negotiating Baker’s next contract which is hilarious. There ought to be a lesson here but I am sure the lesson ends with Baker’s next interception. Even if he hits a receiver in stride and the ball bounces off a receiver’s hands into a defender’s hands, the lesson will remain unlearned.
Let’s just enjoy the Saints game and see what is next.
December 28th, 2023 at 9:06 am
@slypirate
I agree. As of now he is worth $20 million and winning season is $25 million to the Bucs. As him going elsewhere could flop for him as he needs the Bucs team. The double edge sword is if we win in the playoffs as each win will increase his cost. But if he wants to win and help the team there is an upper limit as cap space will fill up long before him with Evans who will likely get 20-25 per year for 3 years, Winfield will likely get 3-5 years at 12-15 million range, and Wirfs will likely get 3-5 years at 18-20 million. Those three alone will eat up most if not all of the cap space without mayfield even at 20-25 million.
December 28th, 2023 at 9:11 am
Trask sucks and people who want him as our QB want us to fail miserably
December 28th, 2023 at 9:21 am
DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:
December 28th, 2023 at 6:07 am
. I sip the Baker Kool aid not gulp it like a lot of his fanbois. We got him for a bargain for a reason
—-
nuh – huh. We don’t play that around here. You weren’t invited so put down the sippy cup of OUR REAL buc fan drink.
no hatin freeloaders allowed. You think you can talk trash all season and then own “We”? not while i am sherrif 🙂
close the borders . get these bandwagonners out of here. Whats tht ? no no
The kid on the pine can stay. he’ s part of the team . Yeah Mascot or something i dunno but he ‘s okay. they call him trass or somerhing near to bass
Get the other haters out a here though.
December 28th, 2023 at 9:27 am
Thanks Tony
December 28th, 2023 at 9:27 am
You factor in this year,s salary where the Bucs got over and really took advantage of Baker who was unfairly maligned by a vicious national media with some other agenda besides football. It may have been personal as Baker surely made many enemies in his punk immature daze. You just average out this year with the rest. As for overpaying him it is rare to get results first with a player before a long term contract. Again just average in this year,s results with the following years. If Baker has some bad years it won,t be because of lack of effort as we see with Depervert Watson. As for not having enough money for other players look at the Browns in the playoff hunt. They are eating Watson,s salary who has done next to nothing in 2 years. Da Browns can still pay the pass rushers, running backs, and o-line. Yet when the high priced guys get injured they pull off bargain replacements such as Flacco and Hunt. The Bucs did that with Baker replacing Brady and they can do it again.
December 28th, 2023 at 9:31 am
The Cowboys are not playing good ball when they go on the road-
When 1/2 the Bucs’ season ticket holders sell their tickets to Cowboys’ fans – the Cowboys will have a home game at RayJay.
Anyway, a playoff game will be won in the trenches – if Dak has all day to pass, the Bucs’ secondary will have a long day. And if Mayfield gets alot of pressure- Bucs’ turnovers are coming.
December 28th, 2023 at 9:38 am
SlyPirate Says:
December 28th, 2023 at 8:51 am
If Baker holds out, Licht could draft a really good QB (ie. Nix/Penix). The Bucs would have Trask and Rookie QB on the roster which lowers Baker’s value. If the Bucs move on from Baker, he’s looking at a $8M-$14M deal somewhere else.
I see the Bucs holding all the cards in this negotiation.
–
because you are drunk and it affects your vision. with the hype on this draft none of the big names are falling to 20+ . even teams higher up that don’t need a qb are goign to be offered all kinds of packages to trade down
December 28th, 2023 at 9:46 am
Your 2025 Bucs Quarterback is … Russell Wilson. Ties to Canales. Paid mostly by Denver. Last hurrah on his way to Canton.
Baker will be wildly overpaid, but it won’t be here.
December 28th, 2023 at 9:47 am
Alanbuc, Cowboys have fans that take over every stadium, they still suck when they are on the road-even if they have road fans.
December 28th, 2023 at 9:59 am
Reality_Check Says:
December 28th, 2023 at 9:11 am
Trask sucks and people who want him as our QB want us to fail miserably
Denver just dumped a QB that is better than Mayfield and has similar traits.
If the throws are not there run for a first down. At least Wilson kept looking downfield for a throw.
Don’t worry Baker will be in TB next season. 100% not in Denver. People like to compare Mayfield to Brees. For 6 foot Brees stood Tall in the Pocket and if it was not there would dump it ala Brady. Brees had Touch and was not dependent on an open throwing lanes and arm strength. Payton wouldn’t consider Mayfield for a Second. doubt many will.
Trask will get more attention in the off season than Mayfield. He got a Harvard education ala Brady while he waited. Match that with decent skills. Coaches won’t have to scheme to protect him from himself. Trask will eventually have more Playoff wins than Mayfield by Far.
December 28th, 2023 at 10:02 am
I haven’t been able to post, so I guess I am or was blocked. Could be your name. –Joe
I don’t know. But why is it that you seem (Joe) to think that we can’t win more than 1 playoff game? Any team can lose on any day. The Eagles just struggled to beat the Giants; the 49ers have been losing. And who truly believes in the Cowgirls winning anything. We have just as much of a chance as anyone else.
December 28th, 2023 at 10:11 am
Geno Smith got a $25 million /year contract last off-season, no way Baker is worth less than that. Him signing for $15-$20 is delusional
December 28th, 2023 at 10:16 am
Dan the Bucs fan says “Bowles has done a incredible job this season was set up to fail and still produced. He deserves a extension as well.”
I say, Dan does a “defensive guru” coach who’s passing defense ranks 32 really deserve an extension. Especially after spending 2 years of high draft picks on the defensive side of the ball. Come on now!
December 28th, 2023 at 10:26 am
D Cone Says:
December 28th, 2023 at 9:59 am
Trask will get more attention in the off season than Mayfield.
——
and that right there is why we call you traskies delusional
well earned.
December 28th, 2023 at 10:30 am
Costa Rica John Says:
December 28th, 2023 at 8:57 am
Joe let’s make some comparisons between Baker after his shoulder injury and moving on from the Browns and Drew Brees after his shoulder injury In San Diego and moving to the Saints.
Do we have the next Drew Brees with Baker Mayfield?
Sean Payton is looking for a QB. Think Baker Brees will get a call?
December 28th, 2023 at 10:33 am
D cone, just put the crackpipe down, your whole family begs of you to lay off the smack, please
December 28th, 2023 at 10:49 am
@T Mcgee
Why would we want Russell???
Wilson is 35. Baker is 28.
Wilson is guaranteed contract of over $35 million that Bucs would have to eat to get him or Denver eats that money AND pays mayfield. Mayfield at $30 million would be cheaper than him.
Oh and their stats are essentially the same. So why pay more for the same stats with less time to play?
December 28th, 2023 at 10:54 am
Bucs have a home game against Aints this Sunday, New Year’s Eve. There’s one more in Charlotte. So, all this playoff, etc. talk is premature. I have felt a 10-7 record for the least several weeks. Neither one of these games are givens. They’re Division rivals and these games aren’t cakewalks. There’s always plenty of scores to settle against the Aints. No telling with the Panthers. So, one game at a time. Go Tampa Bay!!
December 28th, 2023 at 11:15 am
The way I see it, is neither backup QB got in any games which is insane. I like Baker, but the way he competes he is an injure waiting to happen.
December 28th, 2023 at 11:20 am
Dreambig had it right: Mayfield’s emergence coincided when Canales finally, at long last, changed the offensive game plan to allow passing downfield on first and second down instead of wasting first downs on runs up the middle. Now defenses are respecting the pass game and the run game has improved. Biggest worry with Mayfield is another injury. He’s a strong guy but if he keeps welcoming contact I fear injury.
December 28th, 2023 at 11:33 am
Ugo Says:
December 28th, 2023 at 10:33 am
D cone, just put the crackpipe down, your whole family begs of you to lay off the smack, please
I’m way better than 8-7 on my picks this year. I can afford the good stuff.
Can’t buy a bottle of Ley 925 Diamante but I should have it before Mayfield gets his next Payoff win.
Thanks for the concern.
December 28th, 2023 at 11:39 am
I’ll say one main thing. I watched a lot of football this last weekend and to me, NONE of the teams (except the Ravens) played as well as the Bucs did. It really surprised me and astonished me. As for Baker’s new contract–we will have CAP space this new year. I believe that we got rid of the whole Brady hit this year. CAP goes up, Baker is happy to take what the Bucs offer him and our team will just grow better next year.
December 28th, 2023 at 11:43 am
Tony, what’s a matter for you? Baker is a free agent, he can sign anywhere, so no hold out. Tony, Trask has one more year on his contract. So now you know.
December 28th, 2023 at 12:00 pm
The buc’s offense now vs where they started season is like night and day. It’s not just BM it’s the whole squad. Glad we got to see this come to fruition.
Need to finish division off this wkend and rest / heal for 2 wks.
If you don’t think BM will have several suiters u need to get off the pipe.
December 28th, 2023 at 12:06 pm
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk on Baker Mayfield Rumors
“He has said he wants to stay in Tampa Bay. Other teams looking for a starter could disrupt that, whether it’s the Patriots or the Steelers (if they decide Kenny Pickett isn’t the answer) or the Raiders or the Broncos (if they move on from Russell Wilson) or the Vikings (if Kirk Cousins leaves) or the Seahawks (if they choose to move on from Geno Smith). Regardless, Mayfield likely will have more options in March 2024 than he had in March 2023. And that might end up being enough to get the Buccaneers to apply the franchise tag.”
December 28th, 2023 at 12:19 pm
ProFootballTalk on Baker Mayfield Rumors
“He has said he wants to stay in Tampa Bay. Other teams looking for a starter could disrupt that, whether it’s the Patriots or the Steelers (if they decide Kenny Pickett isn’t the answer) or the Raiders or the Broncos (if they move on from Russell Wilson) or the Vikings (if Kirk Cousins leaves) or the Seahawks (if they choose to move on from Geno Smith). Regardless, Mayfield likely will have more options in March 2024 than he had in March 2023. And that might end up being enough to get the Buccaneers to apply the franchise tag.”
December 28th, 2023 at 12:48 pm
I’ll preface this by saying I’ve never been a huge Mayfield fan and I didn’t think he’d have much, if any, success here in Tampa.
But…
People bringing up Baker’s career record as a negative should automatically be disqualifed from posting about football. Because if you can ignore that he was drafted to one of the most dysfunctional organizations in professional sports, there probably isn’t anything you won’t twist around to fit your narrative. That was a Browns team that had won exactly one game in the two years before Baker was drafted (and a whopping 3 games the year prior). A team coached by the HOF-bound Hue Jackson and Freddie Kitchens. Then, once he got playmakers and a good coach, he took the Browns to the playoffs. Then he tried to play through a shoulder injury in a contract year (which was not a good move), before being stabbed in the back by the Browns’ front office. McVey wanted to keep him in LA, which shows that he still had something to offer and I’m glad to see he’s been able to do it (for the most part) this year.
December 28th, 2023 at 1:00 pm
I would love to see Baker in Pewter next year. Seeing SO many talented Buc’s QB’s find success elsewhere has driven me nuts since Doug Williams. I agree with a lot of you guys to not pay him so much that we lose Evans and others, but feel Baker has earned a shot of a long term with us.
December 28th, 2023 at 1:03 pm
@m_milligan
You are right. Mayfield will have more options and Bucs would be wise to consider franchise tag if a team friendly deal can’t be made. The team is better as a whole and I believe mayfield’s intangible of leadership, charisma and moxie has helped push the team to be better. That leadership is what separates him from say Carr who has similar stats.
@daniel_z
Mayfield isn’t the best qb (Mahomes/Jackson/Brady) but he is far better than the bad reputation that got him $4 million while Carr who has similar stats, is older, and has not as good a leader in my view got $150 million. Baker was a steal and deserves a better deal.
December 28th, 2023 at 1:07 pm
Sign baker now before he prices us out of the bidding process because we the bucs are always looking for a deal and I see that they don’t know when they have one please throw the money at baker and build around him but that makes too much sense so watch us drop the ball as usual!!!
December 28th, 2023 at 1:18 pm
Relax and enjoy the moment bucs fans….
I know you “new” fans got spoiled having tom, but ive been a season ticket holder for some time now and besides Brady, name a better QB we’ve had in the past 10-15 seasons. I’ll wait. …..
December 28th, 2023 at 1:56 pm
Market for Baker gets bigger by the day. Going to be very large after Saints are vanquished Sunday. Denver, Pittsburgh, New England, Las Vegas are all suitors right now. Watching how the Baker doubters backpedal has been fascinating. Will credit absurd DCone and David with being the most determined Baker detractors. If he leaves for a huge offer, everyone remember these cats. Here will be the familiar refrain: “I liked Baker. Don’t know why WE didn’t sign him.”
December 28th, 2023 at 2:13 pm
People, people. Have you ever heard of creative accounting? No matter the salary cap …. the Bucs can afford all the players that need contracts as long as ownership pulls out the checkbook. For example: let’s say a 140,000,000/4 yr contract would instantly look like $35,000,000 per year against the cap, right? However, write a check in the form of a bonus at signing for $70,000,000, which doesn’t go against the salary cap, and suddenly the $35,000,000 per year dwindles to $17,500,000 per year against the salary cap. All these contracts can be structured this way. It all depends how tight ownership is. 🏈
December 28th, 2023 at 2:32 pm
i’m calling it…
3 years 100 mil…
with an out after 2 seasons is sh!t goes sideways
December 28th, 2023 at 2:34 pm
but if you sign baker, you can’t strip him of mike evans…
gotta sign money mike and keep him in the building for another 3 years as well…
these 2 have built a very nice rapport that will only improve moving forward
December 28th, 2023 at 3:05 pm
The list of Teams that want Mayfield iis really long.
NO, Atlanta, Giants, NE, Denver, Seattle, Washington.
You get the picture.
Alot of teams, With more money than us.
And why would Mayfield want to play.
Well, hes had success here. With a few players, we can have a good offense.
But, there are teams that are just a QB away.
Dont know if any of his reasons forbstaying here, are worth missing out o millions more i a bigger contract elsewhere.
I still think its 50/50 on him leaving
December 28th, 2023 at 3:36 pm
If they finish strong I am thinking a 3 year deal for both ME and BM. Given BMs history I agree that they give themselves an out after two years.
December 28th, 2023 at 4:04 pm
@Capt. Tim:
just my thoughts on the teams you mentioned with interest in baker…
NO: i think they roll with carr another year, you don’t exactly pull the plug on a big signing qb after just one year…yet a coaching change can make him disposable
Atlanta: yes they will want baker, and to steal from us to knock us down in the division as well
Giants: imho baker is not shiny enough for that nyc spotlight…yes he is a gritty blue collar type – nyc is simply not that…with all due respect to our guy baker
NE: def getting a fresh start there…with a freshly drafted high draft pick qb…so no baker
Denver: i say payton rolls with wilson for another year…they’re surprisingly on the brink of the playoffs, and if they won last week they’d be hot like the bucs and rams…wilson is like brees size wise and i think payton is seriously fixing things there and thinks wilson is his guy
Seattle: i’m just gonna say nah…they probably roll with geno for one more year
Washington: now this ones a problem…they need to upgrade to compete with the nfc east powerhouses…they’ll want baker
——
so i see atlanta and washington being in the baker market for sure
December 28th, 2023 at 4:11 pm
No team is allowed to be over the cap during the league fiscal year, and in 2023 only Denver was over the cap during the league fiscal year and they were penalized.
The NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement bans any team that is over the salary cap from signing any free agents.
Pittsburgh, Dallas, San Fran, Cleveland, Denver, San Diego, Buffalo, Miami and Nee Orleans are currently over the NFL Salary Cap for the 2024 season and must get under the cap per the CBA.
You must be under the cap by the beginning of the league’s new fiscal year in March or be fined against next year’s cap or forfeit draft picks in April.
December 28th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
Go baker
December 28th, 2023 at 4:27 pm
Currently the Bucs are the 11th team in cap space for 2024 with $47 million of cap space.
Only Washington, Tennessee, New England, Indianapolis, Houston, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, Arizona and Las Vegas have more cap space in 2024 than the Bucs.
Of those teams, Indianapolis, Houston, Cincinnati, Detroit and Arizona aren’t in the market for a quarterback.
Washington , New England, Tennessee, and Chicago will have a top 5 draft pick in the 2024 NFL draft and they will select one of the top rookie quarterback prospects in this quarterback rich draft class.
December 28th, 2023 at 5:01 pm
There will be a lot of interest in Baker but the bucs have something that they don’t. We’re the ones who gave him another shot. I don’t know BM, but he strikes me as the kinda dude that cares about that kind of intangible. He seems like the dude who’ll have your back if you’ve got his. I might be wrong, but I reckon he re-signs in Tampa.
December 28th, 2023 at 5:28 pm
Tonya Marks you are THE MOST imbicilic, asinine and immature poster I have ever seen on this site. I’ve been a Bucs fan longer than you’ve been a Baker knutthugger and have been posting up on joebucsfan.com before your lust interest came into the league. You are nobody to tell anyone who they can or can’t root for on the Bucs. You’re nothing because you are not a Bucs fan, you’re a Bakaid guzzler you and all these other fanbois who have all of a sudden come out of the NFL woodwork like the cockroaches you are. You aren’t and never will be Bucs fans. You victim mentality losers come straight from the Brown’s losing organization. What are you goily goils gonna do when he retires? You’re life will come to an end right??? What’s it like attaching your life’s meaning to somebody because you think he’s been victimized his whole life because he’s a short qb? I bet you have one of those creepy worship corners in your room with candles and you and Baker’s pictures next to each other. Probably a keepsake box for all the love letters you sent him. I bet you messed up one day and told him the two of you should should be together didn’t you Stan??? You band wagon fans are the worse
December 28th, 2023 at 5:49 pm
DavidBigBucsFan99,
We see what you mean????
There is medication that will help.
December 28th, 2023 at 5:55 pm
Bucs should have signed Baker for 3 years $50 million this off season with tons of incentives….and looked like geniuses now!
December 28th, 2023 at 6:45 pm
DavidBigBucs Fan99,
Excuse me, I thought you were just uninformed about Mayfield. I now realize you are just nuts. Have reread your last post and I hope the Secret Service always knows your whereabouts.
December 28th, 2023 at 7:15 pm
Joe guesses if Mayfield and the Bucs win two playoff games (one seems reasonable; two seems a bit far-fetched) Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and perhaps Team Glazer will be happy to pay the price of having a franchise quarterback.
——-
Yeah, I’m not a Baker fan, but if he can take his two hot games, and finish out the year strong and win two playoffs games, and Baker keeps playing well, then you’re certaining bringing him back.
Still, it’s only been two good games in a row vs some very very bad passing defenses – but you can only play who is on the schedule, and sometimes those tune-up games help when you start facing real competition, which they’re going to face this week. Also Carolina has a very good pass defense, people just don’t realize that because they’re such a bad offense and have a terrible record.
In any case, they still need to wrap up the playoff birth, and they need to do it this Sunday, because I don’t trust Bowles not to completely collapse vs the Panthers if the pressure is on.
December 28th, 2023 at 7:22 pm
I think Baker recognizes what having a good team around would do for his job. So just everybody else he would wanna be fairly compensated. He also doesn’t want to make it where they can’t sign Evans or Godwin (upcoming) or etc. So I’m not expecting him to hold the Bucs hostage
December 28th, 2023 at 7:46 pm
Baker is getting minimum $35 mill on the franchise tag
I could see 3 years $37.5 per…easily…probably $40 mill
December 28th, 2023 at 10:51 pm
Denver will eat a ton of Wilson’s salary. He’ll be cheap. Baker will be expensive. There are a lot of other FAs to sign.
December 28th, 2023 at 10:57 pm
Gipper
I knew enough about him before he came to this team to not be enamored with him like his fanbois. He was slightly better than Jameis Winston just not as exciting to watch. Unlike you guys I don’t attach myself to another man’s athletic career then follow them where ever they go. You Baker fanbois trigger me with your knutthugging coming up here with your dribble. You guys appearing up here with all your Baker lovefest refusing to accept what he was doing on the field triggers me. The only cure for that is when you dbs leave.
December 29th, 2023 at 12:18 am
wow i had absolutely no idea what’s been going on in denver the past couple days…zoning out during the holidays…
maybe denver and payton would love to steal baker away from the bucs…
looks like wilson is gonna be moved and they’ll be in the qb market as well…
payton hates the bucs and would like nothing more than stealing our guy…
if he views bakers as a drew brees type of qb, it could be a problem
December 29th, 2023 at 9:37 am
It’s December and the Traskers are still riding with the whole “QB competition was rigged” conspiracy theory. SMH. Yeah and so was the 2020 election, the Earth is flat and the Apollo moon landing was fake (thy pulled it off once so they faked it 5 more times? Lol)
When logic loses out to emotion or “belief” you are lost.
If Trask was better he would have been the starter. If he was even close Baker would have been benched during the losing streak and Trask would have gotten a chance to right the ship. Logic would or should tell you that a HC fighting for his job would have his best QB in the game and that’s what we’ve seen. No mystery or intrigue necessary. Just logic.
Trask may one day become a quality starter or maybe not. Most likely Licht has kept him around because he’s the best backup he can get or because he was Licht’s pick and he won’t admit it was a mistake like Lynch did with Trey Lance.
December 29th, 2023 at 10:39 am
I would add the LA Rams to the list of interested parties if their current QB retires or they can trade him to one of the other teams on the above list. Mcvey loves Baker and Mayfield is still under 30.
December 29th, 2023 at 11:06 am
David I am going on 18 years living in St. Pete. I follow the Bucs. But I grew up in Akron and left when I was 18. I still followed the Browns because I was stationed in Germany and went to soccer games (Werder Bremen). Then I moved to LA when both the Raiders and the Rams had left. That was for 13 years. So I went to Galaxy, Clippers, Trojans, Lakers, Dodgers, Angels and UCLA games. I dated a girl who worked in the UCLA athletic department. So I watched the Browns at bars with the SC Browns BACkers. My point is I am a Bucs fan but i have a deep knowledge of the Browns from where i grew up as well as living in areas with no NFL. Baker is a great QB that turned around a 1-31 team with very little help. He blew out the hated Steelers in Pitt in a playoff game. They played the Chiefs down to the wire but ultimately were hurt by a TD being taken away by a blown helmet targeting call. His big mistake was being too tuff and playing through an injury. Up to the 4th game of 2021 he was a top rated QB. He should have gotten surgery the next day. Keenam would have gotten them a wildcard. And yez the criminal coddling Owner and GM stabbed Bakes in the back. Karma took care of that and 230 m has been suspended or hurt the whole time. Welcome to the bone crushing AFC North. I am happy for Flacco and it would be great to see the two QB castoffs in the superbowl.