The Thief Who Lurks In The Shadows
February 20th, 2024
Mystery suitor?
So who outside the Bucs is after Baker Mayfield? Joe always had a hunch it would be the Dixie Chicks.
They hired Zac Robinson to be offensive coordinator. He was Mayfield’s position coach when he was with the Rams to close out the 2022 season and showed signs of life.
However, Jeremy Fowler suggests a different suitor. And, per Fowler of BSPN, it might be the NFL’s very own Darth Vader. The Patriots.
The Patriots submarine the Buccaneers by signing QB Baker Mayfield. While Tampa is the clear-cut favorite to re-sign Mayfield, now a coveted free agent after a banner year with the Bucs, anything can happen in free agency. And the Patriots’ new brain trust — including lead personnel man Eliot Wolf and personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith — were part of the Cleveland regime that took Mayfield No. 1 in the 2018 draft. They believed in him. Yes, the Patriots can take a quarterback at No. 3 overall. But who’s to say they wouldn’t still need a veteran? Or, if they believe Mayfield is a long-term answer in this case, they could draft Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. or trade back for more capital.
Sounds like something Joe has been saying for months. Yes, the Bucs should re-sign Baker Mayfield. But “This Joe” would still draft a quarterback in the first round (Michael Penix?).
Once again, Joe will type that given the nature of Mayfield’s career being up and down, Joe certainly could see a regression of some degree this fall. Joe doesn’t expect any player to have back-to-back career years.
And let’s say the Bucs do draft (Penix?), and Mayfield responds with an excellent season. Look at the ransom the Bucs could get from another team for (Penix?).
Just look what Houston lifted from Cleveland for Deshaun Watson. And that’s a guy with significant baggage (deviate accusations and salary). Yes Joe knows Watson was coming off three consecutive Pro Bowl seasons and Penix would have no experience in this trade scenario.
Joe has to admit to not having the Patriots in this bingo game.
February 20th, 2024 at 4:11 am
Only thing is Penix has to absolutely go gang busters/look like the second coming of Joe Montana for this hypothetical to work. Otherwise it’s more likely to be a Nick Foles/Carson Wentz/Hurts type scenario.
February 20th, 2024 at 4:18 am
Keep dreaming Joe. LOL
Fowler is getting on my nerves alot more lately. I think I liked it better when he and the other bozos were ignoring us.
Go Bucs!
February 20th, 2024 at 4:26 am
I agree with Joe and was thinking the same thing about the Patriots. They were not happy with Mac Jones. But then again, it could be the coaches too. And they did get rid of Belichick and his one son has gone to college football now.
It would be great if we could get Penix too. But like Leopold said you never know what you really will get with a superstar. Jameis was a number one pick. Bryce Young, … So much hype and then it fizzles. We will have to see how Bryce does this coming season with new coaching. We could see a big change with him. By the way, Jameis is free agent this year too. He could go to another team too.
February 20th, 2024 at 5:27 am
Penix will be gone by 26. Bucs have bigger needs and can’t afford the luxury of a back up QB in the first rd.
February 20th, 2024 at 5:39 am
Why on earth would Baker leave a starting gig on the best team in the NFC South to be a bridge QB on arguably the worst team in the AFC East?
I said all last offseason that Baker would be an upgrade over Brady. So listen to me this time when I say he’s going to have a better year next season.
Baker’s “regression” came from injury. He’s healthy. He’ll have another year in a similar system (something he’s been denied his whole career.) Another year with Mike and Chris. A year with more cap space and a front office with a proven ability to find talent on the cheap and un drafted markets
Stop being cynical. We have our guy. Just need to hammer out the details. Bucs are going to be contenders.
February 20th, 2024 at 5:52 am
SMOKESCREEN
Most likely put out my Mayfield’s agent.
I don’t think the market for Mayfield is anywhere close to what people think it is.
Bucs would be best to let Mayfield WALK. Paying him $30M++/year for multiple years would be dumb.
February 20th, 2024 at 6:20 am
Trade back.
Pick up an extra 2nd round pick.
I want 3 2nd round picks.
I will always believe that three second picks have way more value than 1 1st round pick and 1 2nd round pick.
Imagine 3 2nd round picks?
You can find a starting center, guard, and ILB in the 2nd.
You can draft a starting center, guard, and badass NT to rotate with Vea.
Nose tackles, guards, centers, safeties, inside linebackers, RT’s, running backs.
They are your solid 2nd round picks.
And imagine trading our 5th, 6th and 7th for a 4th 2nd round pick!
I would rather have 4 2nd round picks. And 2 3rd round picks.
Than have 7 picks in rounds 1-7.
Call me crazy.
But I’m all about the 2nd and 3rd round in the NFL draft.
February 20th, 2024 at 6:21 am
If they draft Penix I’m out. He sucks! And so will the Bucs.
February 20th, 2024 at 6:21 am
Yeah let’s waste another high draft pick on a QB that never takes the field.
February 20th, 2024 at 6:33 am
Joe(L),
Just stop with the “hell of a trade chip”… “look at DeShaun Watson” nonsense.
The ONLY reason that women abusing Watson was able to be traded for such a nice pkg of draft picks is because he had already played extensively in the NFL (53 games started) and displayed a high level of capability (104TDs and only 35 Ints) prior to his ahem… “legal troubles”….
If Mayfield is your starter with a 3 or 4 year contract and you spend a 1st rd pick on a QB the same year you sign Baker to a big contract – then that drafted QB is unlikely to see much or ANY playing time….
Kyle Trask is your in house example of that. The Bucs spent a 2nd rd pick on Trask 3 years ago and he’s thrown exactly 9 passes in live games thus far.
Trask MIGHT be a decent NFL QB – he MIGHT be really good – or he could just as easily NOT be good enough to start in this league at all. We just don’t know. Even the Bucs don’t REALLY know what they’ve got in Trask because he’s never been given the chance to show what he can do in actual games with highly paid defensive linemen trying to knock his head off if he stands there and holds the ball too long (which happens a lot to inexperienced QBs).
If the Bucs tried to trade Trask right now – with 1 cheap year left on his rookie contract – what would they get for him? MAYBE a 4th or 5th rd pick – MAYBE…..
The best real world example of this scenario I can think of was when the Patriots drafted Garappolo in the 2nd rd. Jimmy G. sat behind Brady and eventually got 3 starts (won 2 of 3 games) when Brady was suspended 4 games for participating in deflategate. Those 3 games were just enough to show other teams that Jimmy G. could play in this league and that he might be worth trading for.
And after an offseason of hype around Garappolo’s availability with the Pats floating the idea they wanted multiple 1st rd picks for him – New England ultimately traded Jimmy G. to the 49ers for a whopping…. wait for it….
2nd ROUND PICK…..
February 20th, 2024 at 6:46 am
The Patriots have been losers since TB-12 left for Tampa, and will continue to deflate. The owner is hooked on mandarin hand jobs.
February 20th, 2024 at 6:53 am
Penix??? “He tore his ACL in 2018 and 2020 and had shoulder injuries in both 2019 and 2021.” yeah lets mortgage the farm for this guy
February 20th, 2024 at 6:53 am
We need a cornerback more than a quarterback.
February 20th, 2024 at 6:55 am
we’re going back to the culverhouse days and will start next season with kyle trask starting and chris godwin the number one receiver
February 20th, 2024 at 7:01 am
Draft a qb and keep bake does not make much sense to me the way they are shaping this team….. and to keep mike on top of that is insane. Let’s invest everything in qb and WRs for a ball control run first team.
How is that sane logic?
Yeah, let’s run run long bomb-dropped ball every week. If we took that money and built the interior oline we could have gradkowski back there slinging the rock and he would be pro bowl material.
February 20th, 2024 at 7:03 am
I wish you guys would stop this third-person “Joe” persona so we’d know who’s writing what. It jumped the shark five years ago.
Anyway, let me refute everything you said:
1. Mayfield is still on the upswing. You’re defining a “career year” as if it’s an absolute. That’s nonsensical. He could absolutely have a better year next year, assuming more talent around him, better coaching, and another year in a similar system.
2. Mayfield will command high dollars. I’ll bet my mortgage that Bucs won’t sign him AND draft a QB high. It makes zero sense. He’s in his 20s. He needs more talent around him. This is not a Favre-Rodgers situation. They may draft someone in the 5th or 6th round, but that’s it.
3. The “getting a draft pick haul for Penix” idea also makes no sense. Let me ask you, will we get a draft pick haul for Trask? Why would we get one for Penix if he never plays?
February 20th, 2024 at 7:16 am
Bucs never drafted a QB and developed him properly
Look at Trash hes never come off the bench. This organization doesn’t have the patience to develop a QB and as long as the Glazers own this team they never will.
February 20th, 2024 at 7:20 am
You want to sign a 28 year old to be your QB.
Then you want to waste a NUMBER ONE PICK on a guy, so he can sit on the bench.
And if Baker is who we think he is, Penix would sit for 3-6 years.
That makes absolutely nonsense at all. None.
Plus you are spending a number one pick on the sixth to eighth ranked QB?
Its just crazy.
If you sign Baker- then he is your franchise QB. And hes still young, so Hopefully he’ll be here 6-8 years.
You sign him, you sign a vet to back him up.
Then you draft someone who will be on the field, playing hard to help the team!
We have so many holes on this team, but you want to waste a number one pick?
Crazy.
Oh, and Penix is fragile, and will suck at the NFL level
Jason Lichts job is safe.
February 20th, 2024 at 7:20 am
With friends like this who needs enemies. Half the people on this board want Baker out the door. As far as consistency goes Baker has been consistent when not injured and given a full off season to learn an offense. 2021 he played injured after game 4. Probably a poor decision by both Stef and Baker. Steffi shut down Wa based on this mistake. 2022 he was rushed late into the Pussy Cats camp, got injured, and requested a release to join the Rams. Even if he were to drop off the Bucs got a steal this year so you just average the 2 years and salaries. QB,s last longer now so 28 is still young. I lived in Boston 4 years and it is a great option for Bakes. Where did Van P end up? Great organization but I hate the fake grass in Foxboro. The whole franchise tag on W rumor is not a good sign to keep Baker. Man united is on a tear and could end up with Champions league money. The Glaz can offer Baker stock in Man U ala Mess getting Apple stock.
February 20th, 2024 at 7:22 am
Not looking good to keep him.
February 20th, 2024 at 7:29 am
Most teams don’t think they’ll be picking #3. When you are, and need a QB you take one. Don’t see the pats passing on a QB. They won’t open the vault for Baker when they have a chance to start fresh, and cheap with one of the top QBs in a QB deep draft. The Falcons I see moving up for a QB also. New coach new rookie QB to star the program. Joe is just fishing.
February 20th, 2024 at 7:30 am
“This Joe” would still draft a quarterback in the first round (Michael Penix?)”
Great idea. He’s had only 2 ACL tears plus 2 shoulder injuries. Sounds like a future Super Bowl winner to me. /s
February 20th, 2024 at 7:30 am
If Baker is signed, there is no reason to sign Penix……we already have a high draft pick sitting on the bench.
If you want to take a shot on the next Purdy in round 6 or 7…..OK.
February 20th, 2024 at 7:31 am
This joe is living in fantasy land
February 20th, 2024 at 7:31 am
As others have said, Pittsburgh is a perfect fit for Baker. All those dudes need is a decent QB. (Of course, he’d be living in…. PITTSBURGH)
February 20th, 2024 at 7:39 am
yes trade the first round pick for a couple of 2nd rounders and draft what we need to win now!
February 20th, 2024 at 7:49 am
Craziest logic I have heard. Maybe this has happened, I don’t know when. You use a 1st round pick, sit him for a year or two and then trade him for a fortune.
February 20th, 2024 at 8:01 am
Joe: Do QB’s gain value by being backups? For instance, Kyle Trask was a late 2nd Round pick. What is his value now? A 6th or 7th Rounder, if even that?
Think of it this way, Joe…Some of the fans went absolutely batsh!t crazy that Baker started over Trask. What’s it gonna be like the first time Baker makes a mistake, with Penix on the bench?
February 20th, 2024 at 8:07 am
Everyone is talking about Mayfield having a career year and getting better. His season was right in line with Brady’s worst. Look at his last 4 games people. He wasn’t good in 3 of them with the season on the line. I wish I could see through the bad play that I was watching like you guys can.
February 20th, 2024 at 8:15 am
Amen westernbuc, can I get a hallelujah!!!!!
February 20th, 2024 at 8:17 am
If Baker and Evans walk why not go after Wilson on a one year deal after the Broncos boot him
February 20th, 2024 at 8:42 am
There are examples of good and bad. Pat Mahomes and Jordan Love are two examples of good. But that’s why they were first round picks to begin with.
February 20th, 2024 at 9:43 am
Since76,
What was Brady’s worst season?
February 20th, 2024 at 9:46 am
Adding Baker AND Marvin Harrison, Jr…and then spending some cash to bring in one, or two WR in FA…and New England would look completely different to Baker Mayfield…conversely, the Bucs losing Mike Evans in FA and NOT being able to afford a FA that could be anywhere near as competent – AND unable to gain access to a an equally game-changing WR in the draft – makes Tampa a tough place to consider re-signing.
It depends on how good you think Mike Evans will be in 2024 – an aging WR1 is typically a concern (due to injury/eventual drop-off) – but I’d bet on Mike Evans every time.
Gotta sign ‘em both.
February 20th, 2024 at 9:52 am
Ain’t no way* Bucs get Harrison. The only way they could pull that off would be spending the ranch to trade up. You only do that for a quarterback, not a receiver.
* — Short of Harrison getting arrested for something very foul.
February 20th, 2024 at 10:19 am
Agree with most of the commenters on this site (that’s a first) that signing Mayfield and drafting a QB in the 1st Round is foolish.
I also agree that “This Joe” and all the other Joes really, should identify themselves and quit hiding.
February 20th, 2024 at 10:47 am
Tampa is in good shape as far as QB goes. Whether they re-sign Mayfield or not they will be able to compete. Had Trask played last season the Bucs would have took some lumps but then most teams do in their QB’s first full season.
Although only throwing 9 game passes career he has been fortunate to have seasons to learn. Exposed to Brady’s work ethics and what he did each and every day to make him great. Was in the same room and on the field with Canales for a full season and learn from him.
Should Mayfield stay or go Bucs are in a good position at QB. Bowles may not have the balls to take that risk again but some guys are just not wired that way.
Arthur Smith is. Smith took the risk with Ridder last season and it cost him his job. Falcons offense was sound and just lacked the execution that a more seasoned guy would have given them. Heineke was certainly not that guy. Really didn’t take long for Pittsburgh to make Smith their OC and PIT will compete in a strong Division. Jim Mora was the same way and watched Peyton Manning throw 28 INT’s his rookie year but stayed with him. Two HOF QB’s top the list of most rookie INT’s and guys like Stafford, Palmer and Aikman are pretty high up too.
Bowles avoided the risk and went with the seasoned guy and had a respectable year. Although he was feeling the heat most of the season.
Can’t see the Falcons moving on from Ridder with an OC that will certainly be able to coach up a guy that had success sprinkler in with the mistakes.
If they do get a QB I would not put it past Pittsburgh to try to get Ridder to replace Trubisky as their back up if of not starter in case Pickett goes the way of Mac Jones. More teams are going to be willing to take a bad year or two and build around youth and the low dollar contracts. At least the teams that have a coach with a set and not a skirt and are willing to take the heat.
ATL and PIT will not be going Mayfield and that could be good thing or bad depending on which side of the fence you are on with Mayfield.
Whoever starts next season Bucs will be able to compete for the Division but not the Conference. If they sign Mayfield I don’t see it being for any longer than the remainder of Bowles contract. Trask will be fine with another preseason and a few actual games should there be an injury to put his abilities on tape. Wherever and whenever he gets the opportunity he will be ready to play. Tampa is in a lot better shape with him as a 2nd than many of the other teams in the league.
Hopefully next season will show consistency with one guy and growth for the other.
February 20th, 2024 at 10:50 am
Lets see, I can sum up all the blog gymnastics, so more posts can be written about FA Baker.
So here we go
“Blah Blah Blah Bucs Franchise Baker, Blah Blah Blah” Yep, Baker is the starting QB in Sept for the Bucs, and Mike Evans inks a deal again too. Ok, thats a wrap. lol
February 20th, 2024 at 10:54 am
If the Bucs take Penix in the 1st, then Baker has a second great season, I doubt the Bucs can trade Penix for much more than a late 1st. The team acquiring him loses one year of a rookie contract and, in this scenario, Penix rarely plays unless Baker is out for a game or two.
February 20th, 2024 at 10:58 am
@WhiteTiger
Marvin’s son isn’t gonna be there when the Bucs are picking. He’s gonna be gone. If he’s there still then every other coaching staff & front office on the other teams isn’t very bright. I’ve always said about how they should trade down as much as possible, too! They don’t have enough picks to fix everything. Unless they do decide to sign so.e FAs somehow. Could use probably two OL, probably two DL, at least one more CB maybe two, at least one S, another RB, probably another TE, another LB & depending on a WR.
February 20th, 2024 at 11:22 am
Joe Says: “There are examples of good and bad. Pat Mahomes and Jordan Love are two examples of good. But that’s why they were first round picks to begin with.”
There have also been many non-first rounders: Tom Brady (6th round), Brett Favre (2nd round), Brock Purdy (7th round), Kurt Warner (not drafted), etc.
February 20th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
Good God.
He wasn’t saying the BUCS get Marvin.
He was saying that the Pats could and refuting what others are saying about he would be crazy to go to NE.
Nobody knows what is crazy.
February 20th, 2024 at 2:17 pm
Statistically Insignificant Reader Says:
February 20th, 2024 at 6:53 am
Penix??? “He tore his ACL in 2018 and 2020 and had shoulder injuries in both 2019 and 2021.” yeah lets mortgage the farm for this guy
—
it gets worse. He isn’t known for rurnning or scrambling much so he WILL be injured again because he can’t avoid NFL Sacks.
and it still gets worse because his accuracy is known to tank when he is under pressure ( which he will be often because defenses know he doesn’t move well.
February 20th, 2024 at 7:16 pm
Can’t wait to hear the excuses for Baker Mayfield next year! Lol 😂😂 especially from his fan boys!! They will blame everyone but Baker when he sucks especially if Mike Evans don’t come back!! The last game of the season was won by Winfield Jr. Next year it will be Tood Bowles fault it will be he’s in a new offense. It will be the offensive line fault because they didn’t give him 10 seconds to throw the ball. It will be the running game fault and it will be the OC fault watch and see lol 🤣🤣!! My bucs will be left behind because of these mediocrey loving fan base who is celebrating a 9-8 team with a one read quarterback. I’m prepared to watch another average to below average season next year.
February 20th, 2024 at 7:19 pm
Gipper …..Brady was a buc. It was 2022…The record was 8-9. He threw around 600 more yards than Mayfield. 3 less touchdowns and one less int. So very similar it was his worst year. Bakers career year. You could debate other years but 8-9 is Brady’s worst. Mayfield was 9-8. Brady wasn’t looking very good in 22. But I guess Mayfield did???? Because it was his career year? I don’t know maybe I’m looking at it the wrong way????
February 20th, 2024 at 9:01 pm
westernbuc Says:
“Why on earth would Baker leave a starting gig on the best team in the NFC South to be a bridge QB on arguably the worst team in the AFC East?”
Disrespect and money. If Tampa offers him a Geno deal instead of Carr or Daniels deal. Baker has more playoff wins than all of them. Geno did not win a playoff game last year and much older. Plus that deal reeked of cutting Geno after 1 year if things go bad. Baker deserves more respect and a better deal that makes him part of the solution not a maybe problem.
If the Bucs offers him a Geno deal and another suitor offers him a 3-year plan for success (not another prove you deserve two year deal), then Baker will find his home elsewhere. He doesn’t want to blow his possibly only big contract on a two year stint. He has risk/reward limits too. He’ll want $37M average annual and atleast $75M guaranteed if not $100M. Otherwise, he is just the first girl the Bucs as to the prom with a push out the limo if something else comes around or there is an inkling of issues.
February 20th, 2024 at 9:25 pm
Please, any team take him away!!!! PLEASE!!!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
February 21st, 2024 at 3:43 am
Since76,
In 2022 in Brady’s “worst year” he threw the ball nearly 200 times more than Baker in 2023. You are not comparing apples to apples. If Baker threw the ball that many times in 2023, he would have had about 40TD passes in 2023. You might remember that OC Canales insisted in running the ball up the middle on1 and 2downs for a couple yards. This necessarily limited the times Baker could throw.