Buccaneers 'Could Implode' With Quarterback Baker Mayfield
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made quite the move when they signed free-agent quarterback Baker Mayfield.
And with the Bucs' new quarterback wearing No. 6 for the team (the same number he wore with the Oklahoma Sooners, Cleveland Browns, and Carolina Panthers) it's clear the intent on both sides is for a return to what was once a bright future for the top pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Tampa Bay fans who are loyal to quarterback Kyle Trask still cling to the hopes that this year's training camp brings competition and a chance for the Florida Gators product to win the job.
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Meanwhile, most of us have already slid Mayfield into the starting job in hopes he helps bring less of a post-Tom Brady dropoff than expected around the league.
But that hope for upside also brings the potential for downside.
"Perhaps a Tampa reboot is exactly what Baker Mayfield needs," writes NFL.com while placing each NFC team into tiers - the Buccaneers falling into the one at the bottom. "
The Buccaneers' approach this offseason has been pretty interesting. They've shed some salary but are still crippled by dead money against their cap. Yet this isn't some teardown...Perhaps they view themselves as contenders in the NFC South, even with Mayfield a potentially big drop from Tom Brady."
Back to those tiers, now.
We know the Bucs have fallen far from the heights they were just one year ago, but NFL.com has them among the three worst teams in the NFC today.
Labeled as the 'A lot of work left to do' tier, Tampa Bay is joined by the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals.
Every other NFC team is in the 'Wait and see mode' tier or higher.
The reason? Quarterbacks.
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With Mayfield joining Desmond Ridder of the Atlanta Falcons and Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals, NFL.com says all three could do well, "But there's potential that all three could implode, too."
Interesting that two former No. 1 overall picks in their respective NFL Drafts are in this group.
And just one more reason for the Bucs to rally around Mayfield, themselves, and keep the same 'prove them all wrong' attitude Brady brought to the Buccaneers, even though he's no longer in the locker room.
Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82
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