Buccaneers' Locker Room Compares Baker Mayfield to Tom Brady: "They Love This Guy"
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers led by quarterback Baker Mayfield are in a prime position to win the NFC South for the third consecutive year. With it comes a trip to the playoffs and a home game at Raymond James Stadium. Beyond that there are many questions surrounding the team. From what I'm hearing, head coach Todd Bowles is likely to return to the team, but the next big domino is who will be quarterbacking the Bucs in 2024.
Mayfield has put on a show during the team’s four-week win streak putting up 1,010 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and just one interception. The Bucs have an 8-7 record and are one win away from a division title. After a 3-1 start Tampa Bay lost six of seven games the team’s recent turnaround is largely due to the turnaround in Mayfield’s play. But has he done enough to warrant a second contract with the club?
If you ask me the answer is an easy yes. The Buccaneers will likely be out of the mix for a top quarterback and the free-agent pool is lackluster, to say the least. Kirk Cousins headlines the list but is coming off an Achilles tear. Ryan Tannehill was benched earlier in the season. The Bucs are unlikely to reunite with old friend Jameis Winston and Jacoby Brissett or Gardner Minshew don’t give the Bucs a better option than Mayfield.
It was always the plan to bring Mayfield back on a long-term deal if he and the Bucs did well this season. Mayfield has repeatedly stated his longing for an NFL home and how much he loves the Tampa area. While Bowles and general manager Jason Licht have delivered the praise on their starting quarterback.
“I think so many people are wrapped into what [Mayfield] hasn’t done and where he’s coming from and that he has a lot to lose and that he was a tough guy and how he was up and down — and they’re not enjoying the Baker Mayfield they’re seeing right now who is a very good damn NFL quarterback and playing winning football,” Bowles told WFLA’s Dan Lucas Monday.
“I think people should just appreciate that for what it is,” Bowles said. “And stop saying, ‘Well, it’s Baker. Well, it’s Baker. Well, it’s Baker.’ Well, Baker’s playing very damn good football.”
While speaking to Gene Deckerhoff on the Bucs Radio network Licht said he’s “rooting like hell” for Mayfield’s continued success.
“He’s had some really good games here so far this year,” Licht said. “We want to see it continue. There’s a long three games left.”
These thoughts were recently added on by ESPN’s Adam Schefter who made an appearance on The Pat Macafee show on Tuesday.
“He likes it. They like him. Why not continue that,” Schefter said.
If Mayfield can finish the season out strong, a new deal in Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future is certainly not out of the cards and growing into a more than likely reality.
He added, “They're gonna want him back and he's gonna wanna be there and he should be there. It’s worked out very well.”
You can follow JC Allen on Twitter @JCAllenNFL.
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