Buccaneers Predicted to Land Former No. 1 Overall Pick in Free Agency

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are predicted to sign quarterback, Baker Mayfield, in free agency according to Pro Football Network.

NFL free agency is set to begin on March 15th and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have important decisions to make when trying to construct their roster for the upcoming 2023 season. The issue with trying to put together a roster that can contend for the playoffs and playoff run comes in the form of the team being $55+ million over the salary cap.

Perhaps the utmost importance of these decisions will be what the organization decides to do with their quarterback position now that the Tom Brady era in Tampa Bay is over.

Since the arrival of newly hired offensive coordinator, Dave Canales, the overall assumption seems that the Buccaneers are perfectly okay moving ahead with Kyle Trask as the team's starter.

READ MORE: Former Buccaneers QB, NFL star Tom Brady signs multi-year deal

Even so, it would be wise for the Buccaneers to look for a free-agent quarterback that can come in and give Trask some sort of competition for the starting spot next year. If Trask is able to win the QB job, having an NFL veteran quarterback in the quarterback room would help Trask as they could help mentor the young quarterback throughout a grueling NFL season.

With that said, Dallas Robinson of Pro Football Network predicts that the Buccaneers will sign one of those veteran quarterbacks in free agency in former number-one overall draft pick, Baker Mayfield.

"I wouldn’t expect the Bucs to dabble too much in the free agent market, but if they want to bring in competition for third-year quarterback Kyle Trask, Baker Mayfield could do the trick."

"He’s unlikely to be expensive, but his late-season run with the Rams might indicate he’s still capable of being a starter. A training camp competition between Trask and Mayfield wouldn’t be the worst outcome for a team on the cusp of resetting."

Mayfield was drafted #1 overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2018 and spent four seasons with the team compiling 14,125 yards and 92 touchdowns to 56 interceptions. His tenure in Cleveland had a promising start, but the team ultimately traded him to the Carolina Panthers in 2022.

Baker's time in Carolina didn't go all that smoothly as he was soon released and picked up by the Los Angeles Rams due to their injury issues at the quarterback position. Once in LA, Mayfield took over a team that was reeling coming off of their championship season and in just four games posted a 63.6% completion rate for 850 yards and four touchdowns to just two interceptions.

Mayfield may have saved his career as an NFL starter down the stretch during his time in Los Angeles and is now set to become a free agent.

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The move for the Buccaneers to go out and get Mayfield makes a ton of sense since the arrival of offensive coordinator, Dave Canales. Canales is heralded for the resurgence of Geno Smith's career in Seattle. If Canales was able to help resurrect Smith's career, there shouldn't be a doubt that he can do the same for Mayfield in Tampa Bay.

Stick with BucsGameday for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 offseason.

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