Buccaneers Quarterback Baker Mayfield Comments on Potential Contract Extension
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were in the free agency market for a quarterback last offseason. They needed a cheap, viable option to kick off a new era after Tom Brady officially retired.
Fortunately for the Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield was on the market. After a couple of weird, weird seasons, Mayfield's free agency value was quite low. His situation with the Cleveland Browns was mishandled by the team before he was shipped to the Carolina Panthers, which didn't go well either.
In the end, the Buccaneers signed Mayfield on a cheap contract to give the offense its new driver. Things got off to a solid start as the team started 3-1, but a losing streak flipped things upside down.
Still, the direction the team seemed to be heading was quickly deterred when Mayfield over-succeeded early with the team. Does this warrant the Buccaneers and Mayfield having a reunion next season? Mayfield was asked if there's been a conversation about such yet.
"Not that I know of," Mayfield responded. “For me, I’m just taking care of it one game at a time and the rest will fall in place.”
It'd be a good year for Mayfield to test his value in the open market. There might not be too much competition at the quarterback position. For teams that didn't land their guy in the draft, Mayfield will be a good target.
Mayfield's value has increased plenty from last free agency heading into the next. Through nine games, the Buccaneers have a 4-5 record and Mayfield has thrown for 2,143 yards and 14 passing touchdowns with only five interceptions. He's completed 65 percent of his passes, too.
For the Buccaneers, they can make a decision to go in two directions. It's also a contract year for Mike Evans, Mayfield's top target. If both leave Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers could be in for a full reset.
If both of those guys return, the Buccaneers can use the offseason to continue building around their current iteration of a squad to continue competing in a not-so-great NFC South.
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