Bucs start negotiating with Baker Mayfield to re-sign; he’ll re-start at the NFL Combine.
However, the Bucs’ 2019 season will be decided by what transpires at the clubs and steakhouses in downtown.
General manager Jason Licht will meet there with the representatives of important players, including safety Antoine Winfield Jr., wide receiver Mike Evans, and quarterback Baker Mayfield.
There have been some early discussions between the Bucs and Mayfield regarding a new deal, but nothing is official just yet. Tom Mills, Mayfield’s agent, is scheduled to meet with Licht the following week. An agreement for Mayfield to return to Tampa Bay has been conveyed by both parties.
This past season, Mayfield led the Bucs to their third consecutive NFC South championship while passing for a career-high 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns. In the wild-card stage, he led Tampa Bay to victory against Philadelphia, and in the closing moments of the Detroit game, he almost missed advancing to the NFC title game.
Mayfield is seeking stability after playing for four teams in less than two years, even if he restored his status by winning the Heisman Trophy and being selected first overall in the 2018 draft.
The goal of the Bucs and head coach Todd Bowles is to maintain some consistency while building on Mayfield’s achievements. Following the departure of offensive coordinator Dave Canales to the Panthers (where he was promoted to head coach), Tampa Bay brought in offensive coordinator Liam Coen from Kentucky. At the conclusion of the 2022 season, Coen worked with Mayfield in five games with the Rams.
Mayfield feels he has the best chance of winning in Tampa Bay, so he would love to stay there. However, if Mayfield becomes a free agent in March, the Bucs could have some competition.
The Patriots are one team that has been mentioned as a potential candidate. Numerous personnel in their organization, such as T.C. McCartney, the quarterbacks coach; Eliot Wolf, the director of scouting; Alonzo Highsmith, the front office executive; and Alex Van Pelt, the offensive coordinator, had previously worked with the Browns and were fond of Mayfield.
Naturally, Mayfield has stated that he wants to play for a winning team, and with Jerod Mayo taking over as head coach, the Patriots are in rebuilding mode. In a loaded quarterback draft, New England also holds the third overall choice.
Ultimately, Mayfield wants to be paid fair market value, having made just over $6 million in performance incentives in the previous campaign.
It seems unlikely that the Bucs would employ that designation on him, but they are probably prepared to offer him the $36.3 million that represents the franchise player’s worth. Although Mayfield’s $40 million annual contract may seem expensive, if other veteran agreements are completed, it may rank in the top 15 quarterback salaries.
