Quarterback Baker Mayfield had the tall task of replacing a legend with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. With the greatest of all time, Tom Brady, opting for retirement, Mayfield was signed by the team to compete with Kyle Trask for the chance to replace the future Hall of Famer.
It had been a rocky few months for Mayfield, whom the Cleveland Browns traded during the 2022 offseason to the Carolina Panthers. With Deshaun Watson brought in as their franchise quarterback, Mayfield was no longer needed.
His tenure in Carolina was a disaster, as he played scout team defensive end at one point. He was eventually released and landed with the Los Angeles Rams, where he played well enough despite ugly circumstances to catch the attention of the Buccaneers.
NFL News & Rumors: Baker Mayfield, 2024 NFL Free Agency, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Updates
Tampa Bay signed him to a one-year, $4 million deal and he competed for the starting job. It was a job that Mayfield would win, parlaying the opportunity into a massive payday this offseason.
The Buccaneers and Mayfield agreed to a three-year, $100 million deal that includes $40 million guaranteed. He essentially signed a deal with different outs along the way, as this will be a one-, two- or three-year deal worth $40 million, $60 million or $100 million.
Given where Mayfield was a year ago from now, this is quite a turnaround for him. His future as a starting quarterback in the NFL was very much up in the air, as many analysts questioned if he would even have the chance to start in 2023.
Not only did he start for the Buccaneers, he ran away with the opportunity. While there were a few hiccups along the way, as Tampa Bay had a rough stretch where they lost six out of seven games, they did end up winning the NFC South with a 9-8 record.
That gave them a home game in the playoffs and they made the most of it, dominating the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9. Their postseason came to an end during the Divisional Round, as they lost a competitive game to the Detroit Lions 31-23.
NFL News & Rumors: Baker Mayfield, 2024 NFL Free Agency, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Updates
2023 was a magnificent season for Mayfield, who produced at a level for the Buccaneers only Brady had accomplished previously. There will certainly be some naysayers who believe this situation could turn into what the New York Giants are dealing with with their own quarterback, Daniel Jones.
But, not only is Mayfield’s performance more sustainable going forward, the Buccaneers have outs along the way. Things cannot be as disastrous for Tampa Bay as they were for New York given the kind of contract Mayfield has and his style of play.
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