The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were in a tough spot when future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady opted to retire during the 2023 offseason. 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask was the only other quarterback on the roster, which led to the team signing Baker Mayfield in free agency.
Mayfield beat out Trask in the offseason to earn the starting job. However, there were times during training camp when many people wondered how long it would be until Mayfield was replaced as he struggled at times in practice.
The No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft didn’t let the naysayers get to him, as he remained focused on the task at hand. After flaming out with the Carolina Panthers in 2022, Mayfield made the most of his chance with the Buccaneers in 2023.
NFL News & Rumors: Baker Mayfield, Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Updates
He put together a stellar season, helping Tampa Bay win their third straight NFC South title. In the process, Mayfield put together arguably the best season of his NFL career and made some franchise history in the process.
Mayfield completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. He added 163 yards and another score on the ground. The completion percentage, touchdowns and yardage were all career highs.
Those plateaus put him on par with the man he was replacing in Buccaneers history. Mayfield joined Brady as the only quarterback in team history to throw for 4,000+ yards, 25+ touchdowns and 10 or fewer interceptions in a season.
NFL News & Rumors: Baker Mayfield, Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Updates
That is an impressive feat for a player who looked like his chances of being a starter in the NFL were over during the 2022 season. But, a late season stint with the Los Angeles Rams provided the Buccaneers with enough evidence to give Mayfield a chance and he made the most of it.
Heading into free agency again, it will be interesting to see if Mayfield remains in Tampa Bay. There are a number of teams who will be seeking out quarterback help this offseason, but comfortability with the franchise could trump any monetary advantages other teams may possess.
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