The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to have some difficult decisions to make this offseason. With the worst salary cap situation in the NFL, general manager Jason Licht will have his hands full when it comes to getting the franchise to be cap compliant.

The Buccaneers are currently more than $56.5 million over the salary cap. With multiple key players hitting free agency, it will be difficult for them to retain everyone. To make any additions to the roster, veterans could have to be released or have contracts restructured as well.

Arguably the biggest hole that the Buccaneers have to fill this offseason is at quarterback. Tom Brady has officially retired from the NFL, leaving the franchise with Kyle Trask as the only quarterback currently under contract for the 2023 season.

That is certainly a less-than-ideal situation and without money to spend, their options of who to bring in could be limited. While they have been linked to veterans such as Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo, the contracts they will demand are likely too rich for the Buccaneers.

But, if the franchise is looking for a veteran to come in and compete with Trask, Baker Mayfield makes for a solid option. Mayfield has been predicted to sign with the Buccaneers this offseason, which makes for an intriguing match.

Mayfield won’t break the bank as a free agent this offseason. After struggling with the Carolina Panthers at the start of the 2022 season, Mayfield signed with the Los Angeles Rams to finish out the season. He played better there despite rough circumstances, putting himself in a position to at least compete for a starting job somewhere in 2023.

Tampa Bay could present Mayfield with his best chance to be a starter in 2023. Should he win the job, he would be in a situation that could result in some very positive results. Any quarterback should be able to find some level of success throwing to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft would be provided a chance to rehab his value in Tampa Bay. If he plays well, he could become a longer-term option with the Buccaneers or find himself in an advantageous position during free agency in 2024.