When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to apply the franchise tag to Antoine Winfield Jr., some Bucs enthusiasts may have felt a surge of concern, fearing that this move signaled the departure of Baker Mayfield.
However, reassuring news is making waves. Beyond the Winfield tag and Mike Evans‘ contract, there’s another positive development unfolding.
It appears that Baker Mayfield is set to stay with the Buccaneers. Aaron Jacobson of The Pat and Aaron Show on 953 WDAE reports that Mayfield and the Bucs have reached an agreement on a new contract, slated to be announced on Wednesday.
Mayfield, selected as the first overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2018, spent his initial four seasons with the team. His tenure with the Browns saw him lead them to the playoffs in 2020, marking their first postseason appearance in over a decade. However, the Browns’ acquisition of Deshaun Watson in the 2022 offseason rendered Mayfield dispensable. He was subsequently traded to the Carolina Panthers, where his stint was short-lived before joining the Los Angeles Rams for the latter part of the 2022 season.
Taking a chance on Mayfield last year proved to be a wise move for the Buccaneers, especially when his career seemed to be at a crossroads. This gamble paid off handsomely for both parties. Mayfield, the former first overall pick, rejuvenated his career by achieving a career milestone of 4,000 passing yards for the first time and played a pivotal role in guiding the Bucs to a division title and playoff victory.
Predictions were against the Buccaneers clinching the NFC South last offseason, with many expecting them to rank among the league’s bottom teams. However, Mayfield’s performance surpassed expectations, propelling the team to divisional success. The resounding victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round, coupled with a close brush with advancing to the NFC Championship Game, left fans thoroughly impressed with Mayfield’s inaugural season in Tampa.
Securing the return of both Mayfield and Evans would represent a significant triumph for the Buccaneers. Here’s to hoping they can clinch yet another division title in 2024.
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