With Tom Brady retired (presumably for good, this time), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in desperate need of a new starting quarterback for 2023.
The Buccaneers are in a difficult situation because they have several young and veteran stars to keep the competitive window, but they also have a miserable cap situation (about $55 million over the cap right now). If the Buccaneers decide to retool rather than rebuild, GM Jason Licht may have to go bargain hunting in free agency.
At Pro Football Network, Dallas Robinson predicted that the Buccaneers would end up signing 2018 first overall pick Baker Mayfield, who split the 2022 season with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams:
“At $55+ million in the red, the Buccaneers have the worst salary cap situation in the NFL. Given that they plan to absorb all of Tom Brady’s dead money in 2023, this upcoming season looks like the beginning of a rebuild in Tampa Bay.
I wouldn’t expect the Bucs to dabble too much in the free agent market, but if they want to bring in competition for third-year quarterback Kyle Trask, Baker Mayfield could do the trick.
He’s unlikely to be expensive, but his late-season run with the Rams might indicate he’s still capable of being a starter. A training camp competition between Trask and Mayfield wouldn’t be the worst outcome for a team on the cusp of resetting.”
The Cleveland Browns decided to end the Mayfield era last year when they acquired Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. Mayfield was subsequently traded to Carolina, but the organization released him after he lost five of six starts.
Los Angeles lost starter Matthew Stafford for the season with a spinal injury, and they signed Mayfield to finish the 2022 campaign as their starter. Mayfield showed strong improvement in Sean McVay’s offense, completing 63.6 percent of his pass attempts for four touchdowns and two interceptions in five games.
Mayfield could definitely flourish in the right system. Tampa Bay does have to star receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, as well as one of the league’s best offensive lines with Ryan Jensen set to return.
