The Rams could have some competition if they want to bring back Baker Mayfield for 2023.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, the Buccaneers have emerged as a team “expected to target” Mayfield once NFL free agency begins with the negotiating period on Monday.
While the Bucs like former second-round pick Kyle Trask “a lot,” according to Rapoport, the 27-year-old Mayfield could compete for the starting job.
Rick Stroud from the Tampa Bay Times reported that Jacoby Brissett and Blaine Gabbert — who has been with the Bucs since 2020 — are two other options for the Buccaneers to sign as a replacement for Tom Brady, who retired in February.
Mayfield has spent time with three teams within the last 12 months, beginning with the Browns before a July deal sent him to the Panthers.
Then, when Carolina released him in December, Mayfield joined Sean McVay and the Rams, starting their final four games and leading a dramatic comeback over the Raiders just one day — and one short practice — after flying to Los Angeles.
Mayfield was the No. 1 overall pick in 2018 and spent his first four seasons with the Browns, but after guiding Cleveland to an 11-5 record in 2021, he struggled the following year, throwing 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
In the aftermath of the Browns acquiring Deshaun Watson from the Texans, Mayfield was traded to Carolina after feeling “disrespected” by the franchise.
Mayfield started the Panthers’ first five games, but he suffered an ankle injury that both sidelined him and sparked the beginning of a quarterback carousel.
PJ Walker and Sam Darnold also began games under center for the Panthers, who fired head coach Matt Rhule mid-season and turned to interim coach Steve Wilks.
Just weeks later, Mayfield found a reset with the Rams, and perhaps his next one could come with a franchise needing to replace Brady, the 45-year-old quarterback who led the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl in 2020.
Tampa Bay selected Trask in the second round out of Florida in 2021, but he has only appeared in two regular-season games and thrown nine passes.
ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reported in late February that the Buccaneers feel comfortable with Trask becoming their Week 1 starter — and that general manager Jason Licht reportedly viewed him as the NFC South’s best quarterback, though that may be outdated after former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr signed with the Saints last week.
“From my conversations with the organization, they do feel like Kyle Trask is likely to be the guy under center,” Darlington said during a February segment on “NFL Live.”
He added, “I feel pretty confident that they’re going in that direction.”
