The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hit the jackpot last year when they signed veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield to a cheap one-year deal, as the former No. 1 overall pick responded with the best season of his NFL career, helping to lead the Bucs to a third straight division title.
Now, the Bucs are going to have to pay up if they want to keep Mayfield as their starter moving forward, and they’ll have to fight off any other potential suitors that Mayfield could have in free agency.
Once such threat to poach Mayfield from Tampa Bay could be an NFC South rival in the Atlanta Falcons, who will be looking to replace Desmond Ridder this offseason:
Right now it looks likely for Baker Mayfield to return to the Bucs. But could the Falcons be in play?? We talk Baker's future with @tompelissero on #TheNFLReport pic.twitter.com/Dk0uM9uCzG
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) March 1, 2024
The Falcons will have plenty of other veteran options including Justin Fields, Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson, and they also currently own a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
While they could end up being a dark-horse candidate to secure Mayfield’s services, it still feels more likely that he’s back in Tampa Bay next season and beyond, while the Falcons opt for one of the other options under center.
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