Six-year NFL veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield has signed a new contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mayfield, the former first-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, spent the 2023 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but has also played for the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Los Angeles Rams.
The #Bucs and Baker Mayfield have agreed on a deal that gives him a max value of $115M. A huge get for Tampa. https://t.co/fHyLIpg0el
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2024
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Agree to Contract
After a disastrous 2022, Baker Mayfield entered the 2023 offseason battling Kyle Trask for the starting job on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mayfield handily won the battle and never relinquished the job, putting up the best season of his career in his new environment. Starting all 17 games, the Oklahoma product finished the year by completing 64.3% of his passes for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Tampa Bay went 9-8 with Mayfield leading the charge, and the team made it all the way to the NFC Divisional Round before falling to the Detroit Lions.
Baker Mayfield originally entered the NFL as the first-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Selected by the Cleveland Browns, the Oklahoma product began his career on the bench before taking over for an injured Tyrod Taylor. He started the final 13 games of the season, completing 63.8% of his passes for 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions while finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting. After a disappointing 2019, Mayfield guided the Browns to their first playoff birth since since 2002 in 2020. Starting all 16 games, the quarterback completed 62.8% of his passes for 3,563 yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while leading a playoff victory over the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers.
Unfortunately, the wheels fell off the wagon after that playoff run. Baker Mayfield injured his shoulder early in the 2021 season and tried to play through the ailment. The results were as expected and, after the season, Cleveland traded Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers after acquiring Deshaun Watson. Mayfield’s tenure with the Panthers did not go well, as he didn’t even last the full season. However, he finished the year with the Los Angeles Rams and showed signs of life down the stretch.
Main Photo: Lon Horwedel – USA Today Sports
