The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have determined to maintain broad receiver Mike Evans in the fold for a pair extra years, saying an settlement on an extension Monday. Now Baker Mayfield is sitting round ready for that very same name or textual content from his agent with the similar information Evans acquired. It solely makes sense after the duo’s first yr collectively, which wound up going significantly better than anybody outdoors their facility might’ve imagined. In truth, except the Buccaneers have a clear-cut higher possibility, it’d be insane in the event that they didn’t convey Baker back.
“This is a good sign for Bucs offense. You don’t sign Mike Evans if you don’t plan on signing Baker Mayfield.” – Keyshawn Johnson
It actually is superb the distinction one journey round the solar could make. This time final yr no person (not even Baker) knew what the future would maintain for Mayfield. Last spring, he was coming off a marketing campaign the place he’d managed to win simply two video games in stints with two groups and his inventory was most likely the lowest it’d ever been. He bounced back in 2023 proving his detractors (together with me) unsuitable by main Tampa to a division title and making his first Pro Bowl.
So, Mayfield has earned a brand new contract from the Bucs after which some. It gained’t set the market or break any information, however it makes much more sense realizing that Evans is coming back. Evans’ future was up in the air coming into the offseason, however with the announcement of his extension, you’d assume the franchise would need to preserve this good factor stepping into that depressing NFC South division.
Tampa actually got here out of nowhere to win the division with a 9-8 report final season. There weren’t many who predicted them ending with a profitable report particularly as soon as it was confirmed that the quarterback battle in coaching camp could be between Mayfield and Kyle Trask. Some even questioned whether or not Mayfield might beat out Trask in camp. Well, he did that and extra.
Now it’s time to offer him his due. That doesn’t imply the Bucs ought to go overboard on the deal, however he deserves an extension, nonetheless. Johnson hit the nail on the head on “Undisputed” Monday morning. Keeping Evans means Tampa Bay ought to be inclined to do the similar with Mayfield. With the begin of the new league yr simply round the nook (March 13), we should always know extra about Mayfield’s future in Tampa, or elsewhere, quickly. However, with different groups, like division rival Atlanta, exhibiting curiosity, the Bucs brass shouldn’t wait too lengthy.
Unless the Bucs have one thing up their sleeve in free company or on the commerce market, anticipate Baker’s NFL house to be in Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future. Of the high free-agent QBs on the market this offseason, Mayfield ranks third based on Pro Football Focus, sitting behind solely Kirk Cousins (1) and Ryan Tannehill. If Cousins wasn’t coming off an Achilles harm, he’d be a superb possibility for Tampa, however it’d be exhausting to promote him over Mayfield proper now to that fan base.
Maybe Tannehill would have been a significantly better possibility a few years in the past however at this level, he’s most likely not the man you need to hitch your wagon to. The Bucs might discover a QB in the draft, which might be smart anyway, however the odds of a rookie QB coming in and overthrowing Mayfield are slim. Twelve months in the past, it might’ve sounded loopy, however at the moment Baker Mayfield is the most suitable choice the Bucs have for one other profitable season. Now, we simply sit back, wait and see if the group makes the proper name.
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