Baker Mayfield had the best season of his entire career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, but now it looks like he’s going to become a free agent.
According to a report from Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat writer Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Buccaneers have decided not to use their franchise tag on Baker Mayfield which means that he will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
As Stroud reports, a big reason why the team decided not to use a franchise tag on Mayfield is because it would cost at least $36.3 million. So now if the team wants to have him as their starting quarterback in 2024, they’ll have to sign him as a free agent.
“The Bucs have been open about their desire to re-sign Mayfield, who passed for a career-high 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns in his first season with the team,” Stroud wrote.
“Mayfield also has indicated he wants to remain here. The Bucs took a big first step by hiring Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who worked with Mayfield as the Rams passing game coordinator after the quarterback was claimed off waivers and spent the final five weeks in Los Angeles in the 2022 season.”
It’s a big and risky decision from the Buccaneers, and the NFL world had a lot to say about it on social media.
Baker Mayfield.
Vikings bridge QB, with potential to be more if the drafted QB melts??? #Skol // #Vikings /// https://t.co/MKtyKX8LqH
— Purple Valhalla (@norsemenstrong) February 20, 2024
Which means Mike Evans is gone https://t.co/VRqwMEGnu9
— J. Gray (@JGrayJets) February 20, 2024
I'm rooting pretty hard for Baker this year, hope he gets paid wherever he lands. Did a lot of stand-up things outside of his play on the field.
— jacobriley_filmmaker (@JRileyFilmmaker) February 20, 2024
This was the obvious scenario
— Tampa Tones (@TampaTones) February 20, 2024
Baker to the Pats makes the most sense. I could see Baker to Denver as well
— Clive Humphrey (@BoycottKelloggs) February 20, 2024
Baker gets the Geno Smith contract, very little interest in Baker as a free agent.
— Paul Martin (@PMartinKatyTX) February 20, 2024
We’ll have to see whether or not Mayfield re-signs with the team after he becomes a free agent this offseason.
