Baker Mayfield Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have opted not to use their franchise tag to keep veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield with the team next season, allowing him to become a free agent this offseason. But it sounds like the team would still very much like to re-sign him to another contract.

During a press conference this week, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles made it very clear that the team would like to bring Baker Mayfield back next season after the way he performed for the team in 2023.

“It’s an extremely high priority, obviously,” Bowles said of keeping Mayfield according to Pro Football Talk. “We love Baker. Baker had a heck of a year. He fit right in with us all the way around. The chemistry was outstanding with him and all the receivers and the offense as a whole, so we hope to build on that. I understand the business side of it. Like I said, we like Bake and we hope things get worked out.”

Mayfield seems to be quite open to the possibility of returning for the Buccaneers next season, so we’ll have to see whether or not that turns out to be a real possibility this offseason.

[Pro Football Talk]