With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers deciding not to use a franchise tag on quarterback Baker Mayfield this offseason, he is set to become a free agent next month if the Buccaneers can’t sign him to a contract extension before then. And if he does make it to free agency, it sounds like a surprising team could be interested: the New England Patriots.
As Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times points out, the New England Patriots are a potential suitor for Baker Mayfield given the familiarity between Mayfield and several members of the coaching staff.
“One team that has been reported as a possible suitor is the Patriots. Many members of their organization ― including director of scouting Eliot Wolf, front office executive Alonzo Highsmith, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney ― once worked for the Browns and like Mayfield,” Stroud wrote for the Tampa Bay Times.
However, there are also some reasons why Mayfield might not end up in New England, as well.
“Of course, Mayfield has said he wants to play for a winner, and the Patriots are in rebuild mode with new head coach Jerod Mayo. New England also owns the No. 3 overall pick in a fertile quarterback draft,” Stroud wrote.
We’ll certainly have to see where Mayfield ends up.
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