ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported mid-day on Wednesday that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are signing former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield to a one-year, $8.5 million deal. $4 million of his contract is guaranteed already.
Mayfield now becomes the second quarterback on the roster alongside former Florida Gators quarterback Kyle Trask. It is everyone’s guess that the two will compete for the starting job.
Mayfield, the first-overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, played with the Carolina Panthers last season. He also played with the Los Angeles Rams who picked up the veteran QB off of the waiver wire. Prior to being in Carolina and L.A. last season, Mayfield was with the Cleveland Browns for four seasons.
With the Browns, he won offensive rookie of the year in 2018. His best season came in 2020 when he led Cleveland to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth. He defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the wild-card round. Mayfield led the offense to put up 48 points on the Steelers. It was the Browns’ first playoff victory since 1994 against the New England Patriots.
When Mayfield got to Charlotte with the Panthers, he was showing some decision-making errors every now and then. He finished in Carolina with a 6-6 TD-INT ratio and was let go after playing in just seven games.
When he got to Los Angeles, Mayfield had a great first game for the Rams. He threw for 230 yards and a game-winning touchdown in his debut with the team against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night. He finished the season playing in five games with the Rams, throwing for 850 yards and four touchdowns.
Mayfield provides a veteran challenge for Trask come spring OTAs and training camp prior to the season. He will compete with the now three-year backup who has made only nine career pass attempts.
The QB battle in Tampa Bay now seems to be clear: Mayfield vs. Trask.