Baker Mayfield of the Buccaneers has ties to an AFC East team

In an article that was released on Friday, ESPN NFL expert Jeremy Fowler discussed why, in the event that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers allow quarterback Baker Mayfield to enter free agency next month, the New England Patriots might make a strong push to sign him. 

While Tampa is the clear-cut favorite to re-sign Mayfield, now a coveted free agent after a banner year with the Bucs, anything can happen in free agency,” Fowler noted. “And the Patriots’ new brain trust — including lead personnel man Eliot Wolf and personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith — were part of the (Cleveland Browns) regime that took Mayfield No. 1 in the 2018 draft. They believed in him.”

Mayfield emerged as a Comeback Player of the Year candidate playing under former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Dave Canales and reportedly is a big reason the Buccaneers replaced Canales, now head coach of the Carolina Panthers, with Liam Coen.

New England seems likely to move on from 2021 first-round draft pick Mac Jones with new head coach Jerod Mayo in charge, and Fowler mentioned that the Patriots signing Mayfield could allow the club to use this year’s No. 3 overall draft choice to acquire a playmaker such as wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

In a mock draft updated this past Wednesday, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports predicted New England would land Harrison via the draft’s third selection.

While it’s unknown what Mayo and others within the Patriots think about Mayfield this winter, the 28-year-old has left no doubt he thoroughly enjoyed his one season in Tampa Bay.

Mayfield has also been linked by some with a potential move to the Atlanta Falcons, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht can retain the signal-caller’s rights for 2024 via the franchise tag before the March 5 deadline for teams to use their tags.

Mayfield was mentioned on Friday by Robert Zeglinski of USA Today’s For The Win and Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated as players who could be tagged if they don’t sign contracts by March 5.

Regarding Mayfield, Zeglinski stated, “It’s highly unlikely he won’t roam the Tampa Bay side line in 2024.”

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