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The 2023 season couldn’t have gone much better for Baker Mayfield. The veteran quarterback easily exceeded expectations in bouncing back from a 2022 season in which his subpar play was an impetus for the Carolina Panthers firing head coach Matt Rhule after a 1-4 start. Carolina released Mayfield several weeks later at his request after he wasn’t inserted back in the starting lineup once he recovered from a high ankle sprain.
Mayfield signed a fully guaranteed one-year, $4 million deal worth up to $8.5 million through incentives with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March to compete to replace Tom Brady, who retired in early February, as starting quarterback. He never looked back after winning a training camp battle with Kyle Trask.
Being in contention for a fourth straight playoff berth wasn’t anticipated with Mayfield taking over for Brady. The Buccaneers won a third consecutive NFC South title with a 9-8 record.
Mayfield connected on 64.3% of his passes for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions to post a 94.6 passer rating. He had career highs in passing yards (ninth in the NFL), touchdowns (seventh in the NFL) and completion percentage.
The Buccaneers advanced to the divisional playoffs for just the third time in 21 years with a 32-9 wild-card game win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Tampa Bay’s season came to end with a 31-23 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Mayfield ‘definitely’ earned right to return next season
In the two playoff games, Mayfield threw for 686 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 48 of 77 pass attempts (62.3%) for a 106.3 passer rating. He is the only Buccaneers quarterback to ever throw for 300-plus yards and at least three touchdowns in a playoff game, which 2018’s first overall pick did in both contests this postseason.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield had earned the right to return next season after…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/agents-take-as-buccaneers-decide-how-to-bring-back-baker-mayfield-a-derek-carr-type-deal-makes-most-sense/
Author : Joel Corry
Publish date : 2024-01-24 19:52:14
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