Regardless of solely a one-year pattern measurement, it appears to work for Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. Throughout his first season as their beginning quarterback, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 9-8, received the NFC South for the third 12 months in a row and received a playoff sport. They performed the heavily-favored Detroit Lions right down to the wire at their place within the divisional spherical, however got here up one possession brief. Their season is over.

Tampa Bay could have discovered one thing particular in Mayfield, a gifted, however controversial quarterback who has had an up-and-down NFL profession up thus far. He has not had the identical quantity of success as draft classmates Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson, however has been infinitely higher than Sam Darnold or Josh Rosen. This previous 12 months confirmed us that sure, Mayfield is an NFL beginning quarterback.

As a result of he signed with the Buccaneers for affordable on a prove-it deal, he could have priced himself out of city. He may have a strong market in his free company, however I might suspect that Tampa Bay will do every part in its energy to try to retain him. In any other case, the long run appears to be like extremely bleak for the NFC South franchise. Mayfield appears to have room to develop as a participant and as a person, so put money into him, y’all!

If he had been to someway go away Gulf Coast Florida, listed below are 5 NFL groups who ought to try to signal him.

I mentioned it final 12 months that the Atlanta Falcons ought to have a look at Mayfield. For no matter purpose, the collective mind belief of Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith did not take heed to me, so right here we’re. The handoff from the Matt Ryan period to no matter that is has been nothing wanting easy. From the Deshaun Watson debacle, to Marcus Mariota being a quitter, to Desmond Ridder nonsense, it has been terrible to endure.

With Smith out of the constructing in Flowery Department, the Falcons might go in any variety of instructions in hiring their subsequent head coach. They’re interviewing seemingly everybody. Whereas some folks could argue they’re the subsequent crew to rent a head coach, they appear additional away from pulling the set off than anybody would are inclined to imagine. Relating to Mayfield, all of it is determined by who the coach is.

I believe Fontenot and proprietor Arthur Clean are sensible sufficient to know what they’ve seen out of Mayfield over the previous few years. They need to know that he can play, and play at a excessive degree. Nevertheless, we can not say the Falcons are something greater than a darkish horse to land him proper now in free company as a result of we do not know who their head coach is. Taking him from a NFC South rival can be candy.

Irrespective of who the rent is, Atlanta ought to at the very least entertain the thought of bringing Mayfield into the fold.