Baker Mayfield has announced his departure.

Still, Mayfield, the top pick of 2018 who has been on three different teams since the Cleveland Browns traded him in the summer of 2022, could not have felt more at home as he was greeted with cries of “Baker! Baker! Baker! Baker!” as he left the field at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, following a 9-0 victory.
Soon after, Mayfield remarked, “This room we’re standing in right now was kind of where I found out that I wasn’t going to be a member of the Panthers anymore,” and the Panthers, in their inaugural season without future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, joyfully boarded a plane to return to Tampa.

Mayfield signed a $4 million, one-year contract with the Bucs in March of last year; the Bucs were still paying Brady $35 million from the previous campaign. They concluded with a 9-8 regular-season record and won the NFC South for the third consecutive year—Mayfield’s first division title of his career. He highlighted it with three touchdown passes in a 32-9 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card stage, prior to the Bucs’ 31-23 loss to the Detroit Lions in the divisional round.

Only Damar Hamlin (second) and Joe Flacco (first) allowed Mayfield to finish in third place and be eligible to be nominated for the Comeback Player of the Year award. More important than his Pro Bowl nomination is his desire to establish fresh roots and settle down.

“It has meant the world to me to be in a solid position, to be the best version of myself, and to do what they have enabled me to achieve,” Mayfield said. I really love the staff, structure, and locker room since they are all excellent. I believe the boys understand that. I try to express my enthusiasm and passion for what I do in my profession every day when I go to work.

Mayfield’s passer rating of 106.3 during the postseason was the highest by a quarterback in franchise history with six throwing touchdowns. He also broke the club quarterback record in both games by passing for 300 yards or more and three touchdowns or more.

Coach Todd Bowles said of Mayfield one day after the season ended, “He was fantastic here.” “We adore him forever. I’m hoping that everything goes smoothly for us.

The first step toward that was replacing offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who was hired by the Panthers on January 25 to become their coach. After working with Mayfield during his five-game stint with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, Liam Coen was signed by the Bucs. Coen’s strategy and Canales’s Bucs plan are quite similar.

Having spent the previous summer implementing Canales’ method, the intention was to create a system that would be simpler to comprehend while still utilizing Mayfield’s advantages. In fact, the team questioned Mayfield about possible prospects.

“You know, first [and] foremost, I mean, I’m just extremely delighted for Dave,” Mayfield said. “It man is amazing. I’m happy for him and his family, and he truly did have a big impact on me. I think this is a great opportunity for him as well. That’s good to see, for sure.

Mayfield benefited from Canales’ positive outlook and aptitude for problem-solving when the games weren’t going well. But he also credits his teammates’ solidarity for helping him make a recovery.

“What made it fantastic was that we had a pretty nice dressing room,” Mayfield said. “I guess I’ll just have to consider my options and see where it goes.” But we also require the return of the necessary parts. We would want to try it again. It’s clear that we had some success, but I know the players are itching to come back and perform even better.

During his first day, Coen gave Mayfield a big embrace and said he was certain he would come back to Tampa when asked how certain he was.

“I want him to be here,” Coen murmured. Probably more “want” than “know” exists. He’s obviously the reason I’m here. That is true. We know there’s a lot of work to be done.

He wants to work with me and complete this assignment with [Bowles] and the firm, therefore I think he wants to stay here. He’s had nothing but good things to say about this place. Thus, perhaps that can be finished.

Based on forecasts from the Roster Management System, the Bucs are projected to have little less than $35 million in salary cap space in 2024, ranking eleventh. But they also have to make an effort to re-sign wide receiver Mike Evans, safety Antoine Winfield Jr., and linebacker Lavonte David. Mayfield and Evans, who have shared the most touchdowns this season with 13 between them, have both stated that they would like to continue playing together.

Mayfield said, “I would love to have Mike back,” of course. “Mike made a major difference in my life this year. He’s adorable. Yes, I would want to play with him once more, but I also understand that he must make his own decisions, and I will always support him.

Even though Mayfield’s three-year, $75 million contract has frequently been compared to Gene Smith’s, Smith was 32 when quarterback signed his deal with the Seattle Seahawks last spring. Furthermore, Mayfield’s career record of two postseason victories adds some credence to the price hike.

Things should heat up during the Indianapolis combine the following week, when it’s expected that the Bucs and Mayfield’s agency will meet. That’s where new agreements with current players are usually worked out.

A talented group of quarterbacks, including Jordan Travis of Florida State, Sam Hartman of Notre Dame, Joe Milton III of Tennessee, Austin Reed of Western Kentucky, Michael Penix Jr. of Washington, Bo Nix of Oregon State, Blake Williams of USC, Drake Maye of UNC, Jayden Daniels of LSU, J.J. McCarthy of Michigan, and Spencer Rattler of South Carolina, will also be examined closely by the Bucs there.

The Bucs still have options in case Mayfield doesn’t pan out, even though they wouldn’t be able to compete with great quarterbacks like Williams and Maye if they choose 26th overall. There is a strong desire to see things through, though.

“Obviously, I want to be back there,” said Mayfield. He plans to stay in Tampa during the off-season. “I think it’s reciprocal, but let’s observe for ourselves. It’s one day at a time, though.