Baker Mayfield makes Tampa Bay Buccaneers decision after Liam Coen appointment
Baker Mayfield may be nearing a return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the franchise hired a familiar face in Liam Coen as offensive coordinator.
Mayfield had a fantastic first season with the Bucs, where he saw a real revival in his career. After signing a fully guaranteed one-year contract worth a little over £3 million with the potential to rise to almost £7million last offseason, Mayfield beat out Kyle Trask to take over from the retired Tom Brady and never looked back.
Against all odds, Mayfield led the Bucs to their third consecutive division title with a 9-8 record to top the NFC South. The former first-overall pick completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 4,044 yards, scoring 28 touchdowns and throwing 10 interceptions, along with a 94.6 passer rating.
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Working well with offensive coordinator Dave Canales, Mayfield achieved career highs in passing yards (ninth in the NFL), touchdowns (seventh), and completion percentage. He guided Tampa Bay to a playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, with the franchise reaching the Divisional Round before defeat to the Detroit Lions.
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Mayfield's season earned him a first selection to the Pro Bowl and likely a position as one of the most attractive QB options this off-season as he is now a free agent.
Canales has since left the Bucs to become the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, and Mayfield has made it clear that whoever the Bucs bring in as the new offensive coordinator will influence his decision to return.
"It all just kind of depends," Mayfield said on Thursday when asked where he anticipates playing in 2024. "Obviously Tampa, we're going though a little bit of a OC search right now. It'll start there. They were the first ones that gave me a chance, and (I'm) thankful for them. We'll see. Taking it one day at a time."
Talking about negotiations, Mayfield added: "My agent and them, I think they engaged a little bit. But obviously when Canales left - and happy for him, as well, getting a head coaching job, he deserves that - but when they started the OC search, I think they know that we've got to know who's calling plays before anything's done."
Liam Coen is expected to be the next offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay (Getty Images)For 2024, Mayfield now knows that calls will be made by Coen, who is set to leave the Los Angeles Rams after leading their offence this past season,
Mayfield worked with Coen during his short spell in Los Angeles in 2022. Having been drafted first by the Cleveland Browns in 2018 and spending time with the Panthers and Rams, Mayfield - the lowest-paid starting quarterback not on a rookie contract this season - has found his home in Florida.
He believes that the Bucs are set to build on their fantastic season, including bringing back fellow soon-to-be free agent Mike Evans, who is a second-team All-Pro.
"We're gonna get some pieces back," said Mayfield, adding, "Everything that we did in the back half of the year, to build on culture-wise, it was a great locker room. So you get a lot of those pieces back and the culture's the most important thing. I know we had a little bit of a lull there halfway through the season, but we stuck through it. I know they hung with us the whole time, but hang in there again."
There is speculation that Tampa Bay might use the franchise tag on Mayfield this offseason. Alternatively, they could come to an agreement about a multi-year extension to keep him in Florida. With a familiar face like Coen calling the plays, fans will no doubt be keen to see Mayfield return for them in 2024.
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