ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler defined in a bit printed on Friday why the New England Patriots might take an enormous swing at signing Baker Mayfield assuming the Tampa Bay Buccaneers let the quarterback attain free company subsequent month.
“Whereas Tampa is the clear-cut favourite to re-sign Mayfield, now a coveted free agent after a banner 12 months with the Bucs, something can occur in free company,” Fowler famous. “And the Patriots’ new mind belief — together with lead personnel man Eliot Wolf and personnel govt Alonzo Highsmith — have been a part of the (Cleveland Browns) regime that took Mayfield No. 1 within the 2018 draft. They believed in him.”
Mayfield emerged as a Comeback Participant of the Yr candidate enjoying beneath former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Dave Canales and reportedly is an enormous purpose the Buccaneers changed Canales, now head coach of the Carolina Panthers, with Liam Coen.
New England appears doubtless to maneuver on from 2021 first-round draft choose Mac Jones with new head coach Jerod Mayo in cost, and Fowler talked about that the Patriots signing Mayfield might enable the membership to make use of this 12 months’s No. 3 total draft selection to accumulate a playmaker similar to huge receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Ohio State Buckeyes.
In a mock draft up to date this previous Wednesday, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports activities predicted New England would land Harrison by way of the draft’s third choice.
Whereas it is unknown what Mayo and others throughout the Patriots take into consideration Mayfield this winter, the 28-year-old has left little doubt he totally loved his one season in Tampa Bay.
Mayfield has additionally been linked by some with a possible transfer to the Atlanta Falcons, but it surely should not be forgotten that Buccaneers normal supervisor Jason Licht can retain the signal-caller’s rights for 2024 by way of the franchise tag earlier than the March 5 deadline for groups to make use of their tags.
On Friday, Gilberto Manzano of Sports activities Illustrated and Robert Zeglinski of USA Immediately’s For The Win named Mayfield amongst gamers who can anticipate to be tagged if they do not signal offers by March 5.
“It’s extremely unlikely he gained’t roam the Tampa Bay sideline in 2024,” Zeglinski stated about Mayfield.
