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Fresh off a career revitalization and another playoff victory, Baker Mayfield is a major player in this offseason’s quarterback carousel.
Roughly a quarter of the league is looking for a new QB and Mayfield is one of the biggest dominos to fall.
It seemed like a fair assumption that Tampa Bay would lock him up after the season he just had, but Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network warned fans not to be surprised if the New England Patriots toss their hat into the ring.
“We’ve all assumed that Baker just goes right back to Tampa. I had somebody say, ‘Don’t sleep on the New England Patriots,’ Jeremiah said.
Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) just now on NFL Network:
“We’ve all assumed that Baker just goes right back to Tampa. I had somebody say, ‘Don’t sleep on the New England #Patriots.’
And if [they’re] in the Baker business then the No. 3 picks is up for sale.”
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) March 3, 2024
New England has a glaring need at quarterback and the second-most cap space in the league at around $91.5 million according to Spotrac.
Tampa has just under $44 million to spend as well, which is good for the 11th most in the league.
A Baker signing could cause a ripple effect through the draft and free agency, as suddenly Tampa would need a quarterback and the No. 3 pick is wide open.
If New England does elect to go with a veteran over a rookie, suddenly adding Marvin Harrison Jr. in the draft to arguably the league’s least exciting receiving corps becomes a legitimate possibility.
It’s so early in the free agency process, but it is always fun to speculate and there are a ton of moving parts in the QB market this offseason.
Wherever he does end up, Mayfield will almost surely command the biggest payday of his career.
The one-year, $4 million deal he signed with the Buccaneers last offseason was likely his last chance as a starting QB if things didn’t work out.
He’s looking at a few more zeroes this time around, and New England has plenty to offer.
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