What next for Baker?
Baker Mayfield will be looking for a new place to call home this offseason. The quarterback and former number one overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, was traded to Carolina from Cleveland before the start of the 2022 season. While in Carolina, Mayfield started just 6 games for the Panther’s only getting 1 win and giving up his starting role to other team quarterbacks Sam Darnold, and P.J. Walker. During the team’s Week 13 Bye, Mayfield requested his release from the team and after clearing waivers, the Los Angeles Rams picked up the journeying quarterback after losing their own quarterback Matthew Stafford to a spinal injury in Week 11. The next week, during a Thursday Night game, Mayfield would do the impossible by not only playing in but winning the game versus the Las Vegas Raiders after coming in at half and leading a come from behind win, after just signing with the team days before. Mayfield would go on to get one more win as the placeholder for Stafford and run out the rest of the Rams’ disappointing season. Baker Mayfield brings a 31-38 record as a starter, with 16,288 passing yards, and 102 touchdowns, and a 61.4 career completion percentage to a team interested in bringing in the onetime ‘Savior of the Browns.’ These are the 3 teams I think could benefit from Mayfield signing this upcoming season.
Los Angeles Rams
Even though Matt Stafford has said he has no plans to retire, and should be back on schedule come next season, the Rams should take a page out of the book of fellow divisional rival San Francisco and think about the possibility that Stafford, MIGHT just not make it a whole season, and keep a worthwhile backup in case of emergency. Considering his injury was spinal, the Rams should also be extra cautious with how they manage Stafford getting hit any given week, and if need be due to the circumstances, they could shut him down at a moment’s notice. Having Mayfield as a backdrop and in the offensive system going on a second year, could benefit the Rams late in the season if Stafford cannot make it.
So, what if Stafford DOES make it the whole season? Does that mean wasted time and season because he did not play at all? I disagree, Baker Mayfield has an opportunity to then sit behind a Super Bowl winning quarterback in Stafford and learn from the offensive minded Sean McVay teaching him the nuances of the game, thus expanding Mayfield’s abilities and knowledge. During Mayfield’s time in both Cleveland and Carolina he played under 5 different head coaches, and interims, McVay making it 6. Stability with a coach that’s proven such as McVay has already benefited in the resurgence of Mayfield’s career when you see what Mayfield did on that Thursday Night game against Las Vegas.
With the possible cohesion of Stafford, McVay, and Mayfield, Mayfield’s newly acquired skills and knowledge learned in LA for one season could be a commodity for quarterback needy teams going into the 2024 season. This could benefit both sides by the Rams getting possible trade offers and draft capital, and Mayfield getting a payday and the home he has been looking for.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have a lot going on for themselves this offseason, and not in the best of ways. Kyler Murray tore his ACL, both GM Steve Keim and Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury have been fired, and the Cardinals won just three games in 2022. New breath has been breathed upon the franchise though for a possible turnaround. The team hired Monti Ossenfort away from the Titans, and recently hired former Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon as their new head coach to start off in a good direction. The team will also have the 3rd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to spend on a top player in this year’s class or possibly trade back to get more picks in the future.
The glaring problem, however, that the Cardinals will face going into next year is the health of their quarterback Kyler Murray. Murray tore his ACL week 13, so with recovery and rehab time, Murray is not expected back until halfway into the season AT LEAST, the Cardinals need a veteran QB that can manage to get a couple wins before Murray returns. Baker Mayfield could bring that to the table for Arizona, as they play the waiting game for Murray to be ready. In reuniting the former Oklahoma Sooner teammates, Mayfield could run the offense weeks 1-9 or until Murray can return and give the Cardinals peace of mind at the quarterback position going into Training Camp this upcoming season to worry about other team needs.
This move to Arizona could also establish Mayfield as a secure backup to the league for teams that suffer from a season ending injury to a quarterback. If an unfortunate situation arises, Mayfield can be there with veteran experience to step in and take over as the leader of the offense, giving the coaching staff and fans a reason to keep looking forward.
Mayfield’s experience also brings a degree of attitude and veteran leadership to a locker room that is going through big changes in an offseason. Deandre Hopkins is rumored to be moving on, and Future Hall of Famer JJ Watt hung up his cleats, A.J. Green also called it a career and the Cardinals need a veteran presence in a locker room after a large amount of it is moving on. With key players moving on, and the absence of Kyler Murray on the field, Mayfield can take over those roles until need be.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Another new era is about to begin in Tampa Bay as well. Tom Brady has finally retired ‘For Good’ and the Buccaneers are going to need an answer at QB for the upcoming season. Currently the Buccaneers hold 1 quarterback on their roster, with Blaine Gabbert hitting free agency, only Kyle Trask, former Florida Gator, is left under contract for Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay will either be looking for a starter, or a backup to compete with Trask, if Gabbert does not re-sign with Tampa Bay. Mayfield could be the QB to bring into that competition, and bring a spark to Trask, or any other QB Tampa Bay brings in for training camp competition. Like his time in Carolina, Mayfield would be battling it out with Kyle Trask like he did with Sam Darnold who eventually had to bow out of the race after an ankle injury last preseason sidelined Darnold until Week Eight. If Trask is where Tampa Bay wants to go and wins the team over, then Trask can benefit from Mayfield being right behind him from a competition, and experience standpoint.
If Trask is not the answer to the future in Tampa Bay, Mayfield can also be signed as the bridge for Tampa Bay to either sign their next franchise quarterback going forward or draft him in the coming years. Unless Tampa Bay plans to trade up in this year’s draft, the quarterback class for this year could be well picked through by the time Tampa Bay gets to pick at 19. So, while the waiting game is quite possibly the option, Mayfield can be the quarterback for the Buccaneers in the meantime for a team that sported a Top 10 Defense in 2022, and still has reliable pass catchers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to throw to.
Mayfield can still be a productive quarterback in the right situation, whether it’s within a good system such as the Rams, a place looking for a fresh start just like him in Arizona, or maybe a team looking to fill the spot of an all-time great like Tampa Bay, Baker Mayfield has the ability to bring a spark, attitude, and experience to a team looking to give him the keys to the castle again.