Former MVP offers Buccaneers some Baker Mayfield advice

Retired quarterback, one-time Most Valuable Player and current NFL analyst Rich Gannon recently explained why he believes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should do whatever necessary to bring starting signal-caller and to-be free agent Baker Mayfield back for at least one more season. 

"Here is a guy that I think has been humbled by the experience," Gannon said during a conversation with the JoeBucsFan website about the 28-year-old previously discarded by the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers. "...He comes to Tampa and he’s not even guaranteed the starting job. He had to win it in training camp and I think the way he played during the season, I think that some of the games that he had late in the season at Lambeau [Field], winning a division the way they did it — Baker is a tough and gritty guy. He’s a guy that’s hard to tackle. He’s hard to sack and he’s not the biggest quarterback."

Mayfield guided the 2023 Buccaneers to a 3-1 start, didn't get discouraged when the club fell to 4-7, helped the team win the NFC South division title with a 9-8 record and then led the squad to a home playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. 

According to ESPN stats, he ended the regular season ranked 12th in the NFL among qualified quarterbacks with a 94.6 passer rating, seventh with 28 passing touchdowns and ninth with 4,044 passing yards. 

Mayfield hasn't hidden his admiration for the Buccaneers franchise over the past month and clearly is a favorite among teammates. 

For a piece published on Monday morning, Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated hinted that Tampa Bay could ultimately give Mayfield "a long-term home" this offseason. 

As noted by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the two-week window for teams to use their franchise tags on potential free agents opens on Tuesday. 

"I think he did some great things," Gannon added about Mayfield. "When you have a quarterback, you’ve got a chance. I think we have had 30 coaches who have been fired the past four years. All for part of the same reason: They don’t have a starting quarterback, the exception is Justin Herbert. I think the Bucs have a good one in Baker Mayfield and I think it makes a lot of sense to bring him back."

Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on Monday morning that the Bucs and star wide receiver Mike Evans are expected "to continue to negotiate in good faith as they work towards the start of free agency." 

Locking Evans down via a new contract would leave the franchise tag open for Tampa Bay to use on Mayfield or somebody else before the March 5 deadline for such decisions.