During Super Bowl week in Las Vegas, Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield had a hot mic capture what may have been his plans for the future with the team while talking to NFL legend Steve Young. Now fast forward to the week of the NFL Combine, and it looks like the team shares the same sentiment.
Head coach Todd Bowles spent time with Peter Schrager during the latest episode of Good Morning Football, live from the NFL Combine. When asked about Mayfield, Bowles did not hold back his feelings and desire to keep the quarterback in the fold.
Todd Bowles Hopes To Keep Baker Mayfield in Tampa
The NFL world comes together in Indianapolis for the Combine every year, and while they’re there, you can get a real look at how teams view their players and their hopes for the future.
Such is the case for Bowles and his hope to keep Mayfield as a Buccaneer for the long haul.
Coach is covering all of your favorite @Buccaneers:
Head Coach Todd Bowles on Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Calijah Kancey, and YaYa Diaby #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/ybjdj8oUeR
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) February 27, 2024
“It’s an extremely high priority, obviously. You know we got a couple days before the league year begins, but we love Baker. Baker had a heck of a year, he fit right in with us all the way around, the chemistry was outstanding with him and all the receivers and the offense as a whole, so we wanna hope to build on that,” Bowles said.
“I understand the business side of it, but like I said, we like Baker, and we hope things get worked out.”
Mayfield took the Buccaneers to the NFC Divisional Round after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles soundly in the Wild Card round. That followed Mayfield winning the NFC South and putting up 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, and a rating of 94.6, resulting in him earning a Pro Bowl selection.
Since leaving the Cleveland Browns, Mayfield has been on four teams in four years, but he looks to have found the stability in Tampa Bay that he’s been looking for. Mayfield became the unquestioned starter and looks to have played his way into a multi-year contract with the Buccaneers or another interested franchise that may come knocking.
KEEP READING: Top Free Agent Quarterbacks 2024
There is still a lot to be sorted out as far as contract and market value go, as Mayfield is an unrestricted free agent who can speak with any team. Yet, it looks as if there may be mutual interest between the player and team to work together once again and build off what they did in 2023.
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