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The Bucs have simply over 10 days to re-sign quarterback Baker Mayfield earlier than the open negotiation period in free agency begins and different NFL groups are allowed to contact Tampa Bay’s starter and make him a suggestion. Basic supervisor Jason Licht and assistant basic supervisor Mike Greenberg, the staff’s capologist, are in Indianapolis on the NFL Scouting Mix working laborious to get Mayfield beneath contract with a profitable extension earlier than midday on March 11.
Ought to a deal not get performed and Mayfield hits free company, the Bucs’ worst nightmare might come true as division rival Atlanta may be very concerned with pursuing him ought to the Falcons not elect to commerce for Bears quarterback Justin Fields. That information was reported by long-time NFL Draft insider Tony Pauline, reporting for Sportskeeda.
Pauline wrote: Of these different suitors for Mayfield, I can verify one is the Atlanta Falcons, who I discussed a number of weeks in the past as a risk. The Falcons have been linked to Justin Fields, and if a commerce isn’t accomplished with the Chicago Bears quickly after the mix, I count on Mayfield to be on the high of their want listing.
Dropping Baker Mayfield To The Falcons Would Be The Worst-Case Situation For The Bucs
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
This information is in keeping with what I reported for Pewter Report in last week’s SR’s Fab 5 on February 23 once I wrote that the Atlanta Falcons were at the top of the list of potential suitors. If Mayfield hits free company, he might have a number of suitors, which might drive his worth up and make it in the end tougher for the Bucs to re-sign him from a worth standpoint.
Reynolds wrote: The primary staff is Atlanta, which has been rumored to presumably commerce for Chicago’s Justin Fields, who’s a Georgia native. Fields, a former first-round choose, has struggled with the Bears for 4 seasons, however he’s an thrilling dual-threat quarterback and Michael Vick electrified the Falcons and town of Atlanta again within the day.
If the Falcons don’t need to commerce draft capital to accumulate a QB, they might set their sights on stealing Mayfield away from a division rival. That may be a double whammy as Atlanta may be a quarterback away from profitable the NFC South, and taking him from Tampa Bay would cripple the Bucs’ hopes of profitable a fourth straight division title.
New Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson frolicked with Mayfield in Los Angeles on the finish of the 2022 season – similar to new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen did. So any familiarity benefit Coen has with Mayfield, Robinson does, too.
Bucs GM Jason Licht and QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Atlanta’s offense seems to be simply as stocked with weapons as Tampa Bay’s is. The Falcons have two distinctive working backs in Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, two excellent tight ends in Jonnu Smith (free agent) and Kyle Pitts and a promising younger large receiver in Drake London. The truth that new head coach Raheem Morris may need higher job safety than Todd Bowles as a result of he simply arrived in Atlanta would possibly make the Falcons an intriguing possibility for Mayfield over the lengthy haul.
The Falcons have $38,519,013 in cap house, which is the Thirteenth-most within the league. Outdoors of Smith, Atlanta additionally doesn’t have any main re-signings to cope with this offseason.
The Bucs met with Mayfield’s representatives on Thursday in Indianapolis to attempt to push talks in the fitting path. Nevertheless, the result of these talks isn’t often known as this time apart from a deal on an extension has but to be reached. It’s anticipated that the ground for a brand new Mayfield deal in Tampa Bay can be $30 million per yr, however more likely to be within the mid-$30 million vary.
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