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A well-traveled Baker Mayfield made his way to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. And now he appears to have found a long-term home after a Pro Bowl campaign led to a three-year contract worth up to $115 million.
On Thursday, Mayfield spoke about the doldrums of being unable to find a more permanent landing spot on the Mike Calta Show (h/t Bobby Kownack of NFL.com), equating it to being a “piece of dirty laundry.”
“You’re having a lot more fun when you’re not getting shipped off to different places like a piece of dirty laundry, I’ll tell you that,” Mayfield said Thursday on the Mike Calta Show.
“So, when I got embraced in Tampa, it made a world of difference. I’ve always played ball to enjoy it. I mean, it is a game.
“Yes, it is my job, but I love it so much. I’ve always worn my emotions on my sleeve and, so, let people embrace that, and that’s why I’m so excited for having more years to come in Tampa for people to just get to know me a little bit better, truly realize that’s not just a show on the field.
“That’s who I am when it comes down to the football aspect. I love it. I’d do anything for our team and our locker room guys know that.”
Mayfield spent four up-and-down (and injury-riddled) seasons with the Cleveland Browns to begin his career. Cleveland then all but discarded him for Deshaun Watson, leaving him in position to find a new home. He ended up with the Carolina Panthers in 2022, but that union ended in December when he requested his release after losing his starting gig. Injuries also marred his time there.
Mayfield got a chance to showcase his talents, though, when the Los Angeles Rams picked him up for the tail end of the 2022 season with starter Matthew Stafford out due to injury. In four games, Mayfield completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 850 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Tampa Bay then picked him up on a one-year deal, and he then beat Kyle Trask in a battle for QB1. Mayfield took great advantage of his opportunity, leading the Bucs to the NFC South title and a Divisional Round appearance after throwing for a career-high 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Now he appears to be the long-term solution in town as Tampa Bay looks for its fifth straight playoff appearance.