Patriots

Mayfield was tabbed as a potential option for the Patriots if he hit the free-agent market.

If the Patriots plan on addressing their quarterback vacancy in free agency, Baker Mayfield made plenty of sense as a proven signal-caller in the prime of his career.

But the 28-year-old QB won’t hit the open market before the start of NFL free agency this week.

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport first reported on Sunday evening that Mayfield is closing in on a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — the team he played with during the 2023 season. Rapoport added that Mayfield agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth up to $115 million in incentives and $50 million guaranteed. 

After struggling to land a starting role in the NFL after getting cast aside by the Browns, the former No. 1 overall pick revived his career with the Buccaneers in 2023 — throwing for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and completing 64.3 percent of his pass attempts.

“I wanted a chance to come back,” Mayfield told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday. “I love coach [Todd] Bowles and the staff. I’m happy to be here and I want to win more in the postseason.”

Given Mayfield’s age and impressive returns put forth last season, he could have been an appealing target for the Patriots if they opted to use their No. 3 pick to trade down for more draft capital — or add a blue-chip wideout prospect like Marvin Harrison Jr.

Even though New England could still dole out a hefty contract and sign a proven QB like Kirk Cousins this offseason, Cousins’ age (36 in August) and recent injury woes (Achilles injury in October 2023) invited more risk.

And even if Cousins was to thrive in Foxborough, his age makes him more of a short-term solution for a franchise looking to build a sustainable contender.

The odds favored Mayfield staying put in Tampa, but the Patriots were reportedly viewed as a viable option for the veteran QB — especially given his ties to several new New England coaches. 

Current Patriots’ scouting director Eliot Wolf was the Cleveland Browns’ assistant general manager when Cleveland drafted Mayfield in 2018. New England’s offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt, held the same role with the Browns during the final two years of Mayfield’s tenure. T.C. McCartney, the Patriots’ quarterbacks coach, also held offensive coaching roles in Cleveland alongside the quarterback.

The most likely scenario for the Patriots this offseason likely involves the team using that No. 3 pick to add a QB like UNC’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels, while possibly adding a veteran backup/bridge option in free agency like Jacoby Brissett.