Buccaneers GM Talks Mayfield’s Success In Tampa

The Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, and Carolina Panthers all gave up on quarterback Baker Mayfield, who has since led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to two division titles and a playoff win.

In an ESPN interview released Wednesday, Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht shared his insights on why quarterback Baker Mayfield thrived in Tampa Bay after his previous stops in Cleveland, Carolina, and Los Angeles.

“I do think that, at least, with Baker, with us, you know he went through a rough patch there early in his career. But he felt like he was wanted [by Tampa Bay],” Licht explained, via the JoeBucsFan.com. “Mayfield was wanted by the head coach, by the GM, by the coaching staff, by the players. We wanted him. And I think there’s a psychological advantage to that once [a quarterback feels] like they’re at a place where everybody wants him.”

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Mayfield had previously expressed feeling discarded “like a piece of dirty laundry” after being let go by the Browns and Panthers. Despite leading Cleveland to its only playoff win since the franchise’s 1999 revival, the team sparked controversy by replacing him with Deshaun Watson in March 2022. Mayfield’s subsequent stint with the Panthers was underwhelming, and he finished the 2022 season as a backup for the Los Angeles Rams.

Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles and Senior Advisor Bruce Arians were longtime admirers of Baker Mayfield, dating back to before the 2018 NFL Draft, when Cleveland selected him as the first overall pick. Mayfield proved to be a shrewd signing for Tampa Bay, guiding the 2023 Buccaneers to a playoff berth and a postseason victory. His success was rewarded with a new three-year contract in March 2024, ensuring he’ll remain with the Bucs through 2026.

Mayfield had a standout 2023 season, finishing third in the NFL with 4,500 passing yards, tied for second with 41 touchdown passes, and fourth with a 106.8 passer rating. If Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht is correct that Mayfield has gained a “psychological advantage,” it’s possible that Mayfield’s best performances in Tampa Bay are yet to come.