The Tampa Bay Bucccaneers are reportedly gearing up to replace Tom Brady with Baker Mayfield in what would be an eyebrow-raising move.
Brady retired in February after 23 amazing seasons, winning seven Super Bowls, six with the New England Patriots and one with the Buccaneers after he joined in 2020.
After his retirement announcement, many expected the Buccaneers to be aggressive in their pursuit of a replacement, with a number of big-name quarterbacks available.
The Bucs still have one of the better rosters in the NFL, with the team being an attractive spot for any quarterback to land.
With the likes of Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers and Geno Smith being available, they could have even made a play at potentially upgrading from Brady, who did struggle at times in 2022.
But instead, they are now reportedly set to go for the cheaper option, having an open competition between their 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask, and potentially, Mayfield.
Mayfield is a free agent after spending time with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams last season, with the Buccaneers now the only real option for him if he has a shot at being a starter.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport tweeted: "When free agency begins, the Bucs are expected to target ex-Rams QB Baker Mayfield as a potential starting QB option, per me and Mike Garafolo. This could be competition for Kyle Trask, their former 2nd-round pick, who the team likes a lot. As TB plots life without Tom Brady…"
Garafolo added: "The Buccaneers are looking for a veteran free agent QB at the right price. They have a few guys they’ll check in on but Baker Mayfield could wind up making the most sense from a fit and financial standpoint."
Mayfield's career has been on a downward spiral ever since his impressive first year, when he set the record for most passing touchdowns in a season for a rookie.
The former number one overall pick has now been cut by two teams, and looked especially poor during his time with the Panthers, ranking as one of the worst quarterbacks in the league.
Mayfield did have a few solid moments with the Rams, beating the Las Vegas Raiders just hours after signing with the team, while also scoring 51 points against the Denver Broncos. But he is now expected to resign, with Matt Stafford now available.
