Bucs' Baker Mayfield: Return to TB in Free Agency 'Depends' on OC After Canales Exit

The relationship between Baker Mayfield and Dave Canales was apparently a very important one for the quarterback during the 2023 season.

Speaking to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe (h/t NFL.com's Grant Gordon), Mayfield said his return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next season "kind of depends" on who the team hires as offensive coordinator to replace Canales.

"Obviously Tampa, we're going though a little bit of a OC search right now. It'll start there," Mayfield added. "They were the first ones that gave me a chance, and (I'm) thankful for them. We'll see. Taking it one day at a time."

After one season as Tampa's offensive coordinator, Canales was hired by the Carolina Panthers as their new head coach on Jan. 25.

Per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport, former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen is being targeted by the Bucs as Canales' replacement.

This could be an indication the Bucs want to keep Mayfield because he was on the Rams with Coen at the end of the 2022 season.

The Buccaneers won the NFC South for the third consecutive year. They advanced to the NFC Divisional Round before losing 31-23 to the Detroit Lions.

Speaking to reporters after that loss, Mayfield expressed optimism about what the offense could look like in the second year of Canales' system.

"To get into Year 2 in the system," he said, "you can make huge strides, so I would love that. Obviously, who knows how it's going to play out, but I can't say enough about this organization."

It's not a surprise that Mayfield wanted to keep a close eye on the direction that Tampa goes with its next offensive coordinator. He's already played under eight different head coaches in just six seasons.

Canales played a huge role in Mayfield resurrecting his career this season. The 28-year-old signed for backup money last offseason when he took a one-year, $4 million deal from the Bucs.

The Buccaneers had Mayfield and Kyle Trask competing to be their starter during training camp and preseason.

Mayfield eventually won the job and turned in arguably the best season of his career. He set career-highs in passing yards (4,044), touchdown passes (28) and completion percentage (64.3). His interception rate of 1.8 percent was the second-lowest of his career (1.6 percent in 2020).