NFL Rumors: Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers Still Have 'Mutual Interest' in New Contract

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield, who will become a free agent if a new deal is not struck by the beginning of the new league year (March 13), still have "mutual interest" in reuniting.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the latest.

"Baker Mayfield and the Bucs do have mutual interest here," Rapoport said in part.

"Them being together makes a lot of sense. The fact that they hired Liam Coen as offensive coordinator, who Baker Mayfield is familiar with, makes sense too."

Mayfield experienced a career resurrection in Tampa Bay last season, throwing for 28 touchdowns and 4,044 yards while leading the Bucs to the NFC South title and a playoff win too.

It was an incredible comeback for Mayfield, who was unceremoniously booted from the Cleveland Browns in favor of Deshaun Watson in 2021 and then got canned in Carolina midway through the 2022 campaign.

Mayfield did showcase his talents with the Los Angeles Rams after latching on with them late in 2022, serving as QB1 to finish out the regular season in place of an injured Matt Stafford.

Coen was the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator in 2022, and now he's with Tampa in place of the departed Dave Canales, who is now the Carolina Panthers' head coach.

Mayfield recently had kind words about Coen after he landed the Bucs' OC job, saying he "brings the knowledge and the fire as well," per Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press.

He also expressed his love for Tampa as well.

"I love it there," Mayfield told the AP. "Obviously, you're gonna have to evaluate the options and make the best decision for us moving forward. But they allowed me to come in and be myself and embraced us, Emily and I, just the whole city. And so that's something to be truly grateful for. And we're definitely not going to forget that. But, it's a great place."

Mayfield, of course, has the option to test the free agent waters and see what else is out there. And that's a prudent choice after a great season that could lead to him cashing in big.

But it's also possible that Mayfield just gets a deal done now and settles in the place where he's found his greatest success.

Two very important Bucs pieces (wideout Mike Evans, safety Antoine Winfield Jr.) are back in Tampa, and if Mayfield is too, then the team is well on its way to making the playoffs for the fifth straight year.