The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could imagine Baker Mayfield is their franchise quarterback. Their newest contract negotiations recommend they don’t seem to be fully offered on how lengthy they need that association to proceed.
That raises a query Tampa Bay can not keep away from endlessly: If Mayfield isn’t the quarterback past 2026, who’s?
Mayfield will full his ninth NFL season this 12 months and enter Yr 10 in 2027. He’s not nearing retirement, however he’s now not the reclamation mission who arrived in Tampa on a one-year deal.
The Buccaneers must resolve whether or not they need to pay for the remainder of his prime or start looking for his successor.
The 2027 draft class presents official choices
The timing might work in Tampa Bay’s favor. The 2027 quarterback class is predicted to be a lot deeper than the 2026 group, which produced solely two first-round picks.
Oregon’s Dante Moore and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin at the moment sit close to the highest of many early rankings. Texas quarterback Arch Manning stays the largest title, though opinions about his NFL ceiling fluctuate wildly.
Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, Miami’s Darian Mensah, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker and Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss give the category extra depth. A number of have an opportunity to play their manner into the primary spherical through the upcoming faculty season.
Some prospects will rise. Others will return to highschool, get injured or disintegrate as soon as scouts start analyzing each throw. Tampa Bay can not merely circle a reputation now and assume that participant might be obtainable when it selects.
Draft place creates one other complication. If Mayfield has a robust season, the Buccaneers will in all probability decide someplace within the center or later portion of the primary spherical. The most effective quarterbacks could already be gone.
Transferring up would require Tampa Bay to give up helpful draft capital. The Buccaneers could be changing Mayfield whereas additionally giving freely picks that might have supported his alternative.
The franchise tag might create a bridge
One choice could be to put the franchise tag on Mayfield and draft a quarterback in 2027.
The rookie might spend one season studying behind a longtime starter moderately than being thrown onto the sector instantly. Tampa Bay would then have a attainable successor prepared for 2028, when Mayfield’s tag expired.
From a soccer standpoint, it has some attraction. Kansas City as soon as allowed Patrick Mahomes to take a seat behind Alex Smith. Green Bay has repeatedly used a veteran quarterback to purchase improvement time for the following one.
The one drawback?
Tampa Bay could be devoting an infinite quantity of cap area to a quarterback it was making ready to switch.
Ready till 2028 carries much more uncertainty
The 2028 class has a number of intriguing younger quarterbacks, together with Michigan’s Bryce Underwood, Alabama’s Keelon Russell and Ohio State’s Tavien St. Clair.
Ready that lengthy would additionally require Tampa Bay to maintain Mayfield for 2 extra seasons, discover one other veteran bridge or endure a 12 months with out a dependable starter.
Tampa Bay mustn’t transfer on with out a solution
Drafting a quarterback in 2027 is an inexpensive succession plan. Letting Mayfield depart after which hoping the draft offers one isn’t.
If Tampa Bay identifies a quarterback it loves, tagging Mayfield for one season and permitting the rookie to develop might work regardless of making the connection uncomfortable.
Mayfield could also be getting into his tenth NFL season in 2027, however quarterbacks routinely play properly into their mid and late 30s. Tampa Bay might spend years and several other premium draft picks looking for somebody who merely provides it what Mayfield already does.
The 2027 class provides the Buccaneers choices. It doesn’t give them a assure.
