Baker Mayfield named as possible Tom Brady replacement for Buccaneers

Whispers about to-be free agent quarterback Baker Mayfield possibly replacing Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren't quieting down in early March. 

For a piece updated on Wednesday afternoon, Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Armando Salguero of Outkick and Fox News named Mayfield as an ideal fit for Tampa Bay this offseason. 

It was originally thought in January that the Buccaneers could pursue Mayfield if they hired Todd Monken, the signal caller's offensive coordinator when both were with the Cleveland Browns in 2019, as their new OC. Monken instead joined the Baltimore Ravens. 

Nevertheless, Salguero pointed out that Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles "liked Mayfield better" than Sam Darnold before the 2018 NFL Draft when Bowles was serving as head coach of the New York Jets. Cleveland selected Mayfield first overall, and the Jets grabbed Darnold with pick No. 3 that year. 

There's more. 

Buccaneers senior advisor Bruce Arians indicated in 2018 he was a fan of Mayfield at that time, and it was rumored last March after the Browns acquired Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans that Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht could trade for Mayfield to have the 27-year-old sit behind Brady for at least one year. 

Per Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' website, Licht suggested while speaking at the NFL combine on Tuesday he won't trade draft assets in return for a proven commodity such as Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers this spring. 

"We just want to do it without sacrificing our long-term plans, our long-term goals, as well," Licht said about staying competitive without Brady. "I think we can find a way to do both at the same time."

Licht has 2021 second-round draft pick Kyle Trask atop the depth chart today, but the Joe Bucs Fan website notes that Bowles made it known Tuesday that Trask merely "can compete" for the gig. 

"We will bring in competition," Bowles said. 

Mayfield likely would make for inexpensive competition following his cups of coffee with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams this past season. 

Salguero wrote that Trask winning the job over Mayfield would give the 24-year-old needed "locker room credibility" among the club's veterans.