Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield linked with AFC East club

ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler explained in a piece published on Friday why the New England Patriots could take a big swing at signing Baker Mayfield assuming the Tampa Bay Buccaneers let the quarterback reach free agency next month. 

"While Tampa is the clear-cut favorite to re-sign Mayfield, now a coveted free agent after a banner year with the Bucs, anything can happen in free agency," Fowler noted. "And the Patriots' new brain trust -- including lead personnel man Eliot Wolf and personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith -- were part of the (Cleveland Browns) regime that took Mayfield No. 1 in the 2018 draft. They believed in him."

Mayfield emerged as a Comeback Player of the Year candidate playing under former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Dave Canales and reportedly is a big reason the Buccaneers replaced Canales, now head coach of the Carolina Panthers, with Liam Coen. 

New England seems likely to move on from 2021 first-round draft pick Mac Jones with new head coach Jerod Mayo in charge, and Fowler mentioned that the Patriots signing Mayfield could allow the club to use this year's No. 3 overall draft choice to acquire a playmaker such as wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Ohio State Buckeyes. 

In a mock draft updated this past Wednesday, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports predicted New England would land Harrison via the draft's third selection. 

While it's unknown what Mayo and others within the Patriots think about Mayfield this winter, the 28-year-old has left no doubt he thoroughly enjoyed his one season in Tampa Bay. 

Mayfield has also been linked by some with a potential move to the Atlanta Falcons, but it shouldn't be forgotten that Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht can retain the signal-caller's rights for 2024 via the franchise tag before the March 5 deadline for teams to use their tags. 

On Friday, Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated and Robert Zeglinski of USA Today's For The Win named Mayfield among players who can expect to be tagged if they don't sign deals by March 5. 

"It’s highly unlikely he won’t roam the Tampa Bay sideline in 2024," Zeglinski said about Mayfield.