Baker Mayfield elaborates on why joining Buccaneers was 'easy decision'

Quarterback Baker Mayfield clearly doesn't want to hear talk about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers embracing a so-called "soft tank" for the 2023 season. 

As shared by the JoeBucsFan website, Mayfield spoke with CBS Sports during mandatory minicamp about why he signed what is essentially a one-year "prove it" contract to join the Buccaneers when the Baltimore Ravens were reportedly interested in acquiring him early into the offseason. 

"We were all on the same page when it came to my agent, my family, making this decision that it needed to be a long-term thinking process," Mayfield explained. "Looking at stable organizations, people who have had success, people who are built to have quick success in the next couple of years...This is obviously a place that has had success for a long time. From top down, they run this organization extremely well."

Mayfield added the Buccaneers hiring Dave Canales, who most recently served as quarterbacks coach with the Seattle Seahawks, as their new offensive coordinator helped make signing with Tampa Bay "an easy decision." 

Back in April, Mayfield noted that the Buccaneers presented him with "a great opportunity" at a time when the franchise was looking for somebody to compete with 2021 second-round draft pick Kyle Trask. Mayfield has since received high praise from individuals associated with the Buccaneers such as Canales and senior adviser Bruce Arians, and it's been widely reported the first choice from the 2018 draft will enter the summer leading a quarterback battle that may already be settled. 

Mayfield insisted while speaking with CBS Sports he feels no extra pressure in being tasked with replacing a living legend like Tom Brady following Brady's retirement in February. 

"I've always tried to be myself," Mayfield said. "Tom's Tom. That's that. I'm gonna be me, and I'm gonna be the best version of myself and try to do that at a very high level...(Brady) obviously came in and had quick success, took them to the Super Bowl (in his first season with Tampa Bay). I want to come somewhere where the standard is already set high."

Interestingly, JoeBucsFan reported Thursday that the Los Angeles Rams "would have been happy to have" Mayfield back to serve as the primary backup for veteran Matthew Stafford after the 28-year-old appeared in five games with the Rams late last season. Mayfield instead bet on himself and will look to resurrect his career assuming he starts over Trask when Tampa Bay opens the upcoming campaign at the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 10.