Insider suggests Buccaneers aren't sold on Baker Mayfield

NFL insider Peter King of NBC Sports suggested even before quarterback Baker Mayfield produced a dud against the Detroit Lions this past Sunday that some within the Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren't sold that Mayfield will be a long-term replacement for retired legend Tom Brady. 

"I think a bad game or two is not going to get anybody to think Jared Goff is not the guy for the Lions," King explained during an appearance on the "Pro Football Talk" program, per the JoeBucsFan website. "A bad game or two by Mayfield would make people...[at One Buc Palace] think, 'Uh, maybe he’s not the guy.'"

Mayfield went into the weekend ranked in the top 10 among qualified quarterbacks in multiple categories for the season but then completed 19-of-37 pass attempts for 206 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in the 20-6 home loss to Detroit that dropped Tampa Bay to 3-2. The 28-year-old accepted blame after the defeat and said he and the offense "sucked" against a Lions side that improved to 5-1. 

"This is not necessarily about Baker Mayfield proving in Week 6 that he’s the long-term quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers," King added during the segment. "He’s gotta stack a lot of really good games together for them to not be looking for a quarterback this offseason. It’s very, very simple."

Mayfield signed a one-year "prove it" contract with the Buccaneers in March and then won a summer competition for the starting job over 2021 second-round draft pick Kyle Trask. According to ESPN stats, Mayfield ended Week 6 ranked eighth in the league among qualified players with a 62.9 adjusted QBR on the campaign. He tossed seven touchdown passes and three interceptions across his first five games atop Tampa Bay's depth chart. 

The Buccaneers next host the 3-3 Atlanta Falcons this coming Sunday. As of Tuesday afternoon, OddsChecker listed Tampa Bay as a two-and-a-half-point favorite for that matchup.