With Tom Brady having retired, presumably for good this time, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in need of a new quarterback.
While some recent reports have indicated that Kyle Trask, the Florida product who spent the past two seasons as the Bucs’ third-string option behind center, could be the favorite to take over the starting job, the team will almost certainly look to bring in a veteran to compete with Trask.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN identified two possibilities in a recent report: Baker Mayfield and Drew Lock.
Mayfield is set to become a free agent this offseason after playing for both the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams in 2022.
The former No. 1 overall draft pick showed some signs of promise after struggling in six starts with the Panthers and getting released.
Two options for the #Bucs at QB in 2023: #Rams Baker Mayfield and #Seahawks Drew Lock, according to @JFowlerESPN
Tampa is looking to add a veteran and Fowler says the people he spoke with mentioned both Mayfield and Lock as options.
Mayfield was also connected to the #49ers pic.twitter.com/L5YaankIuY
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 5, 2023
In five appearances for the Rams, Mayfield completed 63.6 percent of his passes and threw for 850 yards and four scores. The Bucs might have some competition if they want to sign Mayfield, however. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated recently indicated that the San Francisco 49ers could bring Mayfield in.
While Brock Purdy recovers from surgery to repair the torn UCL in his throwing elbow, Tampa Bay would figure to be a more attractive landing spot for Mayfield given the more clear path to a starting spot.
Lock, meanwhile, didn’t play last season after being traded from the Denver Broncos to the Seattle Seahawks in the Russell Wilson deal. The former second-round draft pick out of Missouri started 21 games with Denver.
He flashed impressive arm talent but also struggled with ball security, completing less than 60 percent of his passes and throwing 20 career interceptions compared to 25 touchdowns. Lock, too, is set to become a free agent later this month and is not expected to return to Seattle.
