The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a new offensive coordinator, but they still have a lot of other issues. Among them is quarterback Baker Mayfield. What’s next for him?

Six months ago, you probably would have laughed out loud.

Baker Mayfield in the Pro Bowl.

You had to let that sink in for a moment when the quarterback was re-nominated. But in view of the highly decorated rejections before the All-Star event and Mayfield’s performance in the past season, it is justified and deserved today.

Mayfield has made himself comfortable around the extended top 10 playmakers in the NFL.

Mayfield’s athletic resurrection with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, making the playoffs (out in the Divisional Round), being the immediate successor to Tom Brady, which he did not approach as such, and his strong stats have increased his standing in the NFL immensely. And also the covetousness.

Which is why the exciting question is: What’s next for him?

Baker Mayfield becomes a free agent

Mayfield will become a free agent in March as his contract expires. Whether the Bucs want to continue with him seems likely, but is not certain. He himself has repeatedly emphasized that he wants to stay in Florida. “I love Tampa, I love everything about it,” he emphasized again around the Pro Bowl.

The Buccaneers have their hands full this offseason. The first construction site was closed on Saturday, in Liam Coen the Bucs have a new offensive coordinator after predecessor Dave Canales is now head coach with the Carolina Panthers.

Mayfield knows Coen from his five-week stint with the Los Angeles Rams in the 2022 season. With him, there should be a certain continuity in terms of the offensive system, in which Mayfield feels very comfortable.

“That’s important to me,” Mayfield said. “I’ve had so many offensive coordinators so far that I’m thinking, ‘Okay, if I come back, let’s keep the continuity for the other guys, build on what we’ve already grown from and go from there. “

In other words, it’s not just about Mayfield and a new contract, but about the bigger picture. It’s about key personnel positions on the pitch.

Because the Bucs have to make some important decisions. Wide receiver Mike Evans will become a free agent, safety Antoine Winfield Jr. as well as linebackers Devin White and Lavonte David.

It’s not going to be cheap

Baker Mayfield hopes for Mike Evans

“I’d love to play with (Evans) again,” Mayfield said, “there’s a lot of contingencies that go along with that. Obviously, it helps to have an OC. That’s step No. 1, and (Evans) sees that, so we can talk to him about it and hear his thoughts. But we both have to do what’s best for us.”

One thing seems clear: If the Buccaneers can retain key players and make smart additions in the offseason and draft, the playoffs should once again be the goal.

But: Mayfield is likely to have aroused desires and is also an option for other teams. However, the Bucs theoretically have the option of signing him to a franchise tag.

He would then receive 36.3 million dollars for 2024. Even that would probably have been laughed out loud half a year ago.