Baker Mayfield, despite a dinged-up knee and some soreness, appears to be ready to take the field for Thursday night’s game. The primary concern for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they approach their Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills is the condition of their offense.



Tampa Bay has faced a tough stretch recently, losing three of their last four games, and their struggles have been characterized by anemic offensive performances. Their losses have seen them score 13 points or fewer, including a 16-13 defeat against the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday.



Mayfield, who finds himself starting for his fourth team in just three seasons, is no stranger to adversity in the ever-changing world of the NFL. Mayfield remains optimistic, believing that the Buccaneers can navigate through these turbulent times.



<h2>Buccaneers Focus on Resilience as Mayfield Navigates Injury Concerns</h2>



Mayfield shared his perspective, stating, “I think with any of those experiences you learn how to weather some of these storms, and you learn how to grow through them and handle them when certain situations come.”



The quarterback emphasized the importance of focusing on improving their performance, maintaining fundamental soundness, and concentrating on what they can control. Mayfield added, “For us, it’s about us playing our best ball and focusing on what we can control and that’s being fundamentally sound and doing our jobs.”



While the Buccaneers work on addressing their shortcomings, Mayfield’s knee injury limited him in practice. However, the injury is considered minor, similar to what NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported earlier. He has thrown interceptions in four consecutive games, which offensive coordinator Dave Canales attributes to the team attempting to stretch the field effectively.

Mayfield's Readiness Ahead of Thursday Night

Mayfield's Readiness Ahead of Thursday Night - thesportsdrops NEWS

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In a pivotal decision as the preseason winds down, Coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has chosen Baker Mayfield as the team’s starting quarterback for the upcoming 2023 season. This announcement comes with the weighty responsibility of filling the substantial shoes left behind by none other than Tom Brady himself.



After being the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Mayfield has traversed through several teams, including the Browns, Rams, and Panthers, before landing with the Buccaneers. This journey ultimately led him to secure the coveted starting role, edging out 2021 second-round draft pick Kyle Trask.



“Baker’s our starting quarterback, Kyle’s our No. 2,” Bowles declared, acknowledging Trask’s progress while reaffirming Mayfield’s position. He continued, “We love everything Kyle has done. And he’s gotten leaps and bounds better than he was in the spring and he’s continuing to get better and we’re excited about him. But Baker’s our guy right now — experience-wise and just understanding the playbook just a little bit better. But Kyle’s on the come [up]. But we like both guys. We like where we’re at. Baker’s [No.] 1, Kyle’s [No.] 2.”



<h2>Baker Mayfield’s Unwavering Confidence with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers</h2>



As Mayfield embarks on this new chapter, the pressure and expectations are undeniable. However, he remains steadfast in his focus and determination. “Now I’ve just got to lead like I know how, and the real thing is right around the corner,” Mayfield commented, emphasizing his readiness for the challenges of the upcoming season.



Mayfield’s journey to Tampa Bay has been marked by various stops. Despite the ups and downs, his confidence as a starting quarterback remains unshaken. “I expect to be the starter,” he asserted. “I know how talented I am. I know what type of leader I am. Now it’s time for the real thing. We’re about to have the real games, and everybody’s excited here.”



The decision to anoint Mayfield as the starting quarterback was the result of careful evaluation and consideration. General Manager Jason Licht, Coach Bowles, and Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales acknowledged the prolonged competition and recognized the need to provide Trask a fair opportunity after spending two years behind Brady and Gabbert.

Baker Mayfield Named Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Starting Quarterback for 2023 Season

Baker Mayfield Named Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Starting Quarterback for 2023 Season - thesportsdrops NEWS

The era of <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/top-4-best-moments-of-tom-bradys-nfl-career-20230201-SPD-3366.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tom Brady</a> as the starting quarterback for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-tom-brady-could-retire-for-good-in-2023-if-bucaneers-win-super-bowl-2204-20220714-SPD-2204.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tampa Bay Buccaneers </a>has come to an end. The all-time great quarterback said he was retiring from the NFL for good on February 1. This was his second straight year of retirement announcements.



Since Brady was going to become an unrestricted free agent again at the age of 45, Tampa Bay had to have been considering a replacement for him long before he announced his choice. To replace Brady as their starting quarterback, the Bucs will need to make a splash in free agency and/or the draft.



When the Buccaneers have stabilized their salary cap position without Brady, they may begin exploring free-agent options among established veterans. The club possesses nine draft picks, including the nineteenth overall pick in the first round. In light of all that, let’s take a look at the three best candidates for the Bucs’ next quarterback:



<h2>Jimmy Garoppolo – free agent</h2>



While Garoppolo’s attempts to take over for Brady with the Patriots were limited to a few Deflategate-related fill-in starts (along with Brissett), he has a chance to do it on a regular basis with the Buccaneers. He has nearly fully recovered from the damage to his left foot. If Trey Lance (broken ankle) and Brock Purdy both are able to play quarterback for San Francisco, the city is in for a thrilling QB fight (elbow surgery).



Garoppolo has had success under both Josh McDaniel and Kyle Shanahan, so he should feel at home in any system the Buccaneers play. He is also used to successfully relying on a supporting cast to achieve victory. The big issue is whether Garoppolo thinks there are other opportunities that are more alluring to him.



<h2>Anthony Richardson – draft</h2>



The Buccaneers snatched Trask away from Dan Mullen and the Gators. Overall, Billy Napier’s offense has made Richardson a more promising prospect. Even though Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and probably Will Levis will be selected before Richardson, the Buccaneers may have a better chance at the newest professional Gator if they choose No. 20 instead of the Seahawks.



If Richardson, who is 6-4 and 232 pounds, can work on his mechanics, downfield accuracy, and decision-making, he will unlock his tremendous potential as a quarterback. Since the Buccaneers fired Byron Leftwich as offensive coordinator, there is one more unknown factor in addition to Brady’s absence.



<h2>Baker Mayfield – free agent</h2>



Mayfield is eligible since Monken served as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator for one season (2019). Despite the disappointing outcome, Monken seemed to like many facets of Mayfield’s game and may believe he can get more out of him as a more seasoned option with an improved supporting cast.



This is why the Bucs chose Mayfield over Sam Darnold, Andy Dalton, and others, but the reuniting isn’t enough to make this a sure thing.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Top 3 potential quarterback successors to Tom Brady - thesportsdrops NEWS

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Top 3 potential quarterback successors to Tom Brady

The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-leonard-fournette-knew-tom-brady-would-come-back-from-retirement-1348-20220607-SPD-1348.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cleveland Browns</a> and the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-rumors-browns-interest-in-reuniting-with-odell-beckham-jr-slim-to-non-existent-1400-20220609-SPD-1400.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carolina Panthers</a> have reached an agreement on the trade of quarterback <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nfl/nfl-news-seahawks-pete-carroll-suggests-chris-carsons-neck-issue-might-cause-him-to-retire-1426-20220610-SPD-1426.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Baker Mayfield</a> this week in exchange for a conditional first-round selection in 2024. There will be a $4.85 million split between Carolina and Cleveland in terms of Mayfield’s contract, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.



It was agreed that the 27-year-old would convert the remaining $18.8 million of his salary into incentives in order to speed up the transaction, which is still subject to a medical examination. There’s a chance that Mayfield will be able to recoup that money.



For the 2024 NFL Draft, the Browns will get a fourth or fifth round selection depending on how much the quarterback plays in Carolina. In order for a fourth-round choice, a league source told ESPN‘s David Newton that the quarterback would have to play 70 percent of the plays.



<h2>Baker Mayfield to attempt to revive career in Cleveland</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">A parting message from GM Andrew Berry was among several given by the Browns in regards to their former franchise quarterback: “He will always have a unique place in Browns history for what he accomplished and we wish him well as he continues his career.”</blockquote>



After obtaining Mayfield, the Panthers are reportedly not interested in departing with his rival quarterback, Sam Darnold. In training camp, they will once again fight for the starting spot. If Mayfield wins the starting quarterback position, he will face his former side, the Cleveland Browns in the opening game of the season.

Baker Mayfield

Mayfield's Readiness Ahead of Thursday Night

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