How Baker Mayfield surprised Buccaneers GM in first year together

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht suggested during a recent appearance on NFL Media's "The NFL Report" program that he was surprised by how quarterback Baker Mayfield proved to be a natural-born leader soon after the QB signed a one-year contract with the club in March 2023. 

"We always knew that he was a super-competitive player, super-competitive person," Licht responded when asked what he learned about Mayfield, according to the JoeBucsFan website. "He has that moxie to him. That's what made us —those that liked him coming out [in the 2018 NFL Draft] — love him. I guess it was the extreme leadership that he showed. He took over the team right away. He was part of the straw that stirred the drink this year. With his leadership and toughness, it was our identity [in 2023]."

Buccaneers senior advisor Bruce Arians previously mentioned how he "was amazed at how much" the Cleveland Browns' locker room loved Mayfield during the signal-caller's rookie season in the fall of 2018. 

Mayfield's struggles while playing with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder during the 2021 campaign resulted in the Browns replacing him with Deshaun Watson in March 2022. 

The 28-year-old would have become a one-and-done experiment for Tampa Bay had he performed poorly this past season. 

Per Pro Football Reference, Mayfield ended the 2023 regular season ranked 12th among qualified quarterbacks with a 94.6 passer rating, seventh with 28 passing touchdowns and ninth with 4,044 passing yards. 

"His confidence bled into the entire team," Licht said about how Mayfield helped a Buccaneers side that fell to 4-7 in late November claim the NFC South division title. 

Roughly two months after Mayfield guided the Buccaneers to a dominant 32-9 playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles, he agreed to a three-year deal that reportedly has a maximum value of $115M to remain with Tampa Bay. 

However, it's believed Licht could escape Mayfield's contract as soon as next offseason depending on what happens through February 2025. 

Licht acknowledged during the program he was worried Mayfield could leave the club as a free agent even though it's been reported other teams "didn't want" to break the bank for the quarterback's services. 

The Buccaneers will now hope that Mayfield is viewed next March as one of the top-value signings of this offseason.