Baker Mayfield earned a three-year contract extension with the Buccaneers after leading the team to the playoffs last year and that’s created a new kind of stability for the quarterback.
Mayfield looked set for a long run in Cleveland after being selected first overall in 2018 and guiding the Browns to a playoff win in 2020, but a down year in 2021 led to him being traded to Carolina. The Panthers dumped him during that season and he wound up with the Bucs after a brief stint with the Rams, so he had plenty to prove in his first year in Tampa.
Mayfield proved his mettle and he believes even better things are coming now that he’ll have a chance to build on a foundation for the first time in years.
“My NFL career, has it been what I want it to be? No, but it’s gotten me to this point to where I signed a long-term deal,” Mayfield said, via the team’s website. “When I settle in, good things happen. I know how I am, I know how I operate. When I can truly dig my feet in to make a difference in the culture and the people around me and make people better — that’s when I’m at my best. I haven’t been in a place for very long without coaching changes in a long time. I go back to Oklahoma for four years was the longest point and then to Cleveland — but we still had coaching changes in and out at pretty much every year. It’s just different. I have no doubt in my mind.”
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said earlier this week that he thinks Mayfield probably has “a bigger chip” on his shoulder after signing his deal. Mayfield’s comments don’t make it sound like he’s in quite so contentious a place, but they should still provide some optimism about what the future holds for the Bucs.
The Bucs had the opportunity to lock up edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka for another year this offseason, but the team declined to exercise its option for 2025.
Tryon-Shoyinka responded to that decision during a press conference at training camp on Friday. The 2021 first-round pick said he is taking it as motivation to show how much he’s capable of doing on the field.
“That’s just one of those things,” Tryon-Shoyinka said, via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “It’s an opportunity to take it as a challenge. Overcoming adversities, there’s a point in everyone’s life you gotta do that. Back against the wall, you gotta trust what got you here and lean on teammates, the brotherhood. Ultimately, continue to stack these days and get to where you want to go.”
Randy Gregory did not report to camp, which eliminated one bit of competition for snaps on the edge of the defense and makes Tryon-Shoyinka all the more important to the Bucs defense.
The Buccaneers opened up a roster spot by placing edge rusher Randy Gregory on the did not report list and they filled it with an addition to their tight end group.
Sal Cannella was signed to the 90-man roster on Friday morning after trying out for the team on Thursday. Cade Otton, Ko Kieft, Payne Durham, and David Wells are the other tight ends on the roster in Tampa.
Cannella has spent time with the Dolphins, Packers, and Seahawks since going undrafted out of Auburn, but he has never appeared in a regular season game. He’s also seen time in the Spring League, USFL, XFL, and UFL while trying to find a consistent home in the NFL.
Cannella played for Arlington in the UFL this year and caught 53 passes for 497 yards and a league-high six touchdowns.
After leading the Buccaneers to an NFC South title and a playoff victory, quarterback Baker Mayfield signed a three-year, $100 million deal with the club in March.
Head coach Todd Bowles said on Wednesday that he doesn’t think the big money will shift Mayfield’s mindset in 2024.
“He’s probably got a bigger chip [on his shoulder] now,” Bowles said in his press conference. “Baker is going to be the same every day. He works his tail off to be the best he can be. The guys believe in him and would run through a brick wall for him. I don’t see any change.”
Though former offensive coordinator Dave Canales departed the organization to become the Panthers’ head coach, new OC Liam Coen knew Mayfield from their shared time with the Rams. Bowles noted that Mayfield has taken to the new offense well.
“Baker has the keys to the bus,” Bowles said. “He’s driving it. He’s comfortable, we’re comfortable with him. We’re both in a great place right now. He has to run the offense — we talked about this, as far as getting the ball out where he needs to get the ball out, and understanding the offense, and making the correct checks. I think he’s taken it upon his shoulders. He came back in great shape and we expect him to do that. There’s a lot more stability there than there was last year.”
Mayfield completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season.
Wide receiver Mike Evans signed a new contract with the Buccaneers this offseason and the deal guaranteed he would be back in Tampa for the 11th straight season.
It also set him up for an opportunity to post his 11th-straight season with 1,000 receiving yards for the team. Only one player has opened his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons, so Evans will be trying to tie Jerry Rice on that front.
Given Rice’s place in NFL history, it was not surprising to hear Evans say at a Wednesday press conference that matching Rice’s feat is something that he has been thinking about.
“I don’t, like, list off things, but that’s one of them that’s in the back of my mind because everybody’s talking about it,” Evans said. “That’s been a record around for how many years now? Over 20 years? So, that’s something I definitely want to accomplish, and just help the team win ball games and be better than we were last year.”
Evans has shown no signs of slowing down and he expressed excitement about the offensive approach the team will take with new coordinator Liam Coen this season, so he should make a strong run at tying Rice’s mark as long as he stays healthy.
