Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Buccaneers have the “inside track” to re-sign QB Baker Mayfield this offseason.

Rapoport mentions that the Buccaneers hiring Liam Cohen as offensive coordinator and Mayfield’s familiarity with the team’s weapons are both important factors for Tampa Bay.

According to Rapoport, the franchise tag could be a possibility for Mayfield this offseason. However, the two parties could attempt to negotiate a long-term deal off the tag number.

Should the Buccaneers tag Mayfield, they would need to get a long-term deal done with WR Mike Evans.

Mayfield, 28, was drafted by the Browns with the No. 1 overall pick out of Oklahoma in 2018. He played out the fourth year of a four-year, $32.68 million rookie deal that included a $21.85 million signing bonus.

The Browns exercised Mayfield’s fifth-year option which would have cost Cleveland $18.858 million fully guaranteed in 2022. However, Cleveland traded Mayfield to the Panthers in exchange for a conditional 2024 fourth-round draft pick.

Cleveland agreed to cover $10.5 million of Mayfield’s salary with the Panthers paying out the rest. However, Carolina cut Mayfield during the season and he was claimed off waivers by the Rams, finishing out his contract in Los Angeles.

Last offseason he signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay worth up to $8.5 million.

In 2023, Mayfield appeared in all 17 games for the Buccaneers and completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions to go along with 163 yards rushing and a touchdown.

We have him included in our Top 100 – 2024 NFL Free Agents list.