No problem in the NFL is worse than not having a quarterback.
That’s the situation the Atlanta Falcons find themselves in as they head into a crucial offseason. Given the question mark at the game’s most important position for Atlanta, NFL insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo said it could potentially target Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield in free agency.
Along with the Falcons’ need, Rapoport also noted that the Bucs quarterback has familiarity with new head coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson from their time with the Los Angeles Rams.
“Coaches around the league admire Mayfield’s competitiveness and skill level, so he’ll surely have interest on the market — perhaps even from NFC South-rival Atlanta, where former Rams assistants Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson are now in charge,” Rapoport, Pelissero and Garafolo write.
Mayfield’s familiarity with Morris and Robinson dates back to the 2022 season when he played in five games for the Rams. Mayfield threw for 850 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions, and Los Angeles went 2-3 in the games he played.
Morris was the Rams’ defensive coordinator, and Robinson was their offensive pass game coordinator plus quarterbacks coach. Mayfield parlayed his Rams stint to a one-year prove-it deal with the Buccaneers and arguably had the best season of his career. He set career-highs, throwing for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns, and led the Bucs to winning the NFC South and a playoff game last season.
Mayfield would represent a clear upgrade over the Falcons’ current options in Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, though, the odds that he ever becomes available to the Falcons will likely be slim to none. The Bucs would be foolish to throw themselves into quarterback purgatory by not bringing Mayfield back unless they somehow find an upgrade over him, let alone letting him sign with a team in their division.
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