The New England Patriots like a particular free agent quarterback, with the free agent frenzy set to begin in March. According to the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed, there are supporters of Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Baker Mayfield within the organization
Mayfield is coming off a productive season with the Buccaneers. He tallied 4,044 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. It’s been quite the last two years for Mayfield, who was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams in December 2022. He was able to have success in Los Angeles and parlayed that into a one-year deal with the Buccaneers in March 2023.
Kyed wrote:
Mayfield has supporters from within the Patriots’ organization, per sources, but there are some impediments to signing him. It’s not a surprise that Mayfield is liked by members of the staff. He was drafted by a front office that included current Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and coached by offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney with the Browns. Patriots senior personnel advisor Pat Stewart and senior offensive assistant Ben McAdoo spent time with Mayfield with the Panthers, as well.
The familiarity between Mayfield and many on the Patriots’ coaching staff is certainly a plus, as the organization looks to find stability in the quarterback room. He also may be a bit cheaper than a quarterback like Kirk Cousins, who is one of the top free agents on the market.
Time will tell what the Patriots do in the quarterback room overall, but it would not be a stretch to say that it is going to look a lot different than last year.
