Patriots reportedly ‘like’ QB Baker Mayfield, veteran ‘has supporters’ in building
Mayfield was coached by New England offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt during his Browns tenure.
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Following reports about the Patriots’ plan at the quarterback position this coming season, the team is reportedly interested in signing veteran Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield, who turns 29 in April, “has supporters” in Foxborough, per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.
The former No. 1 overall draft pick would fit New England’s reported objective at quarterback in 2024 if the Patriots were to sign him this offseason. According to MassLive, the organization wants to revamp its signal-caller room by drafting a quarterback at No. 3 next month and signing a veteran.
In this scenario, come Week 1, the Patriots would start the veteran and sit the rookie behind him.
Mayfield saw success with the Buccaneers in 2023, meaning he could expect a significant contract, especially under the NFL’s increased salary cap.
The signal-caller started all 17 regular season games for Tampa Bay last season and was selected to the Pro Bowl. Mayfield threw for over 4,000 yards and completed 64.3 percent of his passes, leading the Buccaneers to a 9-8 record. Tampa Bay defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in a Wild Card game before being eliminated by the Detroit Lions in the NFC Divisional Round.
Mayfield threw 28 touchdown passes in 2023 – 12 more than both the Patriots’ Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe combined.
If Mayfield does end up in New England, he would recognize a handful of faces, as noted by Kyed.
Current Patriots’ scouting director Eliot Wolf was the Cleveland Browns’ assistant general manager when Cleveland drafted Mayfield in 2018. New England’s offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt, held the same role with the Browns during the final two years of Mayfield’s tenure.
T.C. McCartney, the Patriots’ quarterbacks coach, also held offensive coaching roles in Cleveland alongside the quarterback.
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