This past week began with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signing longtime fan favorite and future Hall of Famer Mke Evans. Thankfully, he continues his career in pewter.
Many believe that means Baker Mayfield is a shoo-in at this point. He's coming back to the Bucs, right?
Well, not so fast. A recent report suggests that Mayfield isn't going to take a hometown discount in order to remain with Tampa Bay. So, the Bucs better be ready to pay up.
If they don't end up bringing him back, what options are out there for the Bucs? We tried highlighting the top five, whether it be in free agency, the 2024 NFL Draft or even by way of trade.
Sam Darnold via free agency
A somewhat forgotten man, Sam Darnold spent last year with the San Francisco 49ers as a backup to Brock Purdy. But, a year sitting and learning underneath Kyle Shanahan may have been exactly what Darnold needed to further his career.
As a former no. 3 overall pick back in the same draft we saw Mayfield selected in Cleveland, Darnold has bounced around as well. After being traded from the Jets to Carolina, he spent two seasons with the Panthers and actually played pretty admirably toward the end of the 2022 season.
With all the mediocrity surrounding Carolina for a few years, Darnold did what he could to prove he still belonged in this league, going 4-2 as a starter, throwing for over 1,100 yards with seven touchdowns and just three picks.
Darnold is still only 26 years old and, as a former first-round pick, I'm not sure we've seen what he's fully capable of just yet. After studying with Shanahan for a year, maybe he's being overlooked as a cheap free agent option who could see a similar resurgence as Mayfield did in 2023.
Michael Penix Jr. via 2024 NFL Draft
With the Bucs not selecting until pick no. 26 in the first round, it's going to be difficult to have any real shot at one of the top prospects like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels or J.J. McCarthy. As it stands, Oregon's Bo Nix might be the next man off the board and he very well could go before the Bucs pick.
At no. 26, though, Tampa Bay could have a real shot at landing Washington's Michael Penix Jr., who is coming off a strong Combine performance. The Bucs did meet with Penix, too, who is a former Tampa Bay Tech High School standout. This would be quite the story for Penix and the Bucs, with a potential homecoming in the future.
Last season with the Huskies, Penix threw for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions. His Combine performance was one of the better performances, regardless of position. Folks were impressed with his quick release and how effortless his throwing motion appeared, even as a lefty.
In the end, Penix might be the most realistic (and best overall) option for the Bucs if they don't get Mayfield.
Russell Wilson via free agency
Earlier this week, the Denver Broncos made the announcement that they were officially releasing Russell Wilson. Aside from the fact that their trade for Wilson is going to go down as the worst trade in league history, they're doing what they believe to be the right move for their franchise going forward.
But, the interesting part is that Wilson is being paid $39 million by Denver for the 2024 season even though he's not playing a down for the Broncos. This allows Wilson to sign somewhere else for a minimal price, which immediately makes him an attractive option.
Say what you will about Wilson, his exits in Seattle and Denver and his eccentric personality, but he played pretty good ball last season. In 15 starts with the Broncos, Wilson threw for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight picks. The 9-time Pro Bowler certainly didn't look washed.
Wilson might be out of the question for the Bucs, though, as he's already been spotted heading to Pittsburgh and is also a rumored target for the Raiders. Still, he'd be a plug-and-play option within this offense in Tampa.
Gardner Minshew via free agency
After rookie first-round pick Anthony Richardson went down to injury last year, veteran Gardner Minshew stepped up in Indianapolis and led the Colts to within one game of making the playoffs. There was no world where the Colts should have been as competitive as they were last year, but Minshew made it a reality.
The veteran is as fun a personality as there is in the NFL, and he's been someone who players love having in the locker room. Minshew is a true competitor and leader, and of course is very likable. While he can make some careless throws at times and has some Brett Favre in him, that's also what makes him fun to watch. Minshew is a true gunslinger.
Last season with Indy, he threw for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The former sixth-round pick has been mostly a career backup, but has also made 37 starts in five years. He's had his fair share of starting experience.
As a cheaper option, Minshew wouldn't be the worst idea in the world. At the very least, he'd keep the Bucs competitive.
Justin Fields via trade
Finally, we come to maybe the best option of all. The Chicago Bears are going to trade Justin Fields, and with reports of the market not being what the Bears had hoped it to be, the fourth-year pro could come a whole lot cheaper than some originally anticipated.
At one point, you had someone like ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. saying he believed the Bears could get the Atlanta Falcons' no. 8 overall pick in exchange for Fields. Now, we're seeing reports that the Bears will likely get a combination of a Day 2 and a Day 3 pick, and who knows if that even means a second or third-round selection on Day 2.
If the Bucs weren't able to re-sign Mayfield and threw together a proposal like, say, their second rounder at no. 57 overall and potentially a sixth-round pick (no. 203), that would end up being tremendous value. Who knows, maybe the Bucs could even get away with sending their third rounder (no. 89) instead of pick no. 57.
Fields obviously brings a different dynamic as one of the league's premier rushing quarterbacks, and still has untapped potential as a passer in some eyes. With weapons like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Fields would have the best chance at success that he's had since entering the league.