4 free agents Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to bring back this offseason

3. Baker Mayfield, QB

If ever there was a player to bet on himself and see it pay off, it was the 2023 version of Baker Mayfield. Last year, Mayfield signed what now looks like the biggest steal of a contract we've seen in recent memory. His deal with the Bucs was a simple 1-year, $4 million contract.

That's it.

Mayfield went on to have a career year with the Bucs, too. Fans of this guy finally saw what they had known to be the truth for years now. He is a very good quarterback, and one who has either been misunderstood or not given every opportunity to succeed.

He found his home in Tampa, though. The Buccaneers have an opportunity in front of them to solidify the most important position in the game for years to come. It's an opportunity many teams aim to take advantage of every year, yet come up short. The Bucs can and should do the right thing by giving Mayfield a long-term contract and try building this into something longstanding.

The former no. 1 overall pick shouldn't be allowed to leave the building, period. Jason Licht will get this deal done, rest assured.