Baker Mayfield gets candid about replacing Tom Brady as Buccaneers' QB1

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers found their Tom Brady replacement for the 2023 season. The team signed free agent quarterback Baker Mayfield to a one-year deal worth up to $8.5 million.

Mayfield will likely head into the season as the Bucs' starting quarterback and will replace Brady, who served as the Bucs' quarterback for the last three seasons.

Rick Stroud, who covers the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Times, tweeted some of what Mayfield said during today's press conference.

Mayfield stated that he's thankful for the experience last year that got him to where he is today.

“I wouldn't say that the last year really humbled me. I learned a lot from it. I still believed in myself like that's the only way I was able to, to get through it and finish on somewhat of a high note like real life. And, yeah, I'm thankful for all the experience to have gone through and that's what's gotten me here so ready for the next chapter."

Mayfield added that he will never be Tom Brady, but it will be special to replace a guy like him.

"Listen I’m never going to be Tom Brady. He’s the greatest of all time….to follow a guy like that, it’s special."

Brady retired this offseason on February 1, 2023, after spending the last three seasons with the Buccaneers. In 2020, he led them to their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history and brought them to the playoffsfor the last two seasons. Mayfield certainly will have big shoes to fill.

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Baker Mayfield had a rollercoaster 2022 season

Baker Mayfield had one of the weirdest seasons of any player in 2022.

On July 6, 2022, Mayfield was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a 2024 conditional fifth-round draft pick.

He played six games with the Panthers, going 1-5 as the starter before being released on December 5, 2022. A day later, the Los Angeles Rams, who suffered injuries to multiple quarterbacks, claimed Mayfield off of waivers.

He went 1-3 with the Rams and entered this offseason as an unrestricted free agent. He chose to sign with the Buccaneers and will be on his fourth team within the last year. The talented QB will be looking to rejuvenate his career with the Bucs.