The Tom Brady era is over for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he accomplished his mission, as he won the Super Bowl in his first season with the team.
But Brady is now retired, and he’ll be moving forward with a somewhat different crew that includes his new quarterback – the talented but mercurial Baker Mayfield.
The Buccaneers have released a new video to get their fans hyped for the 2023 season.
All for Crewe.#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/QpY0chXGn1
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) May 10, 2023
Mayfield was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, and it appeared that a new and successful era had just begun for the beleaguered Browns.
Mayfield set an NFL record for most touchdown passes thrown by a rookie, and in 2020 he led Cleveland to their first playoff win since 1994.
But outside of that, he was inconsistent, especially in crunch time, and his immaturity led to him being traded to the Carolina Panthers last season.
Mayfield was benched at midseason after returning from an ankle injury, and asked to be released, which he was, leading him to finish the season with the Los Angeles Rams as a replacement for the injured Matthew Stafford.
Tampa Bay still has some links to their 2020 championship team, including stud wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, and will look to Mayfield for a chance to shine and prove his critics wrong.
Outside of the New Orleans Saints, the NFC South will be weak again, and that could give the Bucs a chance to steal a playoff spot.
next:
Buccaneers OC clarifies his thoughts on QB contest