This week, several teams have emerged as potential destinations for veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield in free agency. The Falcons, Vikings, and Patriots have been prominently mentioned in connection with Mayfield’s possible landing spots if he decides to explore free agency.
However, it seems that at least one, if not two, of these teams may not be actively pursuing the 28-year-old quarterback.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, she was informed that the reported interest from the Minnesota Vikings in Mayfield is “not true.”
“Rumors were suggesting that Baker might be an option for Minnesota if they lost Kirk. I was told that is not the case,” Russini stated on The Athletic Football Show. “He’s not the player they’re looking to pursue.”
Russini and host Robert Mays further discussed that the Vikings are considering either retaining Kirk Cousins or selecting a quarterback in the draft. Additionally, Russini mentioned that she received information directly from Mayfield’s camp indicating that Baker is interested in joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which aligns with other reports. However, potential contract negotiations with the Buccaneers may face obstacles due to financial considerations.
Russini also indicated that if the Atlanta Falcons are pursuing Cousins, it is unlikely that they will also pursue Mayfield as a potential quarterback option. Furthermore, she noted that the market for Mayfield may not be as robust as initially thought.
The situation raises questions about how agents can gauge a team’s interest and potential contract terms before the start of legal tampering on Monday at noon ET. Although actual contract discussions cannot occur until then, agents can still assess a team’s outlook on a potential deal for their client. Russini explained that this understanding of the market influences current discussions between agents and teams.
General manager Jason Licht of the Buccaneers mentioned that they have an understanding of the market for Mayfield. Given the information provided by Russini, it appears that Licht and his team believe the market aligns with her reported findings, prompting them to approach negotiations with patience and respect for the player.
