At this point in the offseason, the speculation machine is already running hot, and one of the more eye-catching projections has the Buccaneers looking at life after Baker Mayfield sooner rather than later.
Sports Illustrated NFL Draft analyst Justin Melo recently mapped out how the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft could play out, and he sent Tampa Bay in a direction that would raise eyebrows: with the 19th pick, he had the Buccaneers taking former Duke quarterback Darian Mensah.
"Baker Mayfield is in a contract year and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been hesitant to make a long-term commitment," Melo wrote. "Darian Mensah threw for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns for the ACC champion Duke Blue Devils last season. Mensah now transfers to Miami, which helped Cam Ward become a No. 1 overall pick at quarterback."
Mensah brings the kind of upside that can make these kinds of mock-draft swings feel plausible. After his move to Miami, his stock could climb quickly, especially with the Hurricanes expected to field a strong team one season after reaching the national title game.
Still, the idea of Tampa Bay using a first-round pick on a quarterback feels jarring to plenty of fans who see Mayfield as the answer for the long haul. He has delivered plenty of big moments since taking over, and there’s a real belief around the team that he’ll remain the starter for years.
But the contract situation keeps the door open. Mayfield has not been extended, and the Buccaneers have not shown much urgency in locking him up. He has also made it clear that he won’t let talks drag into training camp.
If no agreement is reached before then, Mayfield could simply play out the final year of his deal and head into next offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
And if that happens, a quarterback in the first round of next year’s draft stops sounding like a wild guess and starts looking like a very real possibility.
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