'Never gonna be Tom Brady': Baker Mayfield content with Bucs

TAMPA, Fla. — Speaking for the first time since signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent, former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and former first-overall draft pick Baker Mayfield acknowledged Monday that his confidence took a hit after bouncing from three different teams in 2022.

«That's definitely been a struggle,» said Mayfield, who signed with the Buccaneers on a one-year deal to compete for the starting quarterback job with Kyle Trask following the retirement of Tom Brady.

«There were times where, kind of searching in the mirror thinking, 'Alright. What's next? What do I need to do?' But you've gotta relate it back to your success. If I can review all the situations and experiences I've had and trust in those, and learn from them and not just harp on the negative stuff, but take away just a little thing each time, that's how you continue to grow. And I still believe that all the experiences I've gone through happened for a reason, and it's gonna help me in the long run.»

After four seasons with the Cleveland Browns and following the arrival of Deshaun Watson, he was traded to the Carolina Panthers in July of 2022 and was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams in December of 2022 and starting a mere 48 hours later, leading the Rams back from a 16-3 start to a 17-16 victory.

«It's not how I drew my career up by any means. If I was to tell you how it would go, based on the plan, I wouldn't have said I'd put on three different uniforms in the year 2022, but that's how it happens,» he said «You've gotta learn from it, roll with the punches, trust in God's plan. But I've grown a lot. I appreciate all the things that have happened throughout my journey. It's helped me get here today. I want to play