30 May 2023 , 22:04
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Worrying footage of Baker Mayfield has been shared across social media after his first practice sessions with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With an array off options to replace Tom Brady this off-season, the Buccaneers surprisingly opted not to go after the likes of Aaron Rodgers or Derek Carr, but instead signed Mayfield to compete with Brady's former backup Kyle Trask.
It was somewhat of an eye-raising move, with the Buccaneers still having one of the strongest rosters in the NFC division, just two years removed from winning the Super Bowl.
Mayfield will have some star receiving options in Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage, along with a strong offensive line - arguably making it the best supporting cast Mayfield has had in his NFL career.
But the former first overall draft pick has struggled hugely in the last two years, being let go from three teams and failing to nail down a starting spot. He will have been pleased to land in Tampa - giving him the best chance of reviving his once promising career.
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However, early signs suggest that it's not going well. When the Bucs returned to practice, both Mayfield (#6) and Trask (#2) split reps as the starter, and they both missed what look to be simple throws in practice. Clips have been widely shared on social media and come just days after a video was posted last week of Mayfield missing multiple throws in a similar manner.
It's been a rough fall for Mayfield, who's calling card when he entered the league was his accuracy. That trait alone was seen as what separated him from other quarterbacks in the class, and saw him drafted higher than both Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.
While Mayfield looked the better quarterback in his rookie season and performed well in 2020, he has hugely struggled in his last two years.
He first lost his spot as starter with the Browns when they traded for Deshaun Watson, before being waived by the Carolina Panthers after hugely struggling. Mayfield was then picked up the Los Angeles Rams, and did well on his debut, but was not resigned with Matt Stafford returning to the team.
If he's ever to be a starter in the NFL, he will need to prove to be the player that he once showed with Tampa Bay this season.