The Los Angeles Rams’ team-building strategy is finally starting to come back to bite them as they’ve had to make several tough decisions on players in recent days.
The roster teardown started when the Rams and Bobby Wagner agreed to mutually part ways earlier in the offseason. The defense continued to lose key members as Los Angeles released Leonard Floyd and most recently traded away Jalen Ramsey to the Miami Dolphins.
Offensively, Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp will remain the pillars but players like Allen Robinson could have a new home as the team has allowed him to seek a trade. Outside of that, Los Angeles must brace for more players to leave them in free agency including Baker Mayfield, who reportedly already has a suitor eyeing him, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:
When free agency begins, the #Bucs are expected to target ex-#Rams QB Baker Mayfield as a potential starting QB option, per me and @MikeGarafolo. This could be competition for Kyle Trask, their former 2nd-round pick, who the team likes a lot. As TB plots life without Tom Brady… pic.twitter.com/9PmbTG0tYW
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2023
Mayfield was able to show he could still be a starting quarterback in the NFL after a solid performance down the stretch of the 2022 season. It didn’t take long for Mayfield to make a splash in Los Angeles as he managed to lead them to a thrilling win over the Las Vegas Raiders just two days after arriving to the team. Overall, the former No. 1 overall pick had solid moments and set himself well for the upcoming free agency period.
Like the Rams, the Buccaneers are also in a state of transition as they are looking to pick up the pieces in the wake of Tom Brady’s retirement. Tampa Bay has a potential replacement in Kyle Trask whom they drafted No. 64 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, but it looks like they’re trying to have him compete with a veteran signal-caller like Mayfield for their QB1 spot.
Although Mayfield only won one out of his four starts with the Rams, he can still step in and provide some stability at the position for a rebuilding team. The Buccaneers, at least on paper, look like the perfect fit for him and he shouldn’t command as much money as other potential options in the market.
Should Mayfield leave, L.A. will need to address its backup quarterback situation and this year’s draft might be a good place for them to do so.
