NFL insider sheds light on Falcons interest in Baker Mayfield

The Falcons are going to aggressively attempt to fix the quarterback position this offseason, and free agency is where two of their most viable options lie. Kirk Cousins has been mentioned on several occasions if he leaves Minnesota, and Baker Mayfield is also starting to gain some steam.

The former #1 overall pick is coming off a career year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, throwing for over 4,000 yards to go along with 28 touchdown passes. It’s been reported Tampa Bay will not use the franchise tag on Baker Mayfield, giving him the opportunity to hit the open market. The Buccaneers want him back, but there will be an opportunity for the Falcons to court him to Atlanta, and Tony Pauline is reporting they do have interest.

“Of those other suitors for Mayfield, I can confirm one is the Atlanta Falcons, who I mentioned several weeks ago as a possibility,” Pauline writes for Sportskeeda. “The Falcons have been linked to Justin Fields, and if a trade is not completed with the Chicago Bears soon after the combine, I expect Mayfield to be at the top of their wish list.”

Pauline also suggests the price tag on Mayfield could be around $40 million AAV. 

“The market for quarterback Baker Mayfield is heating up. The Buccaneers are working to bring him back to Tampa Bay, and other suitors have lined up. In the past, I’ve reported that the expectations are Mayfield will sign a deal in the area of $40 million annually. The numbers being thrown around here at the combine are $34-$36 million, though no official offers have been made.”

I am a firm believer in The Bake Show. He’s shown incredible maturity over the last several years and was well liked in Tampa Bay by his teammates after leading them to the NFC South crown and a win over the Eagles in the playoffs. $34-36 million is a hefty gamble, but if you believe last year was more than just a flash in the pan, it’s a more than palatable contract for a quarterback that could end up being the guy in Atlanta for a decade.

Baker Mayfield also has a relationship with Zac Robinson from their days in Los Angeles, so he’s certainly an option to keep an eye on over the next several weeks.

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Photographer: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire