Smart-er. It has been reported that Baker Mayfield had options after, you know, his Rams debut.
Since, according to you, there were so many; I'm sure you'd have no issue linking a few of them.
Not sure why TraskForce is so entrenched in their negative assessment of Baker Mayfield?
Lol. TraskForce.
Sorry that I don't share the same view as you in that Baker is better than 90% of the NFL's starting QB's (70% a few weeks ago, 80% last week, 90% this week, most likely all of them when Licht re-signs him).
If that makes me a TraskForce member, well...
I’m sure you’re just joshin’ again… cuz you won’t find any of my posts where I said Baker was percentages better than any QB.
But I have consistently said he was the best option we have/had access to. I have also said the team, GM, HC, OC are all trying to make sure Baker is happy, and re-signs.
Ive also said they’re building around him.
He may be an option, but it would be the backup plan…
Seems Bleacher Report has a similar thought, in reverse:
“Rather than paying Cousins top dollar for flashy regular season numbers and inevitable playoff disappointments, the Vikings should instead consider Baker Mayfield for the job,” Kay said, per SKOR North’s X account on Wednesday, February 21.
The little zing in bold.
Interesting, so it appears a few of us see the same things as the folks over at Bleacher Report? That’s odd, have they not been paying attention to the analysis of the anti-Baker folks on the Red Board?He may be an option, but it would be the backup plan…
Seems Bleacher Report has a similar thought, in reverse:
“Rather than paying Cousins top dollar for flashy regular season numbers and inevitable playoff disappointments, the Vikings should instead consider Baker Mayfield for the job,” Kay said, per SKOR North’s X account on Wednesday, February 21.
The little zing in bold.
It almost sounds like what some of us have been asserting - now even even national sports media think Mayfield would be the preferred FA QB?
Especially for $45m…
yeah, and they didn’t need to drop the zinger, but they did…
well, Bleacher Report so a "freelancer." Sort of like a Red Board opinion.
Thought it was funny given the conversation
SR's analysis shows up in todays Fab 5:
"Out out of all these names, Cousins, Mayfield, Fields, Russell Wilson, and perhaps Tannehill will be the most sought after by teams looking for a starter. Mayfield, who turns 29 in April, might be the best free agent quarterback of the bunch.
Cousins is 36, and he’s coming off a torn Achilles tendon. He may want to continue to receive the fully guaranteed contracts he’s previously had in Minnesota. But the Vikings may not want to continue that practice given his age and the significant injury he’s coming off.
Fields is about to turn 25, but has a woeful record of 10-28 as a starter in Chicago. While he brings value as a dual-threat quarterback, he struggles with field vision in the pocket and cannot fit all schemes. Fields, a Georgia native, has been linked to Atlanta.
Tannehill turns 36 later this year and has become oft-injured. He’s missed 12 starts over the last two seasons and was benched at the end of the 2023 campaign in favor of rookie Will Levis. Tannehill was 9-11 as a starter over the last two years."
Wilson just turned 35 and was traded away by Seattle and now Denver is jettisoning him after a two-year stint. He compiled a record of 11-19 as the Broncos’ starter and missed a total of four games over the last two seasons.
So Mayfield could be in real demand. I’m guessing Mayfield’s floor is $30 million per year."
FWIW, in his recent podcast Kaufman argues that the Bucs would use the franchise tag on MAYFIELD, if anyone.
His reasoning is:
1) franchise tag best used where there is uncertainty over LT value
2) they will definitely bring Evans back and Winfield is a no-brainer, cornerstone guy who is relatively inexpensive so he is the long-term deal now guy. Lock him up while you can
3) By comparison, Mayfield is the guy you want to "see more of" before a LTD and the QB cap is roughly $36, so not that much more than some project his likely value (SR placing it at $30 to $38)
Interesting, so it appears a few of us see the same things as the folks over at Bleacher Report? That’s odd, have they not been paying attention to the analysis of the anti-Baker folks on the Red Board?
It almost sounds like what some of us have been asserting - now even even national sports media think Mayfield would be the preferred FA QB?
Let's dive into this, shall we?
FREE AGENT RANKINGS
PFF
- Cousins - #2
- Winfield - #8
- Evans - #13
- LVD - #39
- Devin White (LOL) - #73
- Mayfield - #75
CBS Sports
- Cousins - #2
- Winfield - #9
- Evans - #13
- Mayfield - #19
PFN
- Cousins - #1
- Winfield - #8
- Evans - #12
- David - #37
- Mayfield - #51
FOX Sports
- Cousins - #2
- Winfield - #8
- Evans - #10
- Mayfield - #13
USA Today
- Cousins - #4
- Winfield - #8
- Evans - #13
- Mayfield - #20
I mean, I can keep going, but I think the point has been made.
Contrary to what @white-tiger posted, the national sports media DOES NOT think that Mayfield is the "preferred FA QB".
Actually, they don't think he's the first, second (and in numerous cases...third) most important FA on this team.
Quite the zinger...
He may be an option, but it would be the backup plan…
Seems Bleacher Report has a similar thought, in reverse:
“Rather than paying Cousins top dollar for flashy regular season numbers and inevitable playoff disappointments, the Vikings should instead consider Baker Mayfield for the job,” Kay said, per SKOR North’s X account on Wednesday, February 21.
The little zing in bold.
Add SR to this group? he lists the Viking as a team that has interest in Mayfield
"If Kirk Cousins isn’t re-signed, the Vikings will be in the market for a new quarterback. Minnesota will want to keep star receiver Justin Jefferson, who is entering his fifth-year option season, and tight end T.J. Hockenson happy. Without a good, veteran quarterback, the chances of Jefferson returning after next season diminish greatly.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell is the play-caller and developed a great reputation for getting the most out of the 36-year old Cousins over the last couple of years in the twilight of his career. Plus, O’Connell saw Mayfield beat his team first hand, as the Bucs came back to beat the Vikings in Minnesota in the 2023 season opener last year."
1) franchise tag best used where there is uncertainty over LT value
This is yet another lazy take from Ira.
What uncertainty? There's already a pretty clear path to Wirfs extension and what the number would be.
2) they will definitely bring Evans back and Winfield is a no-brainer, cornerstone guy who is relatively inexpensive so he is the long-term deal now guy. Lock him up while you can
This makes more sense. Also why I hope they get the Wirfs deal done and avoid the tag. Take care of your cornerstones pieces, especially the "home grown" ones.
3) By comparison, Mayfield is the guy you want to "see more of" before a LTD and the QB cap is roughly $36, so not that much more than some project his likely value (SR placing it at $30 to $38)
Lazy Ira at it again.
You get zero flexibility with this option (as it pertains to the cap). I mean, if this is in legit consideration, I'd rather give him 3yr/$85-$90M and front load it to an extent (as the cap year 1 would essentially be the same). Would give us a much easier out with minimal dead cap ramifications.
Add SR to this group? he lists the Viking as a team that has interest in Mayfield
Isn't this more like SR stating his opinion versus actual reports they have interest?
DH - we’ll see how that plays out. My guess is, Baker re-sign. no Bake-y = no Mike-y. Bet.
BC - the problem with tagging (last resort), if Mayfield does play to a similar level next year, you have to start negotiations, and that will cost us much more. There is a case to take advantage of the good will to strike a fair deal. Could be yiu kick the can and he regresses, and could be he has a similar performance and the cost of a new longterm deal increases.
My concern is, this is the same team that selected QB’s in the draft that led us to the lost decade. Drafting QB’s is not a strength…especially drafting one at the bottom of the 1st or 2nd rounds. Not a lot of success there for any NFL team..
Kirk Cousins now has a torn ACL - which means he will REALLY needs a ‘clean pocket’ …more like for protecting the GOAT…without GOAT-like performance.
If anyone thinks Mike Evans re-signs for Kirk Cousins, they should probably invest in a Texans #13 jersey - cuz he ain’t comin’ back for Kirk, Kyle or Pennix. He’ll be working with CJ Stroud before ANY bargain-basement/medical-bracelet QB.
He may be an option, but it would be the backup plan…
Seems Bleacher Report has a similar thought, in reverse:
“Rather than paying Cousins top dollar for flashy regular season numbers and inevitable playoff disappointments, the Vikings should instead consider Baker Mayfield for the job,” Kay said, per SKOR North’s X account on Wednesday, February 21.
The little zing in bold.
Add SR to this group? he lists the Viking as a team that has interest in Mayfield
"If Kirk Cousins isn’t re-signed, the Vikings will be in the market for a new quarterback. Minnesota will want to keep star receiver Justin Jefferson, who is entering his fifth-year option season, and tight end T.J. Hockenson happy. Without a good, veteran quarterback, the chances of Jefferson returning after next season diminish greatly.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell is the play-caller and developed a great reputation for getting the most out of the 36-year old Cousins over the last couple of years in the twilight of his career. Plus, O’Connell saw Mayfield beat his team first hand, as the Bucs came back to beat the Vikings in Minnesota in the 2023 season opener last year."
I’m just joking with TraskForce Bruhs.
So you’re making a case that Minny has to re-sign Cousins in order to have the best shot re-signing Jefferson?
cool. Sounds familiar.
Could be all of these teams I mentioned are working parallel paths to land either Baker or Kirk (see what I did there?), could be that they all really want Kirk more than Baker so they’re all making Baker Mayfield noises to get Kirk to consider them… or, they’re really after Baker. Falcons, Broncs, Pats & Steelers run similar offenses that fit Baker - guess they could adapt for Kirk, but that ACL on a soon to be 36 y/o is more of a concern than you realize.
Anyway, nice data for career stats. Doesn’t lend much for investing $45m for what looks to be a seriously injured, aging QB that doesn’t really relish leaving a clean pocket.
Could be that you’re right. We’ll see how it plays out.
DH - we’ll see how that plays out.
We just did.
You said:
It almost sounds like what some of us have been asserting - now even even national sports media think Mayfield would be the preferred FA QB?
Which, as we can see, wasn't even remotely factual.
Feel free to dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge all you'd like.
