I don't think he's viewed the same in NFL circles. It could be the wrong decision and he could walk or another team could need a QB so bad that even at his weakest, he's a better option than what they see they have. That is the reality of the situation but not so long ago, the NFL seemed to be done with him - at least as a starter - until he came to Tampa.Let's see if health on the offense as a whole and a better OC helps him back to the level we have seen him perform.
And, if "he's your guy", you've now put yourself in a position to lose him.
If "he's not your guy", then let him play out the season, and start blowing things up next January.
depends what kind of season Baker has
2023 like - could see teams like Minnesota and Pittsburgh in on his services. I think Bucs are likely to want to work out a deal with Baker. Could use franchise tag at $48M, to eliminate other teams and just have negotiations between baker and Bucs
2024 like- a few more teams may come into the picture - Jets, Houston, Cardinals, Saints. Again, franchise tag to eliminate concerns and work out a deal with Baker.
2025 - Bucs may decide to just move on, likely would be coming off losing season, with new head coach, and top 10 draft pick. Could potentially sign a bridge QB and draft a QB high, clearly we don’t want this but it’s likely if we miss playoffs again
The choice to extend Bowles will go down as maybe the worst move the glazers ever made. I understand both sides not extending baker at this point but I also feel like bowles is part of why he isn't extended yet. On both the part that the team underperformed last year and that trend could continue to happen when it matters most as long as we have bowles here. Why put your body on the line for mediocre football?
We then are headed for the direction of eventually a rebuild with both a hc and very possible that Mayfield goes somewhere else because he's just in a better situation next year. Bucs choose to go another direction because they know they won't go anywhere with bowles and have wasted some decent opportunities with him here. Its low key a reason why Mike Evans left. Let's not be shocked if it goes to baker.
I'm not saying we should extend him now but the team has been put in a crappy position because we chose to prematurally extend Bowles and were not giving baker that same love. Not a good place for this franchise while the rest of the division gets better over time. We're going the other way unless we put it together this year and next.