NFL Rumors: Saints touted as landing spot for Baker Mayfield in 2023
Baker Mayfield is currently in search of joining a new team during the 2023 NFL offseason. He finished the 2022 NFL season with the Los Angeles Rams, filling in for an injured Matthew Stafford. Mayfield is now set to hit free agency with his contract expiring and Stafford is expected to return to the Rams prior to the start of the 2023 NFL season.
While Baker Mayfield explores his options in free agency this year, one team to keep an eye on are the New Orleans Saints. They are expected to move on from Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston to seek a new starting quarterback. According to NFL insider Albert Breer, the Saints may be interested in signing Mayfield:
"The Saints staff was high on Mayfield ahead of the 2018 draft, and those old draft evals can definitely have an impact down the road with guys as they get older and hit free agency, especially when there’s a need that can be tied to it."
#Saints are a team to watch as a destination for #Rams free agent QB Baker Mayfield, according to @AlbertBreer
si.com/nfl/2023/02/14… https://t.co/k4WcdAzGIM
Baker Mayfield will be looking to join the fourth NFL team of his career this year and will also be hoping to land another job as a starting quarterback. He has had a bit of a rocky road the past couple of years, but a change of scenery could potentially get him back on track.
Mayfield began his career with the Cleveland Browns, but moved to the Carolina Panthers after being replaced by Deshaun Watson. He failed to secure a long-term job with the Panthers, so he finished the 2022 NFL season with the Rams. He played well while filling in for Stafford, but it's unclear if he did enough to earn another starting job right away. It seems the Saints believe he has.
Is Baker Mayfield the frontrunner to be the Saints QB in 2023?
While Albert Breer clearly outlined that the Saints are likely interested in Baker Mayfield, he also pointed out that he's not necessarily their first choice as a starting quarterback ahead of the 2023 NFL season. The Saints have been closely connected to many rumors surrounding Derek Carr, who appears to be on his way out of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Carr and the Saints have reportedly had conversations about a potential deal. He is currently still under contract with the Raiders, but is expected to be released into free agency. Carr recently informed the Raiders that he will exercise his no-trade clause in his contract in an effort to be released from the team. If he's in fact released, the Saints are expected to be one of the teams to make him an offer.