Baker Mayfield should be on Cardinals’ radar if no contract solution reached with Tampa Bay

GLENDALE — When it comes to the Arizona Cardinals’ next franchise quarterback, two avenues are largely talked about: rookie Carson Beck and a 2027 first-round pick to be named later.

But what if there’s a third path that avoids the draft altogether?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield let his feelings be known to reporters this week about the disrespect he felt during contract talks with his current team.

He told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Tampa Bay offered him just a two-year deal with lower guaranteed money, that he would not be personally reentering contract talks this season and that his agent would only bother him if his value was recognized.

Tampa Bay reportedly, and expectedly, isn’t too thrilled about Mayfield’s comments.

Maybe the two sides come to an agreement, and this becomes a nonstory soon enough.

But if it’s not and the bridge is actually burnt, Mayfield is the type of player the Cardinals should kick the tires on should he become available as his contract ends.

Want to speed up that turnaround timeline owner Michael Bidwill talked about directly after the firing of Jonathan Gannon? Here’s a way to do it.

Jacoby Brissett is locked in with the franchise for 2026 after inking his reworked contract worth $15.5 million with a chance to reach $21 million in incentives.

After that, Brissett is a free agent. The same goes for his fellow journeyman Gardner Minshew II.

Then there’s Beck, who has taken steps forward this training camp. Sunday was among his best showings, but he is still green at the NFL level.

Those quarterback questions we all continue to talk about this offseason? They are likely only going to magnify.

Going the Mayfield route wouldn’t leave the Cardinals hostage, having to take one of the expected first-round quarterback prospects this draft. It’s a draft with depth at the position but, as last season showed, a whole season to play that will shake up the evaluation of each prospect.

Instead of rolling the dice and banking the franchise’s future on all of that, the Cardinals can instead use that draft capital to boost other holes on the roster, either with the first-round pick or using it as trade bait.

But what about Beck’s future? There’s going to be a time this year when Beck gets his shot to start. If he looks the part, maybe Arizona really does have its long-term answer, and that’s that.

If he’s not, then why not go the vet route?

Even with Mayfield in town on a three- or four-year deal, Beck could still be a part of Arizona’s future plans and potentially avoid a rush job into the starting lineup that could end up stunting his growth.

As for the potential money involved, the Cardinals should have enough cap space to make it interesting given Mayfield’s ask for $50 million a year. In terms of quarterback contracts, that yearly value would make the veteran the 13th-highest paid quarterback, jumping above Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson ($46 million).

For those wondering about any leftover ramifications from Kyler Murray’s release, Arizona is only on the books for $7.2 million in dead money in 2027.

Currently, the Cardinals are projected to have the most effective cap space ($110.3 million) in the NFL next year, according to OverTheCap.

That number is bound to change before then, but there’s space in the coffers to take a swing if Arizona was truly interested.

And if we’re looking at previous track records, veteran quarterback signings have fared better in recent history than draft picks.

Two big names come to mind in Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer, not Kyler Murray or Josh Rosen — the two previous first-rounders the franchise tried to win with.

Both Warner and Palmer were 34 years old when they signed in Arizona. Mayfield would be two years younger by the time next season started.

Sure, there was more to the equation than just the quarterback spot on those respective teams, but Warner and Palmer undoubtedly left their marks in Arizona.

Just look up at the Ring of Honor the next time you’re at State Farm Stadium for a reminder.

What if Mayfield can be the next veteran success story in Arizona?

Arizona has plenty of offensive playmakers. Dropping Mayfield into a mix of Trey McBride, Michael Wilson (if he gets a new deal), Marvin Harrison Jr., Jeremiyah Love, Tyler Allgeier and Kendrick Bourne would bring some serious excitement to the unit.

Toss in an at least middle-of-the-road defense and there’s a chance the Cardinals’ turnaround timeline ends up much more in line with Bidwill’s thinking than we knew.

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