Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is reuniting with an old college teammate and former favorite target from his days at the University of Oklahoma.
The Bucs agreed to a one-year deal with long-time New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard, giving them an additional veteran in the group of pass-catchers.
After being selected by the Giants in the second round of the 2016 draft, Shepard emerged as one of the team’s top wideouts through his first five seasons before struggling from 2021-23.
Shepard was second to Odell Beckham Jr. in targets (105), receptions (65), receiving yards (683) and receiving touchdowns (career high eight) as a rookie in 2016 and led the squad in receiving yards (731) in 2017. Shepard posted career bests in targets (107) and receiving yards (872) in 2018, while matching his career high of 66 catches before being limited to 10 games in 2019 and 12 contests in 2020.
If the 31-year-old has any last chance to rejuvenate his career though, teaming up with Mayfield and working behind Pro Bowlers like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin may give him that chance.
Prior to joining the NFL, Shepard was teammates with Mayfield for one season at Oklahoma and acted as the 2018 No. 1 overall pick’s favorite target.
Shepard had serious competition for looks while with Mayfield and the Sooners, too, sharing the field with the likes of three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews, former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Dede Westbrook and running backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine.
Shepard finished the 2015 season with 40 more catches than the next-closest Sooner (Westbrook), 545 receiving yards more than the team’s second-highest target (Westbrook) and four more touchdowns than Andrews, who racked up seven scores.
