Mayfield Has Given Bucs Fans More Than They Could’ve Hoped
Jan 7, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) on the field in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Bucs fans weren’t sure what to expect in their first year in the post-Tom Brady era, but Baker Mayfield won the job after a training camp QB competition with Kyle Trask and, in a pleasant surprise, ended up enjoying the best season of his career.
In fact, in a recent interview, Mike Evans stated how much he loves having Baker Mayfield as a teammate.
What has #Bucs WR Mike Evans learned about QB Baker Mayfield since becoming teammates?
“He’s a much cooler guy than I thought he was…” pic.twitter.com/631M3RPZID
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) January 4, 2024
Many like to place the “bust” label on Mayfield because of the sky-high expectations typically placed on first overall picks. He was selected six picks before perennial Pro Bowler Josh Allen, furthering that label. After four years, Cleveland, who has searched high and low for a franchise quarterback, decided that Mayfield, who went 29-30 as Cleveland’s starter, was not their guy.
The truth is, though, that while Mayfield hasn’t lived up to the expectations that typically come with selecting a QB with the first pick, he has always been a capable starter. During his four year tenure as Cleveland’s starter, he threw for over 3,000 yards in each season and he never threw more interceptions than touchdowns. He even led Cleveland to their first playoff victory since 1994, which included a first quarter where the Browns set the record for most points scored in any quarter in NFL postseason history.
On this day in the Wildcard Round 1 year ago the Browns lead the Steelers 28-0 at the end of the 1ST QUARTER pic.twitter.com/bITNgRI5YR
— NFL GAME TIME (@NFL_GAME_TIME) January 11, 2022
Baker earned the starting role in training camp and held onto it for the entire 2023 season, and he helped lead the Bucs to their third straight division title. As his role of starting QB, he showed Tampa Bay who he’s always been: a guy who isn’t necessarily a top tier starter, but rather a capable starter who will occasionally put up gaudy stats. He eclipsed the 4,000 yard mark for the first time in his career and set career highs in completion percentage (64.3%) and touchdowns (28). He also led Mike Evans to his tenth straight 1,000 yard season, and helped Chris Godwin notch his fourth 1,000 yard season in the last five years.
Evans also tied Tyreek Hill for the most touchdown catches in the NFL in 2023.
“I can’t say enough about this team,” Mayfield said after their Week 18 victory. “The stuff that we’ve been through this year, and to handle it correctly and find a way to win five of six in the end to get in the playoffs and win the division.”
Mayfield led Tampa to a 9-8 record, which is Mayfield’s first winning season since 2020, when the Browns went to the playoffs for the first time in 18 years. To make it even sweeter, the division clinching victory came against his former team.
Say what you will, but Baker Mayfield is a warrior. pic.twitter.com/7GhDoVzFw1
— The Pewter Plank (@ThePewterPlank) January 7, 2024
He was signed to the epitome of a “prove-it” type deal with his one year, $8.5 million contract. In a tumultuous 2022, Cleveland traded him to Carolina, where quarterbacks have had virtually no chance of success of late, and went 1-5 in six starts. After being granted a request for his release, he was claimed off waivers from the Rams and became their starter on approximately six minutes notice. As the leader of Sean McVay’s squad, he went 1-3 as a starter and led the Rams to a wild comeback victory against the Raiders after then starter John Wolford was benched.
While he had dud games every now and then (as do most quarterbacks), Todd Bowles said he “can’t say enough” about the impact Baker Mayfield has had on the Buccaneers.
“He’s done a lot for us this year,” Bowles said in a press conference. “You can’t imagine the things you don’t see on the field that he’s done for us from a team standpoint, from a mentality standpoint, from a bringing guys together and bringing guys along standpoint, not to mention how well he’s been playing of late.”
Baker will enter the 2024 playoffs slightly banged up. After suffering a rib injury in Week 17 against the Saints, he played through it against the Panthers in Week 18. He threw for a season low 137 yards against his former team, but it was enough for Tampa to secure the victory, as Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals and the Panthers’ offense put up a goose egg. His status for Tampa’s wild card game against the Eagles has yet to be finalized.
“I will see how he feels and how he goes through treatment this week, and we will make that determination as the week goes,” head coach Todd Bowles said.
Heading into the 2024 offseason, Mayfield will be a free agent. It would be far from a shock if the Buccaneers retain him, especially since Tampa is not in a position to draft one of the top QB prospects in a loaded 2024 draft class. Given the career revival he’s experienced in Tampa, there is no reason why the Bucs wouldn’t or shouldn’t stay with the signal caller that led them to the playoffs.
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