It’s been an interesting climb for Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield during the last two seasons from obscurity to a sizzling commodity within the NFL. The Bucs had been discount looking once they signed him again in 2023, however by the top of the 2024 season going into 2025, the acquisition of Baker Mayfield looks like a steal on the identical stage of the Lufthansa Heist. Mayfield has lived after as much as the billing of the $100 million the Bucs are paying him after the signing a three-year deal final offseason.
This isn’t simply because Mayfield has performed effectively and Tampa Bay has total been profitable, he has been taking part in at an elite stage and utterly elevated his recreation from 2023 to 2024. Mayfield’s 4,500 passing yards had been second within the league behind Joe Burrow and his 41 landing passes had been tied for second with Lamar Jackson, additionally trailing Burrow once more however simply by two. Mayfield and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow had been the one quarterbacks on the season to throw for at the least 4,500 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Baker Mayfield Will get A Nice Rating
In terms of the dialog of who’re the perfect quarterbacks and who had the perfect season, it at all times comes again to the likes of Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and some others. Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts deserves to be in there as effectively after successful the Tremendous Bowl and the Tremendous Bowl MVP honors.
However Baker Mayfield hasn’t been forgotten both. On NFL.com, Nick Shook did an end-of-year quarterback rankings and Mayfield wound up at No. 6 on the checklist, the identical as his jersey quantity. Right here’s what he mentioned about it.
“Mayfield’s 2023 renaissance earned him a brand new contract, but in addition queued up the doubters who believed he had little probability of replicating such success underneath a special offensive coordinator in 2024. Boy, had been they mistaken. Mayfield outdid himself this season, resetting his earlier career-highs in passing yards, touchdowns and completion share. These new marks look much more spectacular when you think about he produced the majority of his manufacturing with out one or each of his prime pass-catchers, with Chris Godwin sustaining a season-ending harm in Week 7 and Mike Evans lacking three video games, as effectively.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
“In their absence, Mayfield kept Tampa competitive by successfully leaning on lesser-known names. Under his direction, the Bucs offense transformed into a team capable of exploding for 30-plus points in any given week, as they did three times over their final seven games (six wins). His performance proved Tampa was right to take a flier on him in 2023 and cemented his status as the franchise’s QB1.”
Forward of Baker Mayfield from one to 5 had been Jackson, Allen, Burrow, Lions quarterback Jared Goff and Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels. The one proper after Mayfield at No. 7 was Mahomes, adopted by Rams QB Matthew Stafford, Hurts and Packers sign caller Jordan Like to spherical out the highest 10.
You will need to determine that these primarily based particularly across the play of this common season and postseason. If somebody was beginning a group and will draft any quarterback within the league, Mahomes probably goes first, however primarily based on the season, it’s a good spot.
Since Daniels beat Mayfield and the Bucs within the postseason and made it to the NFC Championship Recreation, it’s additionally honest to place him within the prime 5. The place I might push again on the highest 10 rankings is with Hurts at 9. It’s utterly comprehensible to argue that the Eagles had been all about working the ball with All-Professional Saquon Barkley, who had a unbelievable, record-breaking season. However within the Tremendous Bowl, Barkley was slowed down by the Chiefs and Hurts took over along with his passing and working, additionally successful Tremendous Bowl MVP honors. It’s exhausting to to say that he barely cracks the highest 10 with that efficiency.
What’s The Ceiling For Baker Mayfield?
Bucs RT Luke Goedeke and QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
What would that imply for Baker Mayfield? Possibly he strikes again a spot or two, however regardless, the truth that Mayfield is within the dialog with everyone else talked about and it’s not coming from simply Tampa media is a good signal.
We questioned how a lot Mayfield may get higher in 2024 and the reply was lots. There aren’t any questions going into 2025 about whether or not or not he can get enhance, as a result of he’s already established that he can.
Loads of issues are nonetheless on the horizon for Baker Mayfield. Possibly he will get additional into the MVP dialog and will get voted into the Professional Bowl as a substitute of being an alternate. However most significantly, he has by no means had a greater probability of successful a Tremendous Bowl like he does in the meanwhile going into subsequent season.
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