Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield Finally Collects National Respect

Over the past two seasons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has become not just a fan favorite but an absolute team favorite.

Brought out of relative obscurity by Bucs general manager Jason Licht following the retirement of Tom Brady in 2021, Mayfield came to town hoping to resurrect a career that had seen him with four teams in three seasons.

He was a quarterback who was dumped by - of all franchises, the Cleveland Browns - and then cast aside by the Panthers and Rams before joining the Bucs on a one-year, prove-it deal in 2022. And prove it he did. 

After a career season under first-year offensive coordinator Dave Canales, Mayfield signed a three-year deal with Licht to remain with the Bucs, and watched Canales leave for Carolina.

Then in 2024, under first-year coordinator Liam Coen, Baker set new career highs and watched Coen leave for Jacksonville.

All the while, Baker was passed over for national accolades while leading the team to two consecutive division titles in Tampa Bay.

But now that might have changed. As NFL.com recently ranked their end-of-season quarterback rankings, Mayfield is finally recognized.

Mayfield lands at No. 6 on the list from Nick Shook.

“Mayfield’s 2023 renaissance earned him a new contract, but also queued up the doubters who believed he had little chance of replicating such success under a different offensive coordinator in 2024. ... Mayfield outdid himself this season, resetting his previous career-highs in passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage. Those new marks look even more impressive when you consider he produced the bulk of his production without one or both of his top pass-catchers, with Chris Godwin sustaining a season-ending injury in Week 7 and Mike Evans missing three games, as well.

“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.”

Ahead of Baker are No. 5 Jayden Daniels, which is fair based on his season and the fact that he beat Mayfield and the Bucs head-to-head in the postseason. No. 4 Jared Goff, who has consistently been one of the league's top passers since entering the league in 2016.

No. 3 is Joe Burrow. And a case could certainly be made that Mayfield is better than Burrow or at the very least equal to the former LSU Tiger. No. 2 is Josh Allen who although being tops in the league in many categories each season, can't seem to get over the hump and to a Super Bowl.

No. 1 is Lamar Jackson, and I could make a case that Mayfield is better than the Ravens' quarterback. But Lamar gets the love and attention from the national media that Baker never does.

But maybe all that is changing now.