GM reveals why Buccaneers love QB Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht revealed a poorly kept secret when he confirmed former head coach and senior adviser Bruce Arians was a Baker Mayfield supporter years before Mayfield landed in Florida.

"Bruce Arians was always a big fan of Baker’s, and we talked about him a lot over the past few years when Bruce was my head coach (from 2019 through the 2021 season)," Licht explained during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, per the JoeBucsFan website. "I think [Baker] is finally in a place where he’s got some stability and he’s got people that are kind of wrapping their arms around him and they truly love him as the leader and quarterback." 

Arians served as an NFL analyst for CBS in 2018 and repeatedly made it known over the years he liked Mayfield before the signal-caller became the first pick of that year's draft. It was thought during the spring of 2022 that the Buccaneers could trade for Mayfield after he lost his starting job with the Cleveland Browns to Deshaun Watson, but Mayfield ultimately spent time with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams last season before he signed a one-year contract with Tampa Bay this past March. 

Mayfield won three of his first four Buccaneers starts heading into the team's bye and largely impressed over the past month. According to ESPN stats, he began Thursday ranked sixth in the NFL among qualified players with a 69.1 adjusted QBR, eighth with a 101.5 passer rating and tied for seventh with seven passing touchdowns. 

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles made it known earlier this week he wants Mayfield to stop "taking too many" hits during games. Licht suggested such toughness helped the 28-year-old earn respect from those inside the locker room this fall. 

"And, you know, him toughing out some of those runs on third down and lowering his shoulder … he’s kind of won a lot of people over with that, his teammates," Licht added during the segment. "But he’s also done such a great job just the minute he came in here just gravitating toward the linemen, toward the receivers. Now they’re gravitating toward him. He’s a dude." 

Following their break, Mayfield and the 3-1 Buccaneers host the Detroit Lions on Oct. 15. The 3-1 Lions face the 0-4 Carolina Panthers at Detroit's Ford Field this Sunday.