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Baker Mayfield's Buccaneers Bandwagon Filling Up

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated May 11, 2025 11:32 PM ET

You can't not be happy for Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield after his career resurgence over the past two seasons.

On the scrap heap after stints with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams, Baker came to Tampa Bay, potentially on his last shot at being a starter...and he hasn't looked back.

Back-to-back seasons of Pro Bowl nods, playoff appearances, and division titles, Mayfield's play has thrust the Buccaneers into the NFC contenders conversation.

And while there are a host of skeptics about what Baker and the Bucs could do in 2025, they have one fan in NFL.com's Gennaro Filice, who named Mayfield as one player to hitch your bandwagon to this upcoming season.

"Fresh off a career year that saw him tie for second in touchdown passes (41) while finishing third in passing yards (4,500) and completion percentage (71.4), Mayfield is about to play under his fifth offensive coordinator in as many seasons," Filice writes.
"Furthermore, Mayfield’s protected by one of the best offensive lines in the league. And he’s supported by a deep group of pass catchers and ball carriers, with the Buccaneers’ first-round pick, Emeka Egbuka, only adding to those riches."

The Buccaneers' offense last season was explosive, and that was without Chris Godwin after Week 7. So we add him back into the mix and first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka, and now the offense, on paper at least, could be seen as one of the best in football.

And we haven't added Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, and Sean Tucker in yet, as the run game was top five last season.

It is easy to see why Mayfield's bandwagon is collecting fans. This Tampa Bay team has talent everywhere, and with a defense that got solidified in the offseason via free agency (Haason Reddick) and the draft, the Buccaneers are poised to do some damage in 2025.

With Mayfield set to collect more bandwagon fans along the way.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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