Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield Named 'Borderline Star' In QB Tiers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jun 20, 2025 11:44 AM ET

When discussing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield, differing opinions prevail.

Some think the player Baker has shown over the past two seasons is merely a front for what will be the inevitable collapse in 2025. But others think something more tangible is there, and what we are seeing won't go away, but get stronger.

There have been skeptics throughout Baker's time in Tampa Bay, despite his back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons, and with 2024 being his best statistical season (4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdowns), entering 2025, Mayfield has finally received the credit he deserves.

CBS Sports has put all starting quarterbacks into tiers, and Baker has landed in Tier 2, called Borderline Stars.

"A comeback story for his time, Mayfield still possesses some of the same reckless abandon that saw him bounce between three teams from 2021-2022," CBS Sports writes. "Yet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have adopted his scrappiness mostly for the better. He throws himself into trouble, but his 77 passing scores since 2023 (including playoffs) are no joke."

For reference, the others in his tier include Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, Brock Purdy, Jordan Love, Justin Herbert, and Dak Prescott.

That is a solid group right there, and Mayfield is a part of it.

With another "new" offensive coordinator in Josh Grizzard, who was the passing game coordinator under Liam Coen last season, some think a Mayfield regression is on the cards.

But he's bucked that trend in the last two seasons. Can Baker make it three?

As a "borderline star," we think he's set to give his critics some more humble pie.

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

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