Buccaneers Mayfield Recognized as a Top-10 Quarterback

The NFL recently polled execs about who they think are the Top-10 best QBs in the NFL right now. Obviously the top three aren’t that much of a debate. It’s Mahomes, Allen, and Burrow. Well, ok, maybe there is some debate there as Lamar probably deserves to be above Burrow. But what was surprising to me is that Baker Mayfield actually managed to get a spot onto this list. Sure, he barely cracked it at 10, but considering how often Buccaneers players feel snubbed, this is still a revelation.

Via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, 

“Baker Mayfield walked so Sam Darnold could run. The former No. 1 pick is emblematic of the NFL’s capacity for career resurgences at the game’s most important position, setting the blueprint for near busts to one day reach $100 million.”

Fowler continued,

“When Mayfield signed a modest one-year deal with Tampa in 2023 and led the Bucs to the playoffs, it was a nice storyline about a former No. 1 pick regaining his footing. When he did it twice and his performance improved, that’s proof of concept. Only Allen and Jackson have more touchdowns over the past two seasons than Mayfield’s 73.”

I guess I should mention it now, but I do have some problems with the list. I’m not 100% on board with putting rookies in the top ten. Yes, I get the idea is that they’re the top ten QBs heading into the next season, but it still feels a little rich putting him at 5. Also, I think Goff and Herbert are too high here and I do think Baker deserves to be higher than them.

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With all that said, why did Baker make it onto this list? Well, as Jeremy Fowler points out, he was the best Qb against the blitz with the highest completion percentage (72.3%) and most passing TDs at 18. He also has the third most passing TDs over the last two seasons at 73, behind Allen and Lamar. As one exec put it, “He honestly reminds me of Favre a little bit as far as style of play,” the personnel man said. “He’s got a moxie to him, like, ‘F— you, I’m on the attack.”His play was definitely reminiscent of Favre, for good and bad. His giveaways were probably the only reason he wasn’t ranked higher. I’m surprised Fowler didn’t mention it, but I have to assume the fact that he has cycled through two coordinators already and played well has given him bonus points.

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If Baker ends up putting up more good numbers with his third coordinator, you have to expect his name to rise up the list. He has proven each year he has been here how much of a mistake the Browns have made. While the playoff success hasn’t necessarily been there, Baker has proven to be a really good QB for the Buccaneers. Something that is always a commodity.