Does The Media Overlook Buccaneers’ Mayfield’s Success? Nick Wright Speaks Out

Baker Mayfield’s NFL career was once written off after a tumultuous start, but he’s experiencing a resurgence with the Buccaneers, where he’s been the starting quarterback for two seasons now.

Mayfield’s made a strong start with the Buccaneers, earning Pro Bowl nods in each of his first two seasons. Yet, despite his success, he’s flying under the radar, according to Nick Wright on “First Things First” – a stark contrast to the media scrutiny he faced during his struggles with previous teams.

“When Baker wasn’t great, he was over-discussed,” Wright stated. “And now that he’s really good, I think he’s under-discussed.”

The Cleveland Browns drafted Baker Mayfield first overall in 2018, hoping he’d be their savior, but despite the high expectations, the team struggled to achieve significant success during his tenure.

Mayfield’s struggles persisted with the Carolina Panthers, but a brief stop with the Rams reignited his career momentum. He seized a chance with the Buccaneers, signing a one-year prove-it deal in 2023, which paved the way for a lucrative three-year, $100 million extension in 2024.

The BR Rub 

Under Mayfield, the Buccaneers have enjoyed immediate success, making the playoffs and securing the NFC South division title in each of his first two seasons. He’s consistently in the Top-10 of several offensive stat categories. In 2024 alone he had nearly 5,000 yards from scrimmage and 44 touchdowns.

Overall, Mayfield’s tenure with the Buccaneers has been marked by significant achievements and a renewed sense of success in his career. Plus a pretty fat contract.