'F--- you, I'm on the attack' - NFL staffer hits the nail on the head as to why Bucs QB Baker Mayfield was rightly included in prestigious top 10 list

Baker Mayfield has had quite the career renaissance in Tampa Bay.  The Bucs' quarterback stepped into a difficult spot after Tom Brady's departure following the 2022 season, and somehow, he elevated the Bucs' offense substantially while also reaching levels of play he himself had not accomplished.  

Finally, after two seasons in Tampa, talent evaluators around the league are starting to give him his flowers.  ESPN put out their list of top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL, which is based upon input and voting of executives, coaches, and scouts around the league, and Mayfield checked in at #10.

This is what ESPN had to say about Mayfield: 

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.

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.

"Fearless as a thrower and a runner," an NFL personnel evaluator said. "He's got on-field leadership where teammates want to support him. Much better arm than given credit for. Good mover in the pocket and can rush for yards. Attacks the third level of the defense. When he's got time [in the pocket], he's as good as almost anybody right now."

Last season, Mayfield joined Brady as the only quarterbacks in Buccaneers history with 40 passing touchdowns in a season. Mayfield dominated against the blitz, leading all quarterbacks in completion percentage (72.3%) and passing touchdowns (18) against five or more pass rushers.

"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.' And defensive guys feel that presence."

Moxie and Farve are two words mentioned that seem to fit Mayfield quite well.  The Bucs' QB doesn't lack for confidence, and that confidence has elevated the level of play of those around him.  While he makes mistakes and throws interceptions, moments of 'good Baker' have substantially outweighed moments of 'bad Baker' over the last two years.  

That was evidenced last year with 41 touchdown passes (and a career-high 4500 passing yards) to 16 interceptions.  Both are high numbers, but the good has obviously outshone the bad.  The Bucs' sky-high rank of their passing offense has spoken to it working out as well. 

Mayfield went from unranked in last year's rankings into the top 10 with year three in Tampa ahead.  We'll see if he can jump up the board a bit next July, and if so, it likely speaks to another strong season in Tampa Bay for #6 in pewter and red.