Former player compares Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield to MVP quarterbacks

Shortly after quarterback Baker Mayfield drove the Tampa Bay Buccaneers down the field for a late game-winning drive at the Atlanta Falcons this past Sunday, Buccaneers right tackle Luke Goedeke said that "there’s no one I’d rather have with the ball in his hands in that situation than Baker." 

During a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, former MVP Rich Gannon compared Mayfield to some other winners of that award. 

Baker Mayfield is "in that group" of MVP quarterbacks

"You always think that with Baker Mayfield with the ball in his hands at the end of the game, 'We got a chance,'" Gannon explained, per the JoeBucsFan website. "And I think what’s special about players like Mayfield and Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes and those type of players — and I think Mayfield’s in that group when you talk about his performance late in games — Baker Mayfield has a belief system in himself, a belief in himself that is way up on the chart."

Mayfield was facing a 20-17 deficit when he snapped the ball with 2:10 remaining in regulation. With the help of a roughing the passer penalty, he drove Tampa Bay to the Atlanta 25-yard line in four plays before he delivered an on-the-money touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka with 59 seconds on the clock. 

According to Pro Football Reference, Mayfield is now tied for 15th among active players in career game-winning drives (13). He's also tied for 16th among active quarterbacks with 11 career fourth-quarter comebacks. 

How Baker Mayfield has changed since Cleveland Browns tenure

Much has been made about how Mayfield has improved since he was discarded by the Cleveland Browns after the 2021 season.

"I think he’s a different player than he was when he was in Cleveland," Gannon added. "I think he’s matured. I think he’s a more humble player. But he’s never lost the inner belief that he can get it done with a little bit of time left on the clock. And I think it’s the teammates know that. The coaches know that. But what’s special about him is [that] the opponents know that. Like you know, with this guy, with the ball in his hands, like something bad could happen if we don’t find a way to get him on the ground. And I still think he’s one of the hardest quarterbacks to sack. Not the biggest guy, but he is slippery in the pocket."

As of Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had Mayfield ninth among the betting favorites at +2500 odds to claim the MVP Award for the ongoing season. He and the Bucs will next face the 0-1 Houston Texans at Houston's NRG Stadium this coming Monday evening.