Skip Bayless: Baker Mayfield Is A Top-Ten Quarterback
September 13th, 2025
Sees the light with Baker Mayfield.
The lightning rod that is media personality Skip Bayless is doing his victory laps. Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, Bayless said, is proving him right.
In a panel discussion/hollering show on something called “The Arena: Gridiron,” Bayless said absolutely Mayfield is a top-10 quarterback.
In fact, Bayless said he hollered about this when Mayfield entered the 2018 draft. So naturally, Bayless is beating his chest, all but shouting, “I told you so!”
“[Mayfield] winds up in Tampa, and he finally finds a home,” Bayless began. “But he is replacing The Goat, Thomas Edward Patrick Brady, Jr. He’s stepping in to the winged cleats of Tom Brady for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“And what does he do in back to back years? He leads them to division titles and he makes Pro Bowls. Last year in Tampa, he put up his career numbers across the board. He threw 41 touchdown passes, which was second the league to Joe Burrow, 43. That’s pretty good. [And] made another Pro Bowl.”
Joe doesn’t know how anyone could suggest Mayfield isn’t in the top-10. Only a hater or someone who never watches the Bucs would do that.
Joe thinks we will look back in 15-20 years and Todd Bowles’ insistence on bringing Mayfield to the Bucs will be considered one of the smartest moves in franchise history.
In the NFL, you either have a quarterback or you don’t. The Bucs have one. A top-10 quarterback.
"Yes [Baker] is Top 10. I may need a seatbelt before this one is over."@RealSkipBayless ranks Baker Mayfield definitely as a Top 10 QB in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/CsGBBDK577
— The Arena: Gridiron (@ArenaGridiron) September 11, 2025
September 13th, 2025 at 12:22 am
About 6 or 7 years from now, if all goes well, these guys who say they believe he’s a top 10 QB, will be talking about something else. Like is Baker an all time top ten QB. Bowles insistence on bringing Mayfield to the Bucs should already be seen as one of the smartest moves the Bucs have made in their franchise’s history. I’ve seen the best QBs football has to offer over the last 65 years anyway, and if he finishes his career here if he isn’t top ten (would require at least 2 Super Bowl wins) he will be top 25 anyway. He’s been really good for alot of years now. These next 4 or 5 years will be his dead prime…to be continued
September 13th, 2025 at 1:39 am
He’s a sooner fan so he’s always been pro-Baker. Not a surprise here. I couldn’t care less what Talib thinks about him, honestly.
September 13th, 2025 at 2:02 am
Baker is Top-5.
Especially the last 2 seasons.
And hopefully this season as well, and in the future
September 13th, 2025 at 2:26 am
Top 10 alltime? Top 25 alltime? Whoa. There are four superstar quarterbacks in the league right now. Mahomes, Allen, Burrow, and Jackson. Baker ain’t in that class, and never will be. But short of those four, there is no QB on earth I would trade Baker for straight up. I just pray he doesn’t go looking for Dak Prescott money. Otherwise, I am just going to sit here and enjoy the ride.
September 13th, 2025 at 2:47 am
Lunch meat. Allen won the MVP last season. The last 22 NFL games-Baker 5777 yards and Allen 4984. Baker 70.4 comp.pct. and Allen 64.3. Baker 52 TDS and 18 interceptions and Allen 34 TDs and 10 interceptions. Baker 107.2 passer rating and Allen 99.8. Baker has dominated Burrow head to head. Mahomes is the best because QBs should be ranked heavily by playoff success. Oh yeah. Baker smokes every one that you named in playoff numbers. As old Davey keeps saying. The cream will rise to the top. And as I say Patience is hard earned. And that’s the truth.
September 13th, 2025 at 3:31 am
I realize that three years ago Baker was on his last legs. Now I think he has more than answered any questions about where he should be “ranked”. Not a big fan of rankings. It’s not a secret and Bayless is right. Corrupt media wants to sweep Tampa, Baker and the Bucs under the table but some know better.
Part of me hopes they keep giving us the bulletin board material though. LOL
Go Bucs!
September 13th, 2025 at 4:46 am
every 4th qt comeback gets him closer to elite, closer to Brady’s footprint, hes a great qb from the dime throws to scrambling to leading, stay healthy Bake!! needs a couple more playoff wins and a ring and he’ll be way up there!
September 13th, 2025 at 4:58 am
Bayless is right on point about Baker! And thankfully he found the home right here with the Bucs.
September 13th, 2025 at 7:04 am
BM6 MVP!!! Go Bucs🏈🏆🌎
September 13th, 2025 at 7:14 am
My post is one of appreciation. Tommy’s last year in Tampa was not good. That was understandable though. Sometimes no matter how mentally tough you are – life can hit you with a series of gut punches. Now here’s the appreciation part. When Tom retired I remember feeling rather hopeless. Kind of like the Bucs were entering another The Lost Decade Pt2. Cash strapped and cap strapped with no real good, affordable QB’s on the market. Then, Licht went bargain bin shopping for Mayfield. But for that move, the Bucs would have been in football purgatory for years. Hope now rings eternal. Now – on to Houston!
September 13th, 2025 at 7:53 am
Absolutely right, Lt. Dan. I think most of us felt the same way. And then, we got lucky. Baker was the perfect fit to come in after Brady. Go Bucs!
September 13th, 2025 at 8:14 am
I don’t get all the love thrown Burrow’s way. Mahomes has proven it with SB’s. Jackson and Allen always fall short, not that they’re not top QB’s. Those 3 are the only ones I would trade Baker for and maybe only Allen at that. Hurts is close there too, not gaudy numbers but he get’s it done.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:19 am
Five words that strike fear in the hearts of Bucs fans and sadness in Saints fans:
It could have been Carr.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:31 am
Bayless is a buffoon for the most part. But he deserves to beat his chest on this one. He was one of only a very few in sports media to consistently defend Baker from day one against the likes of people like Shannon Sharpe who called Baker trash and a bust as the first pick in the draft of 2018. As fair as Skip Bayless has been regarding Baker he has been equally unfair in his takes on many others so I take anything he says with a grain of salt. As for Shannon Sharpe and so many others who were so harshly critical and dismissive of Baker, it is now so satisfying to see them squirm as they begrudgingly give Baker his due. That being said there are so many still out there who are waiting and expecting him to fall so that they can say they were right all along and that this recent success was only a mirage and made possible by the extraordinary talent surrounding him.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:56 am
Personally, a fan of Baker but I guess I see the game differently than Kenton when it comes to comparing Baker favorably to Josh Allen.
Josh Allen had no receivers of any quality last year but somehow still won the MVP. Oh, I see it now. If was not just his 28 passing TDs and only 6 Ints.
It was his 531 yards rushing, his 12 TDs rushing, and his 52 rushing 1st downs and only 6 fumbles last year.
Baker had a marvelous 378 rushing, with 3 TDs, 24 rushing 1st downs and 13 fumbles.
So, again my eyes tell me that Baker has the clear better receivers — and that Allens 2024 season was significantly better than Bakers last year.
Burrows passing season last year was better than either easily (49 TDs and only 9 Ints) and his 200 yards rushing and 16 rushing 1st downs with 11 fumbles was really in range of Bakers.
But to me the best year last year by statistics was Lamar Jackson.
September 13th, 2025 at 9:14 am
I agree Josh is unreal and I would doubt there is 1 person in Buffalo that would Trade Josh for any QB ,, But we got a guy who competes every play, a guy that gets our team going , a guy with moxie and a true desire to win.
We will find out this year about Josh Vs Baker as they will play 2 times, Regular Season and SuperBowl 😉
September 13th, 2025 at 9:18 am
The fact that a QB like Feisty Bake was thrown on the NFL scrap heap where Bowles found him shows you just how stupid some NFL “experts” are. There are intangibles Baker brings, especially the team-first mentality, and the fearless feisty drive to win. He fits right in with the rest of this Bucs team. Maybe it was his advanced age, personal problems, etc., but Brady was just like an automation in some games. Baker is not, even at his worst. As far as QB ranking, I’m no expert, just a fan so I ‘ll skip it. I’m just glad Bake is here. Now, if he would just lean to slide more! 2-0, Bucs!!
September 13th, 2025 at 9:39 am
geno711, I, just like any football fan, like Josh Allen alot. He’s a great QB and guy that teammates rally around. Baker wasn’t blessed with some of those talents that Allen has. As far as Burrow goes, he’s awful good but I would rather have Baker. And Burrow didn’t throw 49 touchdowns last year. He threw 43. Baker was second with 41. Baker has more than anyone the last 2+years. So maybe Burrow wasn’t “easily” the best passer.
September 13th, 2025 at 9:57 am
The doubters are out of market people making trouble.
September 13th, 2025 at 11:21 am
Overall I would agree that Baker isn’t in the group of the top 3 right now BUT…if Baker hadn’t had 10 OC’s in 8 years and almost a new HC every year he would be in that group. Baker hasn’t had a good OC until he arrived here. His development as an NFL quarterback has been setback for lack of consistency and quality coaching. If he would have been drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs with the best of everything he would no doubt be in that top 3. And he just might end up there anyway. Let’s see how good Grizzard does this year. There is a real reasons Baker has been voted, I think twice now, the best college quarterback in the 21st century. The top 3 haven’t been. And I realize the NFL is totally a different animal from college when it comes to the quarterback position but those skills that make a great college quarterback can carry over under the right coaching. And Baker hasnt had that advantage but he has had, since coming here, people that believe in him and have been smart at using his talents & strengths and incorporating them into this offensive unit and the final product has not yet been realized. Will it be better than last years 3rd best offense? Almost guaranteed to be.
September 13th, 2025 at 12:15 pm
Kenton smith,
Thank you for educating the dullards here about Baker. In fact, when Baker and Bucs win a couple of Super Bowls in the next 6-7 years there is no doubt Baker will be on his way to Canton. It amazes me when people say “Baker will never be the equivalent of Josh Allen, Burrow, Lamar, etc” when he already is. Many get poetic about EE touchdown receptions last week. Here are the facts, those passes that Mayfield threw under pressure were perfect. All EE had to do was to make sure he didn’t drop them. Baker and Bucs are going to have a great year and soon the momentum, analyst crowd who only ratify the obvious will be saying Mayfield is top 5 now with HOF waiting for him.
September 13th, 2025 at 12:21 pm
To paraphrase something said elsewhere “Baker Mayfield, love him or hate him you have to admit he is a baller!”. Dare I say that most of us who love Baker will concede that he has not shown ,yet, what he is in comparison to the current best QBs in the NFL. Give him this year and next then we will have clarity. My expectations for our team this year are elevated by what I have seen of him so far.
Go Bucs!!
September 13th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
I’ll take the underDOG all day, every day and twice on Sundays.(literally) That’s how I became a Bucs fan, all my friends rooted for the Dolphins because they were here first. I’m an underdog kinda guy. It’s never easy
September 13th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
@anyhony
We gotta be from the same tribe. I spend most of my time watching college ball(hoops and football) rooting for the underdog or an upset special.
September 13th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
Maybe it’s the Homer in me, but I don’t think so. I think it’s not even a question that Bake is a top 10 QB currently. I think the question is if he is a top 5 qb. I think a case could be made that he’s on the cusp at worst.
September 13th, 2025 at 2:53 pm
I don’t believe the Bucs were heading towards a total complete disaster post Brady, and never did. There were just waaayyy too many DAMN GOOD Players still in their primes, & with “Championship Pedigrees” still leftover on this roster (and from the FO on down, learning from Brady, ‘what it takes’ to be a WINNER). And, yes, at the time, I ‘thought’ that DWhite was going to be one of them, anchoring our Defense alongside of LVD, Vea, Winfield Junior, & all of those young DB’s. Then, on Offense with WIRFS anchoring OUR O-Line, AND Mike Evans and Chris Godwin (plus, again, I ‘thought’ we’d at least get another good solid 3-4 years outta Lenny, too). So, I wasn’t worried, at ALL. Not whatsoever. And, so much so, that I PREDICTED THEM finishing 11-6 in BOTH of those seasons. And, they should have finished there, had it not been for Bowles’s decision making and in-game (time and timeouts) management, while trying to figure-out and learn HOW to be a (modern day) HC. So, let’s not forget that Baker found himself in a DAMN GOOD situation here, in Tampa Bay!!!! Hell, even HE knows that. You know he’s sick over losing Cohen. And he might be literally, physically sick by the end of this season if “The Grizz” doesn’t pan-out.
September 13th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
Anyhony and WBL. Good News!! We’re the underdogs for Monday!! I’m all in at +122. Sometimes, I’m an underdog kind of guy too!
September 13th, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Also, I should add that I was definitely not worried about the NFCS, either. And, that played a HUGE part of it, as well.
September 13th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Well Melvin you might not have thought we were in for some rough times but Vegas sure did, 4 wins, and so did 99% of our fans. I SURE don’t remember ANYONE calling out that we would be going 2 deep into the playoffs either. I guess that was just dumb luck, nothing to do with Bakie. I guess Bakie didn’t have anything to do with taking Cleveland from 1-31 to 11-6 either. That’s all right though, I’m sure everyone one else remembers how dire it was looking.
September 13th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
I always knew that it would be handed over to Bowles eventually, but I did not know that he was going to be as bad as he was throughout those first three seasons (Cohen saved his freakin’ job 💯). I mean, he has seemed to have slightly improved over the course of the past three seasons, but very minimally. He seems to have gotten better, but this season will be the REAL indictment on Mr. Todd Bowles. We’ll see what happens… I just can’t see another 9-8 (1st-round playoff loss) season or worse, as being considered a success. Cause, at that point, What Are We Doing Here… What are we really accomplishing!? It would be like being stuck in quicksand. There would have to be some change. A major change. Which, would start with a brand new head coaching search in the works. The time for EXCUSES are now loooong over. Someone, would have to be held accountable.
September 13th, 2025 at 3:40 pm
@Davyboy – I never remember Vegas saying “4-Wins.” I remember a few DUMBASS so-called “expert” talking-heads predicting that win-total, but not Vegas. I remember several others (including MANY of the “Homers” on here) predicting a ‘middle-of-the-road’ team, which we were. Just BARELY ‘sneaked’ into the Playoffs, coming outta THE WORST Division in the entire NFL, after having THE ‘weakest’ 2nd-Half Schedule, and getting LUCKY AF just beating THOSE teams. Evans. Wirfs. LVD. Godwin. Winfield JUNIOR. And, many others, who were DAMN STRONG Football Players. Period.
September 13th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
I mean, if you Are going to TRY to insinuate that “BAKER” like single-handedly, took THIS team to the playoffs, then YOU are effin DELUSIONAL. Baker looked HORRIBLE for the majority of that season, thus for all the calls for Trask to play and get a shot. If Bake had truthfully looked “SO GREAT” to begin with, then you wouldn’t had heard WELL OVER HALFFFF of the FANBASE wanting to at least, see what the hell HE looked like (of course, you’d still have the same 4-5 Trask-LOVERS, regardless). I swear Man, it’s YOU PEOPLE, who make it almost impossible to root for Baker. I’m tired of hearing the excuses for Baker. His record is putrid against GOOD Teams.
September 13th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
I just reread my initial comment, and YOU seriously, took THAT as a personal shot towards BAKER!? You need HELP. You’ve got BIG problems. And, do you like, sit HERE literally, ALL DAY (immediately, always replying on these, even older ones… do you just continuously, constantly scroll these)!? It’s very weird. But, YOU took THAT as a personal attack on Bake. When, EVERYBODY (including Baker) KNEW this was a great opportunity here FOR BAKER, due to the roster, division, and number of weapons on Offense. You are completely, totally, UN. HINGED. It’s really pathetic. Just a Deranged lunatic. Over a ‘professional’ ATHLETE, as an ADULT. Get Help,
September 13th, 2025 at 4:19 pm
And, by the way, that’s why MOST fans were pissed-off that preseason by the “7-WIN” Vegas Total, AND with the amount of disrespect from a lot of the media, that just immediately ‘counted us out’ (that was ‘one’ so-called expert who predicted the 4)… That is also, why this FO was publicly complaining about it, as well. Because, WE all KNEW what we had leftover here, and so did this team. As did Bake. So, HELL NO… 99% of THIS FANBASE ever ‘thought’ we were only going to WIN just 4-Games. That’s Ridiculous. I remember it well. I mean, there were a few who said 6-Games, and etc. But, for the overwhelming majority, the ONLY thing that gave them cause to pause, was due to our HC and NOT this roster. Mother than that, MOST were fairly optimistic and predicted ANOTHER Playoffs Berth.
September 13th, 2025 at 5:09 pm
MelvinJunior Says:
September 13th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
I mean, if you Are going to TRY to insinuate that “BAKER” like single-handedly, took THIS team to the playoffs, then YOU are effin DELUSIONAL. Baker looked HORRIBLE for the majority of that season, thus for all the calls for Trask to play
==================================
Right, Baker looked so ‘horrible” for the majority of the 2023 season that Licht gave him at the end of 2023 a $100Millon 3 year deal. Don’t know what is with you birdbrains, Baker had an off day Sunday but he threw 2 perfect strikes to EE. At the end of this season, Licht will extend Baker with a 4 year deal at $55Mill/yr. You better get used to it Melvie.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
Wow Melvin sorry I got you so worked up. But don’t confuse Baker with his crazy fans that correct people when they say ignorant things about their boy.
That’s the thing about you haters you put words in others mouths constantly. You have done it 10 times in your last 6 posts. I’m not going to address them all but you sure sound smart telling us what everyone thinks and is thinking. One of them is “if you are going to try and insinuate that Baker singlehandedly took us to the playoffs” I never said he singlehandedly did anything. But Todd Bowles did say “Baker is the reason we are even in the playoffs”. I think you need to take that up with coach not me. You sound confused again because you just called Todd Bowles effin DELUSIONAL. Just sayin…
September 13th, 2025 at 8:25 pm
Actually, Melvin you need help learning how not to tell someone they said something when they didn’t. Try paying attention it really makes a big difference in a discussion. Almost everything you said in your last 5 post is bs. Next you’re going to tell me I said our roster sucked.
September 13th, 2025 at 8:33 pm
Vegas was 6 and we won 10. And Baker was the ONLY thing that changed. So you going off kinda looks like you are delusional because the difference in 6 and 10 is Baker. And just because you don’t want to admitt it doesn’t make it a reality. You should know that by now Melvin.