Baker Mayfield Is Rock Solid For 2026
January 25th, 2026
When Baker Mayfield was an MVP frontrunner.
So how comfortable are you with the Bucs’ quarterback room right now? Sadly, “this Joe” confesses to developing doubts.
Over at BSPN, Seth Walder, a man who never met a number he didn’t like, wanted to hear from the four-letter’s NFC South beat reporters about how confident they are with their team’s quarterback room, meaning starting quarterback and backup(s).
Jenna Laine of ESPN isn’t overly confident. On a scale of 1-10, Laine listed her confidence in the Bucs’ quarterbacks at a 7.
Laine: 7. A year ago, this rating would have been even higher, with Mayfield having finished with 41 touchdowns in 2024, the second-most in the league, and having led the Bucs to a 10-win season. And even in the first half of the season in 2025, Mayfield looked like an MVP candidate, in the way he led the offense in a near-record number of last-second comebacks. But he was hampered by left and right shoulder injuries and a knee injury.
Still, Mayfield saw his accuracy drop, and he had uncharacteristic overthrows with his receivers. His performance showed on third down, where his third down off-target percentage went from 13.6% in 2024 and 13.3% in 2023 to 22.4% in 2025. It was less noticeable on other downs. The Bucs’ playcalling took a step backward in 2025 with Josh Grizzard not able to fill the void left by Liam Coen as well, which would have put Mayfield in more favorable down-and-distance situations, but there were moments when Mayfield simply didn’t execute.
Well, Joe would list confidence in the Bucs’ quarterback room at a 6. Yes, Joe has newfound concerns about Baker Mayfield and when judging the Bucs’ backups… what backups? If Teddy Bridgewater was No. 2, then everything after that shouldn’t have been on the roster because perhaps Bridgewater shouldn’t have been on the roster.
It has shaken Joe how Baker Mayfield fell off a cliff after the bye week this past season. At one point he was the leader in the clubhouse for MVP and led the Bucs to a 6-2 record. Then, after the bye, the Bucs with Mayfield, lost seven of their final nine games.
Joe keeps coming back to the following two questions: Was Baker Mayfield so hurt that he could not lead the offense? And if he was, why then was Bridgewater not on the field?
Also, if the Bucs figured they’d get better play out of a maimed Mayfield than Bridgewater at 100 percent health, then why the hell was Bridgewater eating a roster spot?
If Joe were Team Glazer, with all the quarterbacks expected to hit the draft in 2027, Joe would have to see how Mayfield rebounds this fall before placing a new contract in front of Mayfield to sign.
Joe absolutely loves Mayfield’s intangibles. But at the end of the day, the man has to win games when you need them the most down the stretch.
If a starting quarterback can’t do that, then why would you give the man a costly extension?
January 25th, 2026 at 8:05 am
Can always draft a guy in the mid rounds and see what he can learn this off-season and regular season. Need to replace the backup, and the young guy they had was on IR all year. Add a guy in the draft.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:25 am
This QB draft class is meh at best…
We might be able to grab that midget from Vandy in the 4th or 5th.
He seems to have plenty of “moxie” and we love us some “moxie” don’t we boys?
LOL!
January 25th, 2026 at 8:26 am
I’ll take the contrarian view, Joe.
Sign Baker to an extension, a team friendly deal that takes that season long distraction off the table. Then lock down Mike, for at least a one year with one year deals the way we did with LVD. Now Robinson can take the offense and focus on football and returning those guys a 30 points per game juggernaut. Guarantee Mike and Chris are chomping on the bit. Get all those guys fired up and working together.
We’ve got a special teams coach to take over that mess from last season, add a couple stud to cover kicks and keep opposing lineman off McLaughlin and Dixon so they can just kick the damn ball.
And that leaves the time and money for Licht and Bowles to fix the damn defense. The talent on that side of the ball has been horrible for the last couple years. We’ve missed on draft picks and in FA. We got old – LVD and VV – and guys like AWJ and McCollum got their bag and played like garbage. I thought with keeping Bowles we were teed up to bring in a new DC and scheme, overhaul the roster and bring back the defensive fire Bucs fans know and love. And expect. Now it’s up to Jason and Todd to make that happen.
But start it off by securing Baker and Mike to solidify the offense and relaunch the offense with Robinson.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:26 am
a good 2023 season, a great 2024 season, and a great 1/2 of 2025 season. you don’t fall off the map just like that without a reason. something happened during the bye week that no one will ever know.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:29 am
Definitely need a back up QB that can play. Maybe Zack can get Cousins. lol. Baker’s big problem last season was his lack of protection. Center and two backup linemen were getting killed. Otton was also flat out missing blocks. Overall Barton is not that good and our backups are horrible. Baker ended up playing hurt.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:30 am
Cannot argue with that. I LOVE Baker, but if Baker cannot rebound to be the player he was in the first half of the ’25 season, then draft a QB in ’27.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:30 am
Mayfield won games down the stretch in both 2023 and 2024 to get us into the post-season.
If you want to throw the baby with the bathwater out because of a small sample size after 1 1/2 years of Top 8-5 level play. Well that’s your perogative. I don’t.
Also he wasn’t taken out because Mayfield is Mayfield. He wasn’t taken out against the Panthers in the last game of 2023 either even though he was a walking corpse.
Baker will stay in the game, Todd Bowles has to take him out. But its always easier to have a scapegoat as a HC.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:40 am
I always felt we signed bridgewater as a pr move and not to really back Baker up. Otherwise he should have played when Baker was actually hurt right? Or maybe Todd saw enough after Teddy’s hospital ball to Jmac. He didnt look good during the half that he had to cover for mayfield.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:44 am
The reality is, your Brock Purdy’s are incredibly rare, and Purdy should thank his lucky stars San Fran drafted him, as Shanahan has done well to make MOST QBs in his system look really good. Anywhere else and who knows if he’d be starting by now.
If you listen to the greats, i.e. Brady, Manning, the QBs coming out of college are so much more regressed than what it was just 10-15 seasons ago. As teams integrated more college level playcalling, to include the NIL, it’s changed how QBs are developing in college, whereas we see less pro ready talent and certainly less depth at the position. 78% of the league has first round QBs starting for them. A few of the other teams have 2nd Rounders, and the rest most likely will be drafting their first round QB in this year’s draft.
Point is, if we’re looking for someone to eventually replace Baker, anything past the 2nd round is most likely a backup QB, that’s just the way this league is right now. Given what we spent on Trask in the draft, might have been worth holding on to him, or going back to him, he was on the Falcon’s practice squad, and I’m a little surprised this kid hasn’t gotten a “good” look from anyone given his measurables and the college he came from.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Color me super very comfortable confident. Baker didn’t suddenly forget how to play quarterback. Dude was beat to a pulp. Now about Bowles. Is there a number less than zero as it pertains to confidence? Thanks Glazers.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Well let’s see if he bounces back this year after he’s 100 percent. Has a healthy OL and his 50th OC. I think he makes it.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:49 am
It would be better to draft a QB in ’27 no matter what. If Bake plays great and is the franchise player we all see he can be, draft a developmental QB in the later rounds in ’27 as the QB class will be deep. If Baker sucks (tank for a better draft pick?) draft a QB in the first round in ’27.
The Bucs have MANY needs in ’26 to waste even a 7th round pick on a QB. Not in any order: 2 ILB, at least 1 Edge, 2 DT, TE, backup OG, RB, backup OT… That is more than the draft picks we have. We will have to spend some $$$ in FA, especially at OLB, so we get one who can drop into coverage.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:51 am
@LetsBucs…small sample size? Dude has been in the league for 8 seasons!
It’s no longer a small sample size, it’s a trend. He’s good enough right now but lower your expectations on what you think he’ll deliver for us. Eventually we need to find someone, preferably a high draft pick to develop under him and eventually replace him. OR… Licht pulls out the big guns a makes a trade we don’t see coming.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:51 am
Forcing the ball to certain receivers is never a good thing. The biggest reason we won early is they were able to spread the ball around to a bunch of no name offensive players. When future hall of famers are playing like Evans, they are always the first look. Problem is there were quite a few times that neither of them were on the same page resulting in INT’s and drops.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:53 am
All the sample size counts —- and this article is on Baker and how he regressed last year.
He missed open receivers this year more than any of the other two years with the Bucs.
Really, at some point it does not matter who the OC is. So many outstanding QB’s have had 8 or more different OC’s in their career. I saw this stat, between 2022 season and 2024 season every single team in the NFL had changed their OC at least once.
Whether it is Jalen Hurts, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Kirk Cousins, Matt Stafford or Justin Herbert. QBs have to figure it out.
January 25th, 2026 at 8:58 am
Does all the wear and tear caused by Bakers’ style of play resulted in him being on the downside of his career?
January 25th, 2026 at 9:00 am
The evidence is clear. He had a great year in 2024, then a great 1st half in 2025 with his performance falling off a cliff in the 2nd half of the season. Protect him by bolstering the oline depth and get that running game back up to speed. Also, it is imperative to coach Baker to be more selective about when he runs and how he runs. He has to slide, no more taking on linebackers. Improving the defense will go a long way as well. Desperately running and crashing into linebackers to convert a third down becomes less crucial if you can rely on the defense to get the ball back by getting a stop.Lets not assume that Baker is all of a sudden cooked. It’s possible but physical declines are usually gradual over time.
January 25th, 2026 at 9:02 am
He is a great leader and a good QB. Streaky though..
everyone pretty much came out saying he is playing hurt except for the Bucs and him. What QB isn’t playing hurt? DJ playing with a broken leg. Countless times Qbs are playing with broken ribs or other issues. We have to game plan around the streakiness by continuing to run the ball and play much better defense. The latter is the hard part.
January 25th, 2026 at 9:05 am
100% Joe.
Teddy was on the injured list a couple of times; one being his teeth. He wasn’t the right backup for Baker. We need to get one of the QBs from the draft to depend on and for the future too. Baker would be an awesome mentor for a QB just starting out. And if he is really hurt, we have a capable backup.
January 25th, 2026 at 9:09 am
Baker will be in the MVP talk again next near ,,,, give the guy a little time to throw ,,, I’m sure the regression had nothing to do w Mauch, Ben B , Wirfs , Goedeke, Jordan and everyone else being hurt ,,, not to mention Godwin, Big Mike, JMac , Otten, Bucky all missing time ,, heck EE was hurt a few games also (but played) ,,you couple that with an ineffective rookie play caller , bad special teams and horrifying defense ,,, Baker basically went into scramble (survival ) mode on the third step of his three step drops ,, I think Robinson will be a step up play caller (somewhere between Canales and Coen)
January 25th, 2026 at 9:10 am
These new age Bucs fans saying this franchise shouldn’t sign baker to an extension and DRAFT a quarterback. The Tampa bay buccaneers should draft a quarterback😂. And Todd sucks just enough to be mediocre he’ll never be good enough to get you deep into the playoffs or get you a high draft pick. .500 football no man’s land won’t get you a franchise quarterback. Should be more constable with baker with Bowles
January 25th, 2026 at 9:11 am
Bucs defense gave away 3 of the last 7 losses. With those wins, Bucs finish 10–7 or 11-6 and we are not having this discussion. Clearly, Mayfield was hurt but the O line was pitiful.
January 25th, 2026 at 9:11 am
Yes Daniel Jones played with a broken leg and naturally his play suffered. Everyone has injuries, some more than others. Depending on the nature of the injuries, quality of play will suffer. Patrick Mahomes played with a bad ankle against the Buccaneers in SB and his play suffered for sure.
January 25th, 2026 at 9:14 am
Yes please draft a QB . Let’s see this team try develop another one only to watch him fail and get launched out of here.
The Bucs are well known for doing that. A few did go on to success somewhere else.
January 25th, 2026 at 9:19 am
It’s clear the Buccaneers are way too dependent on Baker Mayfield. The team has to improve all around so that when one facet is less than stellar then the other facets can pick them up. That’s a description of the 2025 Patriots. They are the best all around team right now and will probably win the SB.
January 25th, 2026 at 9:23 am
Gipper. You are blind lol 🤣🤣 Baker gave away 7 games that’s why he’s on his 4th team. And next year you will be following him to his 5th team.
January 25th, 2026 at 9:28 am
One of the many things associated with the wheels coming off was the loss of Bredeson. At THAT point, we went from one guard who shouldn’t be on the field too TWO guards who shouldn’t have been on the field. I think the only game we won after losing him was the season finale
January 25th, 2026 at 9:41 am
Lt. Dan Says:
January 25th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Color me super very comfortable confident. Baker didn’t suddenly forget how to play quarterback. Dude was beat to a pulp.
_______
Agreed.
People who are saying Baker is trash are failing to see the big picture.
The middle of our OL was just bad this past season and our Defense sucks.
I’m not saying Baker is perfect but come on, the guy can play at at high level and wants to win.
January 25th, 2026 at 9:47 am
Oneilbuc Says:
January 25th, 2026 at 9:23 am
Gipper. You are blind lol 🤣🤣 Baker gave away 7 games that’s why he’s on his 4th team. And next year you will be following him to his 5th team.
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Bucs up 28-14 in last ATL game and lost 30-28 on lsst second winning FG. You think one of the worst defenses in the NFL has anything to do with that loss? You need another hobby. Go down to the senior center and bore them down there.
January 25th, 2026 at 10:00 am
“You think one of the worst defenses in the NFL has anything to do with that loss? You need another hobby. Go down to the senior center and bore them down there.“
Gotta read the room better than this Gipper. Of all games you could’ve choose the Buffalo game and made a better case.
Yet, you’re using 1 of the 4 losses Baker threw a 4th qtr INT up 8 points and decided to two step around that to sound like you know wtf you’re talking about.
I see why you’re such a staunch Mayfield supporter, you relate to bad decision making 😂
The Ides Of Mayfield
“Alas my lord, your wisdom is consumed in confidence.”
Such a great quote, Caesar shoulda listened
January 25th, 2026 at 10:03 am
This Joe talks out of both sides of his mouth🤮🤮🤮
January 25th, 2026 at 10:06 am
Baker is not the issue. He was injured, playing hurt, dealing with bad playcalling, and the defense that couldn’t stop anybody when it counted, so he tried to do too much
January 25th, 2026 at 10:12 am
WarrenBrooksLoser,
Only in your narrow world with your other marching band members, Munch, DBBF99, and oneilbuc is an interception the end of a football game. Just watched many playoffs games where there were plenty of interceptions yet sound defenses won the game. The INT racket is a easy critique for dullards. There were at least 2INT’s charged to Mayfield in 2025 where the ball was wrestled away from Otton who had caught the ball.
January 25th, 2026 at 10:26 am
Sure it’s that easy, to just draft a quarterback right? This franchise has only been missing on them in the draft for 50 years now. I’ll name Doug Williams as the one exception.
Free agency brought us our two Super Bowl winning quarterbacks: Tom Brady and Brad Johnson
The draft brought us a bunch of losing with Freeman and Jay-Miss
January 25th, 2026 at 10:31 am
Bakers’ scrambling technique or lack thereof going buck wild and taking on LB’s and DB’s with no regard for safety will mean Baker will ALWAYS be injured during the season.
January 25th, 2026 at 10:34 am
I’m fine with our #1, we have nothing after that. Baker haters, in franchise history how many quarterbacks have we had better while in Tampa (not what they became, like Steve Young), but what they were in Tampa? Only two are obvious- Doug Williams and Tom Brady. Quit acting like we have some reason to be on a high horse of quality quarterbacks.
January 25th, 2026 at 10:35 am
Personally, I like FrontFour’s plan.
January 25th, 2026 at 10:36 am
Doc, please draft a quarterback to give Baker competion. Everyone plays better when someone is pushing them.
January 25th, 2026 at 10:44 am
The QB position is the most important position in all sports
The team, coaches relies on him more than any other players
He can make or break the team
They need to get this right, they have all off-season to right the ship
Baker Mayfield need a veteran to challenge him for the job
The clipboard days are over, Bake need legitimate competition
And he need someone to step in, when he’s off, or can’t go
Jobs are on the line now, no more cake walking
January 25th, 2026 at 10:46 am
I said this in another thread i would go get Drew Lock or the kid from the, The Jets and let get coached up with a good QB coach. They good skill sets. Learn how read Defenses. Give them a chance. Ask Sam Darnold Matt Jones hell ask Baker Mayfield.
January 25th, 2026 at 10:49 am
So i just finished the 10 part Bucs,50 mini series. The last scene says it all. It shows,Baker scrambling for a first down against your Playoff 49ers. Ironically their starting QB was hurt and they backup went on to win 3 games. That s the answer. Go out and sign Pickens or Mariotta. Quarterbacks get hurt. It happened to the 49ers but the difference is they had a good backup. It is also a back against the wall contract year for baker. I expect a bounce back year in 2026.
January 25th, 2026 at 10:55 am
Jeesh, ALL OF THE IGNORING of the “3rd and 28″… and us really being a 4 win team if it hadnt been for Baker coming back with 60 seconds left….
Ok then, I guess its ALL Baker’s fault for the D….he shouldve been covering receivers better and sacking the quarterback…..what a ruse!
January 25th, 2026 at 10:57 am
“Just watched many playoffs games where there were plenty of interceptions yet sound defenses won the game”
How’d that work out for the Bears & Texans, Gipper?
January 25th, 2026 at 11:13 am
When the D is off the charts bad ,,, sometimes the QB presses ,,, team losses ,,, Josh Allen did a pretty good job making up losing the game against the broncos ,,, maybe the Bills should get rid of him too!!!
Sign Baker to a three year , home team friendly , extension , those wanting a new QB need to realize Baker is a top ten QB so to improve on that would be very hard . Maybe draft a QB in 2027 when the draft is rich in QBs .
Give him a good Oline, a running game and a DECENT D (not even great , Decent) and he can go far,, I’m excited to see him with Robinson