Gerald McCoy Demands Bucs Pay Baker Mayfield
March 28th, 2026
So the Bucs have a two-time Pro Bowl starting quarterback in his prime who hasn’t missed a game in three Tampa Bay seasons.
The same quarterback, Baker Mayfield, also had a rough second half of last season after a stellar start. What was the core reason? Poor health, poor decisions, or an unqualified playcaller?
Regardless, the Bucs have a good starting QB who has shown stretches of greatness.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht has said Mayfield is a keeper, but Mayfield is entering the final year of his contract — 2026 is the last year of his three-year, $100 million deal.
Teams rarely let QBs they want and respect reach the end of their contracts. Those guys get extensions.
Will Mayfield get one soon? Six-time Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy says the Bucs extending Mayfield soon is a no-brainer.
“Pay him. Pay him,” McCoy said of Mayfield on WDAE radio. “Heck yeah. Do y’all see the QB market? Who’s out here? Tell me who’s out here. Tell me who’s coming out in the draft; stop with the ‘maybes.’ I keep telling everybody college football is glorified high school football. That’s what it is. You got a couple of people that make it [in] the league, ‘oh, yeah, that’s great.’ Stop looking at the draft. Look around the landscape of quarterbacking right now. I think any Buccaneers fan should look at the history of our quarterbacks and it should tell you that it’s hard to find a franchise guy. So while we have one, we need to pay him and keep him around as long as we can. People go through ups and downs, but if you don’t have that position, what you got? Pay Baker Mayfield. He’s earned that right.”
Despite Mayfield’s struggles to close last season, the Joe typing here absolutely would say Mayfield is a top-15 quarterback in the NFL. That’s not “great,” but it’s also not something you throw in the trash so you can go fishing for better.
But the idea of making Mayfield earn his next contract through his 2026 performance has merit.
Former NFL agent Joel Corry penned a deep dive on Mayfield’s contract future for CBS.
Corry makes the case that QB salaries likely have dipped temporarily after some big salaries blew up on teams (see Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, etc.) As a starting point for the Mayfield talks, Corry pointed to Daniel Jones of the Colts just signing a two-year, $88 million contract with incentives that could pay him $100 million over two years.
Jones, for those unaware, is coming off an Achilles tear and a history of wildly inconsistent play for the Giants. Jones is not as good as Mayfield.
Big decision ahead for Team Glazer, Licht and Mayfield. The Joe typing here is confident an extension will get done before opening day.
March 28th, 2026 at 5:21 pm
A bird in the hand.
March 28th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
Baker Mayfield had a bad second half of the season
But it wasn’t exactly his fault, the O-Line played poorly
The Wide Receivers couldn’t get speration, couldn’t get open
And Bucky Irving just plain stunk last season
I think it was a combination of things
An inexperienced playcaller, a patched up O-Line
Rushing injured WRs back from injuries
An ineffective run game, playing the wrong RB
Poor defensive play, can’t get off the field
Poor Special Teams play
But we still had a chance to win most games
I predict the Bucs extend him before the opener
4 years $224 Million
March 28th, 2026 at 5:24 pm
But is a bird in the really worth more than two in the bush?
March 28th, 2026 at 5:28 pm
Twice as much!!!👆👆👆👆👆
March 28th, 2026 at 5:42 pm
Put your money into the O-line. Baker could get an extension, but not for more than what he is getting now. He hasn’t proved that he is worth anything more.
March 28th, 2026 at 5:46 pm
you dont have to be a brainiac to see a scenario where the glazers let baker go and roll the dice. you dont get a number one pick by having another .500 season and exiting the playoffs wild card weekend…..
March 28th, 2026 at 5:48 pm
I still say Mike left because of a series of missteps by the Glazers and the front office, to include Jason Licht.
If Baker walks at the end of this season too, we’ll know why.
Pay the man. Now.
March 28th, 2026 at 5:51 pm
Meh..
Franchise tag him instead
March 28th, 2026 at 5:53 pm
Oh, demand.. does that work….
I demand the Bucs FIRE that bum of a Hc and hire a winner!
March 28th, 2026 at 5:57 pm
THIS is where they were with Zyon at the end of ’24. Made sense to pay an ascending player NOW rather then have to pay him half again as much later on. They’re likely afraid of a repeat.
I expect Baker to be a top ten QB next year with intact O-line and a competent OC. Even LAST year he was better than most
March 28th, 2026 at 6:03 pm
I love Baker, but man he was honestly terrible the 2nd hand of last season.
Hopefully, it was bcuz of injuries.
But obviously Evans doesn’t have much confidence in Baker any more. That’s a bad look
March 28th, 2026 at 6:03 pm
*half
March 28th, 2026 at 6:06 pm
Agree with Lakeland. 4 years $224 looks right.
No Brees issues mortgaged to the future.
March 28th, 2026 at 6:07 pm
If im baker I dont sign. I wouldn’t get caught dead in another season under bowles. Hes better off playing it out and then negotiating.
March 28th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
Boomer Sooner..Boomer Sooner…
Mayfield can earn his extension this year
March 28th, 2026 at 6:24 pm
KuKooo KuKooo
March 28th, 2026 at 6:46 pm
It’s easy to want to pay someone when it’s not your money.
March 28th, 2026 at 6:51 pm
It’s time to rebuild going 8-9 9-8 in a trash division is bad . Baker Mayfield has choked in every big game we have ever played with him but 1 and the defense played perfect that playoff game. It’s time to start the rebuild and it don’t have to be a total rebuild.
March 28th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
If the bucs resign Baker Mayfield and we don’t get to a NFC Championship this year this team will be bad the next 5 or 10 years. Baker is 2-8 in prime time games and he’s choked in the playoffs. What happened every time with the game on the line in big games he’s thrown picks or fumble the ball. He threw a pick and lost the Panthers game that would have put us in the playoffs but none of y’all want to talk about that.
March 28th, 2026 at 7:07 pm
Pay him $4 million a year plus performance bonuses up to $55MM per year.
He’ll play better that way.
March 28th, 2026 at 7:12 pm
I like baker as the quarterback simply because of his contract. Giving THAT quarterback top 10 money if you have a mediocre.500 ball club that won’t ever make any other big moves it makes no sense.
March 28th, 2026 at 7:25 pm
Same pay with incentives
March 28th, 2026 at 7:26 pm
Wait, 50 millys a year for Bakey that’s nuts….
March 28th, 2026 at 7:27 pm
Re-sign him. Now.
“pay that man hees money.” -Malkovitch as TeddyKGB
Baker is a top 4-8 QB if you protect him. A phenomenal talent. Certainly a franchise quarterback and entirely capable of winning the Super Bowl even multiple times on a very good team. We are heading there and need to get there soon!
March 28th, 2026 at 7:35 pm
Baker Mayfield was not our problem…..pay him
March 28th, 2026 at 7:36 pm
I think you can land him for under 50 million a year. I would sign him for 5yrs 250 million. Only have the first two yrs guaranteed that way you can get out in 28 if he falls flat.
March 28th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
It doesn’t matter “WHO” is out there right now, or NOT. It’s irrelevant. You don’t PAY ‘top of the market’ money longterm, for an average starting QB who is now, well into his 30’s. And, constantly banged up to the point, where everyone uses it as an EXCUSE for his constant ‘inconsistent’ PLAY. Especially, when you are a BAD team that is heading quickly, towards a complete overhaul and rebuild with a brand new HC. Period. It is THE ‘ultimate’ Kiss of DEATH. It’s pointless. You only PAY UP like that on a ‘second’ contact for a QB who can WIN consistently, when things AREN’T perfect. Or, IF you have a talented enough ROSTER that can legitimately COMPETE and CONTEND. We obviously, don’t. Otherwise, you just play-it out and allow the player to PROVE-IT himself.
Especially, with a draft-class like the next one that is upcoming. Where most of the “QB-needy” teams will be looking to DRAFT ONE. There will only be about 7-9 TEAMS TOPS, who will be looking for a QB next offseason anyway, and that includes both, the Bucs and Rams. At least FOUR of those teams will be finding THEIRS within the first 5-10 PICKS. And, prob at least another one or two, still in the 1ST-ROUND. There will be at least FIVE taken in the 1ST. And, there will be Mac Jones available on the free agent market, and I’m sure another one or two more. BAKER will be in the exact same boat he was in the last time, with having a VERY ‘limited’ number of suitors. And, at going into his what 33-YEAR OLD season… His market demand will NOT be nearly as ‘HIGH’ as what some of these Baker-Bois dream of for him.
March 28th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
Anybody here of Ed Stowers? I heard an interview with him today and he sounds like a really bright guy. As for his talent level, I’m not quite sure.
March 28th, 2026 at 7:54 pm
Folks DO NOT REALIZE
How much is on the line this year.
The reasons don’t matter but if the season is ANYTHING like the last two and change is coming to the coaching and front office
BAKER gonna be gone like Lynyrd Skynyrd
“Gimme two steps”
At that leaves Tampa Town leading the clown car…
March 28th, 2026 at 7:54 pm
Eli Stowers is probably the best receiving TE in this draft
He’s a converted QB
He have made skills, I like him
Vanderbilt had one of their best seasons ever last year
And he was a major part of it
March 28th, 2026 at 8:00 pm
McCoy may be the highest paid Buc ever…probably at least top 3. The most fun part of this article is knowing that Hot Rod Mulch’s idol is “demanding” that the Bucs pay his nemesis Baker Mayfield.
I agree that the Bucs extend him before opening day…which will probably give JL yet another lifeline.
* Fact checked myself…McCoy is the highest paid Buc ever (247 million )…followed by Evans then Lavonte.
March 28th, 2026 at 8:03 pm
If you find yourself paying a guy like Baker $50-MIL+ per year for HIS 33-37 years-old seasons, then YOU are (yes, an IDIOT) in BIG TROUBLE. It would be a HORRIBLE move on just soooo many levels. You see teams do it and it is ALWAYS, the “Kiss of Death.” Teams are starting to wise up now, though! He’s not going to be able to continue playing HIS style of play. And, HE HAS TO in order to be successful in the league.
He’s just NOT “that guy.” He’s not “the guy” who is tall enough, or accurate enough, to be able to just stand ‘tall’ in the pocket and beat you consistently all day, like that. He’s just NOT. And, he doesn’t read defenses well enough to know where to go quick enough. Not to mention always being “hurt” and the inconsistent play. It just is what it is. He now has 8-9 YEARS in the league worth of evidence to speak of and to see. HE is what he is. And, age is starting to creep now, and QUICK.
You NEVER want to overpay for “meh” (mid/average) in this league. It’s just way too crushing to your CAP. I mean, IF you have a STRONG young roster and want to take a swing on a low-risk 2-year deal, THEN YES. By all means, have at it! But, that is NOT the current shape of these Bucs. There is ZERO reason for the Bucs to pay NOW. There is no advantage. It could ONLY be a negative, or disadvantage.
March 28th, 2026 at 8:05 pm
The fact that Baker was in the pro bowl twice is irrelevant.
Shaduer Sanders was in the pro bowl last year. Let that sink in for a second.
Do not extend Mayfield. Let 2026 play out, let him test the market and pay him accordingly.
@Joe says Mayfield is top 15, that’s a middle of the road, average QB, not great, not terrible but serviceable. I agree. But I’ll go a step farther and say our Bucs will not win a Super Bowl with Baker Mayfield at quarterback.. He is a less athletic, less durable but SLIGHTLY more intelligent version of Jameis Winston. 10 wins is his ceiling.
I know you Baker bros will have a meltdown and throw out all of the normal excuses, he was i jured, new OC, injured, bad play calling, injured but take a step back, take a deep breath and look at his career stats.
He is what he is.
He is what we thought he was.
March 28th, 2026 at 8:06 pm
***Meant Mad skills”””
March 28th, 2026 at 8:13 pm
Spotrac has Baker next contract at 4 years $215 Million
The Bucs don’t have to pay it……but as Warren Sapp once said
There’s 31 more teams in the NFL
Some team will pay him
March 28th, 2026 at 8:23 pm
Players like Baker, with his type of ‘antics’ is always fun and great in the very beginning. But, it will ALWAYS eventually begin to wear. Now, “coaches” absolutely LOVE-IT. They will literally, Eat. It. UP. Every single bit of it. But the players DON’T. Now, they will SAY all the ‘right’ things, but they are NOT buying it! ANY of it. 💯
March 28th, 2026 at 8:33 pm
Don’t be stupid AGAIN! Pay Baker!!!
March 28th, 2026 at 8:37 pm
It’s a team sport. Baker can take you to the Superbowl but you must put players around him just like any other QB. People that say no get rid of him are likely the same people that think Tom Brady won the Superbowl for the bucs. No!! Tom helped the bucs win the Superbowl. Tom knew which team to go to. You can bet he looked at Jameis Winston’s previous season and saw he put up 5000+ passing yards and thought oh years I want to play there. As much as I like Bowles scheme he is to soft during practice. When you have players saying publicly they had to many walk through practices and they want to be coached harder that’s a problem. More than one buc player said this publicly. I know bowles was worried about injuries but football games are won on Wednesdays . There was more than one game last season where the bucs had 13 starters out that’s over half your team. That said you still gotta practice har One of the first things Arians said when he came to Tampa was coach them hard and love them later. He got that philosophy from Bear Bryant. It’s true. Same thing happened at UF. They had a coach that was to soft now they have the polar opposite. The point is, yes you can win a Superbowl with Baker. With the personnel the bucs had on defense last season and the injuries the defense actually over achieved early in the season. Imho bredeson is an average starter but an elite back up. Bucs need help all over it’s defense and a couple spots on offense. If all the top pass rushers are gone at 15 and sadig is there they should take him. It would be a choice in a pass rusher that may succeed to a generational TE talent. I say over and over you draft best player available regardless of position.
As always Go Bucs
March 28th, 2026 at 8:39 pm
Gerald McCoy – yup after every game the TV guys would interview him by his locker and he’d have a sour disgusted look on his face – never went to playoffs – I don’t remember any of his teammates saying he was inspiring or a team leader – of course he wants Baker to get paid and get his bag – who cares about the team or winning ?
March 28th, 2026 at 8:40 pm
Anyone here think Baker gave it much thought when he was making 3 million a year his first year here? When he could have been making twice that as a backup? Injury could have ended his career that year. That kind of thinking never entered the equation. Of course, I don’t know how you could call the guy a top 15 QB. More touchdown passes and yards than all but 1 QB the last 3 years. Better than Mahomes and Allen and Lamar and Burrow and pretty much everybody. Better than every QB in the history of the NFL in playoff passer rating. Man this team has sucked that we haven’t gone further. Getting old? He’s just getting started. If Tampa doesn’t get him signed until after the season they risk losing him. Just because the Buccaneers have a 50 year reputation in football circles of making boneheaded decisions doesn’t mean they would make a boneheaded decision of the magnitude of failing to keep Baker. I don’t believe anybody in the league, except maybe the Browns, would be that stupid.
March 28th, 2026 at 8:41 pm
@ George R – yeah, you can always “get out of it” in THE NFL. Which only means, that the owner doesn’t have to write the check and pay anything out of HIS OWN pocket. But, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t effect your DEAD CAP number astronomically, for YEARS. And, that is why YOU CAN’T do it right now, and only makes the MOST SENSE to allow him to play this season out in it’s entirety! We have just waaaayyy too many question marks with the current trajectory of this team, AND at head coach and GM. And, you throw-in next year’s potential draft-class, & etc. It doesn’t make sense to commit to ANYTHING, at this point. We don’t have the first-clue as to what our future even looks like, right now. And, a move such as THIS could risk putting everything in jeopardy, setting us back YEARS, and digging us an even deeper hole. It will destroy our chances of landing a ‘top-tier’ level HC, where they’ll want a CLEAN CAP and to be able to ‘build’ the team how THEY WANT. And, with “the guy” THEY WANT. There is no rush. That’s where you can yourself in REAL TROUBLE.
March 28th, 2026 at 8:45 pm
I will say this.if they do extend Baker before the draft, look for a LG in the 1st.
Kayden Proctor next to Wirfs would be fun.
They should get it done soon so they have cap room to sign Diggs or other FAs.
Why wait if they are all in. They aren’t.
They made Mike freakin Evans wait, why not Baker.
If they sign him and suck then what?
If they wait and have a top 10 pick, OPTIONS.
March 28th, 2026 at 8:45 pm
Kenton Smith – The “man” who says that BAKER is a first-ballot HOF’er. You have NO credibility. None. ZERO.
March 28th, 2026 at 8:47 pm
Joe … ‘The Joe typing here is confident an extension will get done before opening day.’
Can’t agree on that one Joe. Bucs re-did Baker’s contract several weeks ago from what I recall to lesson his 2026 CAP hit. Might be wrong here, but I think both sides did it to free up $$$ to improve the team that surrounds Baker. A better team improves his chances of having a better season AND getting a better follow-on contract … by either the Bucs OR another team.
It was surely a win-win for the Bucs AND for Baker. I don’t think that Baker really wants to do a multi-year extension with the Bucs right now. He stands to make a lot more $$$ by having a good 2026 THEN negotiating a new contract. Baker’s never been hesitant to bet on HIMSELF.
March 28th, 2026 at 8:56 pm
I continue to see BRADY and MAHOMES LMFAO. Mahomes also, will not be able to continue playing HIS style of play either, moving forward. But, to compare THOSE GUYS to BAKER… GTFO. You. Are. DELUSIONAL. Stuck inside some VERY weird “adult” fantasyland. It’s the thing between the ears. It’s about ‘elevating’ and raising everyone else level of play, who’s on the field. Your TEAMMATES. It’s about WINNING. Not a bunch of empty 4th-Quarter STATS, from only ‘stinking-it up’ SO BAD for the first 3-QUARTERS of ballgame, that you’re having to THROW on every down. Now, THAT is 💯 all Baker, in a nutshell.
March 28th, 2026 at 9:04 pm
MelvinJunior. You’re right about some of the players aren’t buying it. Any of it. And coaches do love it. All of it. And we have a running back that wasn’t buying it and signed a contract for the league minimum somewhere else. We have a receiver that wasn’t buying any of it and he had to beg to be the 49ers 3rd choice to make less than any veteran receiver in the NFL. He’s making scrub NFL money, nothing near hall of famer money. Baker needed one thing. A chance. He’s got it now and nobody’s going to get in his way. Any other QB in this league and any other coach in this league will tell you Baker is as adept at reading defenses and coverages as anyone in the league. The truth is he’s one of the top 10 QBs that’s ever played the game. He’s a QB savant. I’ve known that for 10 years. If he hangs the exact same stats for the next 8 years as he did the first 8 years and adds a Super Bowl or two on top of that he will be a first ballot hall of famer and there is no doubt about that.
March 28th, 2026 at 9:05 pm
For you Baker the Journeyman folks: In four years at Cleveland he rose to fourth place in both passing yards and touchdowns. That’s all-time, going back to Otto Graham. After this year, he will have completed four years at Tampa Bay. If he throws for 3,000 yards and 27 TDs, he will rank second in yards and first in TDs.
That, too, is all-time. How many QBs are ranked so high in such a short time for two NFL franchises?
March 28th, 2026 at 9:06 pm
Tampa native Wayne Fontes coached the Lions in the 80’s to numerous 500 seasons. After they drafted Billy Simms they could never get over the hump. They didn’t have a proper qb and languised at 500.
To this day the Lions have never won a Super Bowl.
Tampa native Wayne Fontes got fired and the Lions are still languishing.
Do the Bucs be the 80’s Lions or pay Baker?
Go Tampa.
March 28th, 2026 at 9:07 pm
Baker Mayfield lead the league in batted ball’s every year with the bucs. I don’t care about what his fan base say he’s not worth resing or less we get to the NFC Championship this year. If not him and Bowles got to go because the new HC is going to want him own quarterback. If you pay Baker anyway we will get the bottom HC .
March 28th, 2026 at 9:22 pm
I hate to break it to you boys but ME left due to coaching, plain and simple.
March 28th, 2026 at 9:25 pm
I thought Baker spanked the best defenses in the league last year and beat the superbowl champs…or did I dream that? All with a piss poor line.
March 28th, 2026 at 9:27 pm
I think the owners will try and have their cake and eat too. They’ll hedge and play games with Baker. I think they would really prefer to draft a QB (let the new coach pick the new QB) and save the money. I think Baker will play not to get hurt so he can move on. He’s in a tough spot. Baker is at an inflection point in his career and circumstances over performance may dictate his future. If he isn’t extended by camp….uh oh.
March 28th, 2026 at 9:33 pm
Mobucs, that is a really really good point. Kinda hard to argue with that. And I guess he did that on a team that sucked royally before he showed up. 1-31 record, pitiful. Old Bake is a top 10 QB no doubt. They just have to surround him with the right mix of talent and a good coach could get that done. Eventually it will happen
March 28th, 2026 at 9:37 pm
I really don’t see any quality franchise Quarterbacks in college
And you will still have to build a decent roster around the QB
Just pay Baker and start bringing some quality players to this team
March 28th, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Jason Licht gotta do a better job of drafting players
Regardless of who the Head Coach is
March 28th, 2026 at 9:40 pm
You people act like a good QB can do it with or without an Oline. The Oline is next in line in importance to a qb. And we didn’t have a good line last year. But hey it wouldn’t surprise me if you boys really don’t grasp how badly a qb needs a good line, wouldn’t surprise me at all.
March 28th, 2026 at 9:44 pm
If Zach Robinson come in and do a great job with the offense
He will be the next Head Coach for the Bucs
March 28th, 2026 at 9:46 pm
” H’s choked ion the play offs”…He has a 106 qbr in the play offs. Who has higher? Ill wait….
March 28th, 2026 at 9:55 pm
Old Melvin will never like BM6. When he wins a superbowl he will come up with some lame excuse how it really wasn’t BM6 that got his team there. It will be something ridiculous like it always is.
March 28th, 2026 at 9:58 pm
Melvin thinks it’s a life and death situation, look at him go. He can’t get enough of it!
March 28th, 2026 at 10:15 pm
I would wait until the mid season slump.
March 28th, 2026 at 10:43 pm
Let em Bake. That don’t mean nothing Montana, Brady, Payton Manning and all the other greats is celebrated more by being clutch in big games and big moments. That’s what makes them hall of famers. Baker Mayfield chokes in those moments in big games remember the Panthers game and the Lions game had threw picks in those games that would have gotten us to a NFC Championship or the playoffs and that’s a fact. So please stop with the qbr because his qbr doesn’t add up to wins .
March 28th, 2026 at 10:45 pm
Attaboy. For me he don’t have to even get to a Superbowl this year just get to a NFC Championship and people would have a change of mind about Baker Mayfield.
March 28th, 2026 at 10:49 pm
As much as I hate to, I have to acknowledge some of the points made by some of the Baker hater blowhards on this site. Unfortunately for Baker, the stars are just not aligned for him right now. One point made is that he is headed into his 31 year old season although one of the blowhards said he was well into his 30’s, naturally exaggerating the truth. Another is that his style of play is not conducive to longevity and that’s true. If he makes some slight adjustments to that style, like his quarterback coach was encouraging him to do last season, perhaps he could change that narrative and prolong his career. He needs to become a workout warrior to stay fit and has to play smarter, using his mobility to his advantage but avoiding the big hits at all cost. I also agree that teams are going to be more careful about paying these huge contracts for quarterbacks not named Allen or Mahomes, especially going into the 2027 season. Too many teams have already made that mistake. So the gravy train has already left the station. Another thing I agree with is that there won’t be as much interest for baker in free agency as some think. If the Bucs and Baker are smart , they will find some common ground for an extension that will be shorter in duration and for less than 50 million per season, perhaps in the 40-45 range that includes some reasonably attainable incentives that could get it to 50 million with only a 2 year guarantee. I think that would be practical for both sides under the circumstances.
March 28th, 2026 at 10:50 pm
Keep paying more and more to the players and ticket prices keep going up along with parking. But it’s not my money it just keeps me from being able to afford to go to the games. At least I can still afford the occasional Lightning game.
March 28th, 2026 at 11:02 pm
Hell No, he looked gun-shy last season.
6-2 had a lot of luck in it.
He needs a prove it season before we pay 50 mill a season.
I would rather tank than pay him now.
March 28th, 2026 at 11:05 pm
If the owners act too soon, they assume additional asset risk. If the owners act too late, they pay a premium for avoiding that risk. The Bucs will likely work to get a deal done before the season starts.
March 28th, 2026 at 11:07 pm
Oscar. Baker’s game isn’t conducive to a long career. I watched a Stanford kid, a QB, come into Norman and upset a great Oklahoma team many years ago. That kid ran around like a pinball and had a game that resembled Baker’s as closely as any QB I’ve seen. He looked injury prone, and he was constantly playing through injuries. In the league he tried and tried but his team was never good enough to win the big game. But he was good enough. And persistent enough. His name was John Elway. He won his first Super Bowl at 38 years old. He won another at 39 years old. Don’t ever pretend that you know how long a player is going to play Oscar. Because I’m positive. Beyond a shadow of a doubt. That you don’t know that.
March 28th, 2026 at 11:07 pm
Brady’s last year and the ’25 season are carbon copies. Decimated Olines resulting in rushed throws, poor rushing yardage and dismal scoring. Brady and Baker both performed in the same fashion. Poor OC plus poor Oline always results in poor QB results. Could Baker have performed better in the clutch? Absolutely. ’25 was definitely a severely down year in Baker’s career. Two or three plays executed properly, without the mistakes, could have put the team. In the playoffs and significantly affected the win/loss record. This is the deciding factor. Is the entirety of Baker’s career achievement canceled by the several clutch plays where he under performed. Do we throw out the baby with the bath water?
Several posters on this site have determined Baker is a loser beyond redemption. I don’t think that is the opinion of the majority of the fans and most certainly not the opinion of the Bucs organization. I think the Bucs consider Baker top ten or so and worthy of franchise QB consideration. The recent rework of his contract already has us obligated for 30mil to be paid in ’27 when he will no longer be under contract.
The commitment has already been made and decided by the Bucs. They can’t afford to let him walk with no extension. Baker holds the leverage at this point. If the Bucs can at least get a contract they may be able to work a trade for some picks even if they choose to part ways at the end of ’26. The franchise tag is also an option but that would immediately accelerate the entire 50 some mill. to be paid in ’27 plus still have the 30 mil dead cap to resolve. Baker holds all the cards. He can choose not to extend and wait until next signing period to use ’26 results to his advantage if he has a good season. He can also choose to sign now for the guaranteed money for several years of security for a slightly lesser amount. Bucs must extend to avoid the financial pitfall, permanent injury notwithstanding, whether they like Baker or not.
Baker seems to be a team first guy. He may be willing (like Brady) to give the home town discount to surround himself with better players. He could also tell them to pound sand. Give me a better HC and GM or I’m out of here. He can certainly see the team has not improved significantly on the defense since he has been here. He may want to follow the lead of Dean and Evans to go get a ring. Bucs need to play this straight and with great care. Screw this up at their peril. Pay the man and get some better draft picks and FA to surround him. Go Bucs.
March 28th, 2026 at 11:19 pm
Kenton: OMG! There I was in fall ’84, now living in Denver with a new wife. I’m a Browns fan, but the only game in town was the Donkeys! Did he take a beating that season! I actually met him the following spring while working a boat show with his fishing guide! He indeed had a tough row to hoe.
March 28th, 2026 at 11:23 pm
Stafford won his Super Bowl at 34 years old. Brees won one, when he was 31. Steve Young, 33. Brad Johnson was 34. Joe Montana won 2 Super Bowls after 32 years old. Brunell won his at 38! QBs aren’t like other position players when it comes to playing age. Baker is almost 30. Easy to make the argument that he’s just hitting his prime. And being his playoff performance has been stellar and his last 3 years have been so productive that anyone who says he’s signing a Daniel Jones type contract (2 years and 90 million) is at the head of the line to have his head examined.
March 28th, 2026 at 11:24 pm
A suggestion for Bakefield Deniers who claim to be Bucs fans. Think Bucs first. OK, your saddled with a loser you’ve already contracted for this season. Looking forward, you want somebody much better, i.e., much, much more expensive since Baker is playing at a discount. Since i think you would concede he is about the twentieth-best QB in the league, which of the nineteen ahead of him are you going to sign for about $250M because that is a conservative estimate, post-Deshaun Watson? That, or more, is what it will cost, no matter whom you bring in. And don’t say owners will be cutting back because some of them can’t help themselves from spending for a toy they believe in (again check Watson). And when on cracks, the dam breaks. You can not pay Baker, but you will pay someone. Then Baker will start setting records for his third team.
March 28th, 2026 at 11:25 pm
Oops. Baker is almost 31.
March 28th, 2026 at 11:37 pm
Team salary caps went up big this year. The trend will continue with inflated player markets. The winners are the planners.
March 28th, 2026 at 11:45 pm
4yr 2026-2030 $200M.
March 28th, 2026 at 11:50 pm
Baker deserves the big bucks that a lot of other quarterbacks have been paid who have never or have yet to earn that money. Unfortunately he missed out because he was drafted by the worst organization in the NFL. The Browns paid what should have been Baker’s bag to Deshaun Watson. To make matters worse, the Browns cost him a wasted year in 2022 in Carolina and then a ridiculous low 4 million dollar contract in 2023 in Tampa where he helped keep the Bucs afloat with a playoff win after the goat’s departure. Other than Sam Darnold name a quarterback in the NFL today who has been a better ROI than Baker when considering career earnings.
March 28th, 2026 at 11:56 pm
Kenton, I hope you’re right but John Elway was the Duke John Wayne. He was 6”3” and probably 230 lbs. He was as physical and probably more mobile than Josh Allen.
March 29th, 2026 at 12:03 am
exBrown02. Neat info about Denver in 1984. That must have been Elways 2nd year there? In 1980 is when he played Oklahoma. He was playing his 4th career game, a freshman, and OU was AP # 4 rank and hadn’t lost in Norman in 3 years. Elway ran for like 100 yards but was tackled for like 60 yards in losses so his rushing stats were skewered but he threw it all over the yard. Dominant. They say Mayfield has happy feet. Ought to watch Elway. Many of the great ones have those happy feet Mayfield trolls talk about. Elway was a heck of a baseball player too.
March 29th, 2026 at 12:14 am
Oscar. Elway was just under 6”4. Mayfield is just under 6”1. Mayfield as a freshman at Texas Tech shocked the college football world. Big 8 freshman of the year. Offensive player of the year. Then 3 years of the best 3 years of stats of any College WB of all time. Elway put Stanford on the map as a football school and started with his freshman year. I’m comparing their impact on the game and their style of play Oscar. Not got a thing to do with height. You know, the size of the dog in the fight don’t matter. That sort of thing.
March 29th, 2026 at 12:14 am
Kenton: Watched Elway, summer of ’83, playing center field for the Oneonta Yankees. I was hoping to witness a throw to the plate, but it wasn’t in the cards that evening. Word was that he could throw a football pretty much the length of the field.
March 29th, 2026 at 12:16 am
McCoy is qualified to talk why again?
March 29th, 2026 at 12:19 am
Kenton: Yeah, that’s why I’m exBrowns02.
March 29th, 2026 at 12:27 am
Kenton I hope you’re not misunderstanding my position. I believe Baker is worth at the very least as much as all of the quarterbacks in that 50 million dollar club and more than most of them. I just think the timing is bad in the current landscape in the NFL. With the supposedly great qb class coming out in 2027 combined with teams being a little more reluctant to shell out the big bucks after seeing so many teams getting burned by those huge contracts, Baker has lost some leverage with the Bucs and with other teams if he ends up a free agent next season. If they don’t extend him now, so much will depend on what kind of year he and the Bucs have in 2026.
March 29th, 2026 at 12:30 am
He’s a top 10 QB and he’ll be back to form no longer injured. It was plain to see that he was playing hurt. Have faith in Baker. Paying him is a no brainer and its a blessing to have him
March 29th, 2026 at 12:33 am
View from 132 Says:
“McCoy is qualified to talk why again?”
Cause Joe writes about it.
March 29th, 2026 at 12:34 am
Heck naw, let Baker walk. I rather rip the band-aid off and rebuild. Baker is a mid QB with extremely rare flashes of good play. That is not enough to have a consistent winning team especially with a trash defense.
March 29th, 2026 at 12:37 am
Kenton, there’s a reason why they have weight classifications in boxing. There are a lot of smaller dogs and there are bigger dogs too. When you put a little dog with a lot of dawg in him into the ring with a bigger dog with an equal amount of dawg in him, who will endure?
March 29th, 2026 at 12:46 am
Baker can win us a Super Bowl.
Now are we going to draft a top Edge and ILB in Rd 1 and 2 so that we can or nah
March 29th, 2026 at 1:02 am
Oscar. You do know that a 210 pound heavyweight and a 310 heavyweight are both heavyweights and do fight each other? Don’t you? I’ve watched smaller heavyweights maul bigger heavyweights many, many times. But nice try Oscar. Thanks for the exercise but it’s bedtime.
March 29th, 2026 at 1:25 am
Then the 310 pound heavyweight didn’t have the Dawg in him and was probably just a big fat slob who didn’t belong in the ring.
March 29th, 2026 at 1:43 am
Oscar. Ever watch Tyson fight? I’ll bet he never fought a guy shorter than himself. You reckon? Ring’s top 10 heavyweight + fighters tonight range from 224 to 299. A 288 in there. Several in the 240 range.
March 29th, 2026 at 1:44 am
Im still in Bake’s corner but dont extend yet. Get him some serious protection drafting Ioane for LG and then lets see how he bounces back. The D needs more help than this off season and this draft can provide. And with Todd, i still dont see us winning more than 5 games….sorry todd.
This is going to be a down year guys….sorry. I think we get our star pass rush or QB of the future next draft….just what i see….just have to be patient and look ahead. As long as Baker stays healthy and keeps it tight this year, then he’ll get his due.
March 29th, 2026 at 1:45 am
Big fat slobs. Hehe. You’ll think big fat slobs.
March 29th, 2026 at 1:49 am
I remember watching the best boxing fight ever in my life, live. Ike Ibeabuchi and David Tua….look it up if you get a chance….the most punches thrown and landed in history at the time….a true classic.
March 29th, 2026 at 1:51 am
I hope you see this tomorrow. You seem to think that I’m a Baker detractor. If so, you’ve probably missed most of my posts. Along with you and Gipper and a few others , I’m probably Baker’s biggest supporter. The way he plays is subjecting himself to excessive punishment. The last 3 years now Baker has been taking off running when the offense was bogged down and needed a first down and has bulldozed into people to secure that first down. He did it for his team. He did it against the Saints in 2024 in a game they had to have. They were losing and most of the rest of the team and probably some of the coaches too were asleep at the wheel. That sparked the team in and they went on to win that game. They probably wouldn’t have made the playoffs if it wasn’t for him. Bowles even said it. Baker didn’t play that way at Oklahoma very often and neither when he was in Cleveland.
March 29th, 2026 at 1:53 am
Baker carr will never win or even get to a superbowl he plain sucks he’s lucky to win one playoff game bucs are dumb if they gonna pay we need a real qb he’s not worth not even what they are paying him now yes he play with heart bit he is just not a winner
March 29th, 2026 at 1:55 am
In MadMax I trust…I think. lol J/k
March 29th, 2026 at 2:08 am
Yes Kenton, probably every one of them. The ones where he destroyed a lot of bigger guys with no dawg until he ran into Buster Douglas and Evander Holyfield. Nobody had more dawg in him than Joe Frazier. Did you see what George Foreman did to him twice. He hit him so hard with an uppercut that he knocked him up into the air before he fell to the canvas. Enough of this off topic stuff. I will say one last thing. The fastest man will probably always be faster than the fastest woman and likewise the strongest man will always be stronger than the strongest woman and the bigger and stronger man will always wup the smaller not as strong man assuming both have an equal amount of heart.
March 29th, 2026 at 2:11 am
lol…whats up 87…you know i try….been here for years like you brother….sometimes they listen sometimes Jason dont. Its all good, i usually hit on my picks i push for but missed on Hall and Braswell.
March 29th, 2026 at 2:14 am
Baker is fine. . Bucs need to get younger on defense. Look where Baker is ranked if you combine the last three years. Top 5 . Bucs must improve on defense. And stay healthy!
Still would draft BPA in the draft. When you draft for need instead of best player available your very likely draft a gamble that may never become elite. When you draft BPA your increasing your chance of getting an elite player. The draft is a gamble. There is just better or worse odds of a player becoming elite. For example if Howell or Mesidor is there at 15 and so is Sadig I would draft Sadig be ause he has a much better odds of becoming elite. His combine was record breaking. As much as bucs need pass rushers they shouldn’t take chances. Bpa has been proven over and over to be the best system. Bill Polian always went bpa and he is considered by many to be the greatest , most successful drafter ever. However every once in a while the BPA is the position you need most. That doesn’t happen very often but it does happen.
As always Go Bucs.
March 29th, 2026 at 2:19 am
And assuming an equal amount of skill and an equal amount of luck.
March 29th, 2026 at 5:48 am
Salary CAP is real IMO only to the extent that it’s a ‘pay me now or pay me later’ deal. It’s easy for management to manipulate the numbers to keep the team’s salary CAP in-line in any given year (or 2 years or even several years), but eventually it catches up to you. Mammoth salaries for key players can easily throw it out of whack.
Last season the Bucs ranked #20 in terms of ending the year with $8.5 mil of CAP space (the 2025 NFL salary CAP was $275.2 mil before any team adjustments). We ranked #22 in terms of Total CAP Allocations ($275.5 mil) for player salaries, but we ranked #5 at the end of the year for our Active 53-man Allocation of $211.5 mil. The rest went to paying for our Dead CAP ($50.9 mil … ranked #16) and IR/PUP Reserves ($10.1 mil … ranked #30).
Biggest issue (money-wise) for us last season was that we had $100.8 mil salary CAP hit (36%) allocated to our Top-5 highest paid players (10% of our 53-man roster). Unfortunately for future years, that 36% was actually quite LOW versus what it should have been (we borrowed once again from the future). Where it ends up hurting us (and other teams) is in terms of (1) having $$$ to buy quality DEPTH in any given year; and (2) having to pay it back in the future.
QB salaries are obviously the highest (for good reason IMO), but QB salary doesn’t necessarily equate to TEAM performance. Seattle’s Sam Darnold (14-3) is on a 3-yr $100 mil salary. New England’s Drake Maye (14-3) is on a 4-yr $36.6 mil salary. Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes (6-11) is on a 10-yr $450 mil contract that keeps getting restructured every year (and thus keeps getting more expensive for the Chiefs).
The irony is that it’s about TEAM. Sam Darnold isn’t the NFL’s best QB, but he led Seattle’s offense to a #3 ranking, and was supported by a #1 defense (the TEAM was good). Drake Maye isn’t the NFL’s best QB either, but he led the Patriots’ offense to a #2 ranking, and was supported by a #4 defense (the TEAM was good). Patrick Mahomes is considered by most to be one of the NFL’s best QBs, but he led the Chiefs’ offense to a #21 ranking, and he was supported by a #6 defense (the TEAM’s offense wasn’t good, but their defense was vey good). I guess that money doesn’t always buy you happiness (or a great team record).
So for those folks who are all for paying Baker $54-$55 mil a year on a multi-year contract, be careful what you wish for. You just might get it , along with even more 8-9 season finishes.
March 29th, 2026 at 6:11 am
McSoftie and Toilet have one thing in common
Both should go into retirement QUIETLY
SHHHH
March 29th, 2026 at 8:22 am
DR, both Darnold and Maye were number 3 picks. Baker would trade his stats for a Super Bowl any day. Baker and Darnold have been in the league the same number of years. Darnold has a little over half of total yards Baker has. Drake Maye had a great season followed by 3 playoff games. In Mayes best playoff game, compared to Bakers worst playoff game, Baker still led Drake in QBR. Baker walked into Pittsburgh with Rothlesberger his first playoff game and hung half a hundred on Tomlin in front of those Steelers fans. Again, any QB with 5 or more playoff appearances- Baker has the best QB play. Just not the best team play. Just because those 2 were this year’s Super Bowl QBs sure doesn’t mean they play QB as well as Mayfield. I’ll hasten to add- not by a long shot. As far as pay goes, fair will work. Baker signed a contract 2 years ago and it was perfectly fair. That’s why he signed it. He has this year to play, and it’s for fair money. People saying we got him cheap- I couldn’t agree less. As far as the next contract goes, it looks to me like neither side is in too big a hurry. As granddad used to say, “ain’t no big dam reason to be in no big dam hurry”.
March 29th, 2026 at 8:25 am
The first half of the season, Baker was in MVP contention. The second half of the season, Baker lost his second starting guard and got swamped on every. Single. Play. It’s not rocket science and it was as obvious as the nose on your face. That’s not Baker’s talent level that we could no longer use 95% of our playbook!
Pay him. Or regret it for DECADES.
March 29th, 2026 at 8:37 am
Baker will be much better with a competant OC and play caller. Picking Grizz last year really handicapped the offense.
And for goodness sakes people just ignore the trolls. They brainwash people with the contant negativity.
Then sit back and laugh while you fight with each other! You know who they are – just scroll on by their posts.
March 29th, 2026 at 8:50 am
5 years 255 million. By the 5th year he’d be one of the most reasonably priced qbs in the NFL.
March 29th, 2026 at 9:10 am
As for Baker having the most batted passes that’s just not true.
Batted passes is not really recorded properly. If you do some research yo wwould come up with the leader in batted passes is Bo Nix, followed by Dak Prescott and Mathew Stafford.
No matter how tall you are as a QB, you still need the OL to create passing lanes, or windows..
March 29th, 2026 at 9:12 am
I was very disappointed in Baker’s play in the final stretch of the season. I wonder if Mike Evans is too?? Evans seemed to prefer Purdy over Baker.
My opinion of Zac is mixed. He should be an upgrade over Grizz, and I really like the coaches Zac is bringing in: T.J. Yates as pass game coordinator, and Chandler Whitmer as quarterbacks coach. Joe pointed out that Zac seemed to struggle in his second year at ATL, and the ATL players gave him a C- grade. Why?
Ultimately, I agree with McCoy that finding a better QB is very hard to do. At the moment, I don’t see a better option than Baker.
March 29th, 2026 at 9:15 am
Baker is the SAME height as Drew Brees. Peyton saw that issue and made sure the Saints ALWAYS had one of the best interior lines on the NFL.
That aside, if our QB in ’27 isn’t Baker, then WHO? Drew Locke, Connor Bazelak…Carson Wentz…or some rookie we draft with a mid-teens pick?
March 29th, 2026 at 9:33 am
Who is Gerald McCoy and why should I care? Baker will rebound because he has only n had 2 bad seasons and both due to injury. But also he is back in the Rams system and he has a capable backup that will allow him to sit some games.
March 29th, 2026 at 10:51 am
A healthy Mayfield is easily a Top5 QB. For those who disagree name 10 NFL QB’s who are better.
March 29th, 2026 at 11:16 am
I’ll say this Jaxon Smith-Njigba just signed a $168.6 million extension and what will the price of QBs in 2027 75+ million we can extend Baker for 50 million right now, if we don’t we lose him at the end of the 26 season because he will demand more than the cheap ass Bucs want to pay. And we wont have a trop 10 pick in the 27 draft so we screw ourselves and we enter another dark decade because WE CAN’T DEVELOP A QB not once in 50 years
March 29th, 2026 at 12:37 pm
What oneibuc calls choke I call a 106 playoff passer rating, highest of all time. The ONLY people to say a 106 is choking are delusional saps.
March 29th, 2026 at 12:38 pm
Healthy Mayfield is easy top 5. Combine that with a top 5 OL and you have a top 3 QB and that’s a fact.
March 29th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
For those that say, well he had a good line in 2021 at Cleveland. That’s right he did and he beat Mahomes but couldn’t beat the paid off ref that shamefully took the TD away from Cleveland. And who went to the superbowl? Mahomes. If the ref would have made the obvious right call it would have been Cleveland in the superbowl. No QB has ever turned a team that was 1-31 around that fast but BM6 did. Top 3
March 29th, 2026 at 12:51 pm
Mahomes is good because his HC ensures he has a top 5 OL year in and year out. This last year he didn’t and look what the offense did-#21. Mahomes isn’t the greatest, he has been the beneficiary of one of the greatest HC of all time. Baker beat Mahomes twice in college. Give me a break
March 29th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
I’M ON AN ISLAND
I don’t like this team leadership. I don’t like how they quit. I don’t like that Baker lost 4 games last year with last second INTs.
Baker isn’t a strong leader and he loses games.
You want that?
AND you want to give him so much money that you can’t build a team around him?
Just stupid.
March 29th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Sure, pay the man…
Pay him a visit at the glue factory.
March 29th, 2026 at 1:54 pm
SlyPirate Says:
March 29th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
I’M ON AN ISLAND
I don’t like this team leadership. I don’t like how they quit. I don’t like that Baker lost 4 games last year with last second INTs.
Baker isn’t a strong leader and he loses games.
————-
I couldn’t care less about being a leader – I just want a QB that doesn’t choke in the biggest spots and can accurately throw more than 4 feet down the field when a game is on the line.
March 29th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
And here comes the Bakergirls quoting stats and qbr ratings and now one says he’s a top 10 of ALL time and qb savant. They’ve said he’s a coach maker but yet when he had the best offensive stats ever behind the best OC he’s ever had he still helps the team go 10-7 and can’t get out of the first round of the playoffs. Last year he choked the last 4 games even when the defense didn’t give up the farm. Baker’s no bum but he isn’t the greatest. We could definitely do worse but we need to draft his replacement. New England finally drafted Brady’s so we need to also. Let Baker play out this contract and earn the next. He’s too up and down to deserve $50 million but no more than 2 years $40 mil plus incentives each is doable.
March 29th, 2026 at 2:59 pm
I’m glad Mr McCoy doesn’t make the decisions for the franchise.
It doesn’t seem like he realizes there’s this thing called the nfl draft that happens annually.
There are legit 7-8 QBs that many think could go in the first round in ‘27. We’ll see how their ‘26 plays out and off all decide to declare but it’s generally considered a class that could rival or exceed the ‘24 class.
March 29th, 2026 at 3:13 pm
106 career playoff passer rating!!! No QB plays better when it counts. If the team loses in the playoffs it sure isn’t due to our QB now is it. 106, none better!! 💰
March 29th, 2026 at 3:16 pm
Yes bigbuc, those little things like stats and passer ratings. You know those things that matter. And just so happens to destroy your little joke of a narrative about our pro bowl QB.
March 29th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
It’s hilarious to remember when Mayfield and Mahomes were in college and Baker spanked him, not once but twice. Now they are in the NFL, a system known to pay for a desired outcome… Baker had him beat and a ref stepped in and altered the outcome. Then Mayfield had him beat in the Monday night game in 2024 and our great coach went for one instead of two. You cannot out play the refs and coaches. All you can do is put your team in a winning position and Mayfield has done that countless times. It’s called a winning organization. And we don’t have it. It’s why Brady left and why Evans left. Remember in 2023 everybody agreed we would be lucky to win 4 games. Mayfield happened and we won over double that and went to the playoffs. Mayfield lifts teams. He makes everybody better. But you can’t lift coaches. They have to lift themselves.
March 29th, 2026 at 3:51 pm
Please be Quiet McCoy! Let #6, go away, he’s s not worth all of that money are you kidding me, when’s the last time he’s won a playoff game, with any team??? Let him finish out this year and good riddance!!!
March 29th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
Baker Mayfield is the only QB that was drafted to a team that went 3-40 before he showed up and in 3 years had them 11-5 and one very very bad call away from beating Mahomes and going to the superbowl. Never been done. Baker Mayfield is not our problem and if you think he is…we’ll you just don’t know much about talent.
March 29th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
What it is Says:
March 29th, 2026 at 3:13 pm
106 career playoff passer rating!!! No QB plays better when it counts.
————
That literally made me laugh out loud- congrats if that’s what you were going for!
Lets recap…
2023-24 playoffs… @Lions, 2 mins left, one score game, all three time-outs, Baker has a chance to tie it up, become a legend… instead he goes out and immediately throws a pick.
2024-25 playoffs… vs Redskins. The Bucs defense makes a huge 4th quarter goal line stand, gives the ball back to the offense with a chance to go up two scores and put the game away… and Baker immediately turns it over, loses the game.
2025-26 season… Bucs literally just have to win ONE game out of four to lock up a playoff spot. Baker, singlehandedly, manages to lose ALL four games by himself. Vs the Saints, he puts up 122 yards passing, on 4th and 4 on the final drive, he’s got a wide open Cade Otton to keep the drive alive, and no pressure – and Baker throws it at his feet, Otton has to go down to make the catch, and ends up behind the line because of the awful throw. Vs the Falcons, Baker throws the single worst INT you’ll ever see, then on the Bucs last drive, he’s got a wide open e2 for a first down that puts the game away, and misses him by a mile. Then, vs the Panthers, Baker throws for 144 yards, on the final drive, the team in FG range, Baker tries to force the ball to Evans when he’s got two wide open WR’s on the other side of the field – not to mention Evans had already cut off his route and was going upfield when Baker still had the ball in his hands. Then, vs the Dolphins, everything on the line – a must win game – Baker comes out with his worst game as a Buc, throwing 3 INTs, missing wide open guys all day, singlehandedly knocking the Bucs out of the playoffs.
Baker is literally the definition of a choke artist.
March 29th, 2026 at 5:18 pm
Literally said the exact same thing last week. Id rather overpay by 10 milly at the most important position in the NFL than gamble on door number 2. The Bucs have not been able to successfully draft and develop a QB in the history of the franchise. Likely a reach to think they can just flip a switch and decide to do that. Why dont they focus on getting better play out of AWJ, Vea and Godwin who are less important positions but make a ton of money. Sometimes you gotta overpay at a premium position, or another team will gladly do so.
March 29th, 2026 at 8:10 pm
I believe I am the one being criticized for citing Baker’s “ratings.” What I cited were his “rankings.” all-time on the Browns and Bucs. The rankings were where he stood on two important factors, yards passing and touchdown passes, concrete events presented in numerically precise terms and easily verified. And they took place over a period of time adequate to characterize the subject of discussion. This is in contrast to overwrought emotional narratives of a few unconnected events –yes, few because constant repetition does not imply new data– characterized by imprecise pejoratives.
March 29th, 2026 at 9:32 pm
Football is a team sport Munch. Baker does very little single-handedly. Not even run. And if everyone on the team played as well as Baker we would win lots of games 65-3.
March 29th, 2026 at 10:40 pm
Rod Munch, I have no doubt you actually believe your own bs. In fact i know you do. If that is all you’ve got today then all the other NFL qb’s are choke artists. Because they all make mistakes you just don’t happen to hate them so you don’t care to remember their mistakes. There is so much evidence that says Mayfield is a great qb but you don’t live in reality so you will never see what 90% of us see. He will win a superbowl as soon as he teams up with a head coach that should be a head coach in the NFL. If you weren’t such a sad individual people would laugh after reading your bs but its just too far beyond the pale of reasonableness. You are the most predictable person on planet earth. Everything you have uttered about Mayfield has been totally and utterly proven wrong but you never learn from your arrogantly self-inflicted words. You just ignorantly keep spouting off like a teenage boy with a learning disability trying his best to look tough in front of all the other little boys. Mayfield will just keep truckin along getting better with each passing year until he finds himself with the right mix of talent winning a superbowl. Mark it down. It is his destiny. The only question is, is where is that coach right now.
March 29th, 2026 at 11:57 pm
Well he can’t throw effectively from the pocket and the d coordinator s know it ………. that’s really hard for an offensive coordinator to coach around. Yeah some of the extended plays are great but he’s missing making a play because he’s just not a good pocket passer …… he gets too many balls batted and that’s in his head now and the d coordinators know it.
March 30th, 2026 at 12:56 am
Eckwood. It’s laughable how wrong you are about everything you just posted. Let’s see, he’s made a few hundred million, won a Heismann trophy, and stands to make a few hundred million more for…what…? Because he makes D coordinator’s lose sleep at night and… He’s a brilliant pocket passer. He throws well on the roll but that’s not why he’s getting paid. It’s because he will dice you up-from the pocket. We may have had a weak pocket last year but that doesn’t change what Baker does best.
March 30th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Rob. These guys are Baker Mayfield fans most of them don’t care about the bucs winning as long as Baker Mayfield have some good stats .
March 30th, 2026 at 10:31 am
Baker has choked in every big game when the games were on the line in do or die games. He’s 2-8 in prime time games and that’s counting the Texans game and eagles game and in the eagles game the defense played perfect.