Baker Mayfield’s Turnovers
June 24th, 2026
Careful, Baker!
If this were America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, people would be rioting in the streets.
But it’s not. It’s Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield.
People still holler and bellyache over Jameis’s turnovers. OK, but at least he produced. And that’s what Joe looks for: Production.
Mayfield, the current Bucs quarterback, has a nasty habit few people bring up. Again, Joe doesn’t care about turnovers so long as there is production.
Two years ago Mayfield had 41 touchdowns thrown as the Bucs won 10 games. That was two shy of the league lead (Joe Burrow with 43).
That same year Mayfield led the NFL in picks. Joe, and most Bucs fans, didn’t say squat about it. Why? Production.
So last year, Mayfield cut down on the picks. What he did not cut down on was the fumbles. He led the league in fumbles (11) tied with Sam Darnold (Super Bowl winner — see what Joe said about turnovers?) and Cam Ward.
Probably one reason you didn’t hear too many folks holler about Mayfield’s fumbles last year was that he only lost three. (Darnold had six lost fumbles — but he won the Super Bowl!)
Joe has a strong hunch that because Mayfield plays quarterback like a Tasmanian Devil, that leads to many of his fumbles.
Last year Mayfield cut down on his picks. Could this year be the season Mayfield cuts down on all his turnovers and doesn’t fumble so often?
June 24th, 2026 at 12:05 am
I’d rather have Winston and he’d be happy to come back and play for cheap!
June 24th, 2026 at 12:18 am
With a healthy Offensive Line, with an OC who establishes a legit run game, and with a better defense, Baker should not be holding on to the ball forever and getting into the kinds of situations that leads to that many fumbles.
If all of those other things are good and he is playing Superman when there is no excuse not to play smart football, then that is a Baker problem. But, I think (and hope) that Baker will play smart football so long as everything is on track.
June 24th, 2026 at 1:04 am
Great article Joe as I have a love-hate relationship with Baker on a football level. The Baker turnover discussion always lacks context though. Everybody wants to focus on the turnover numbers, but nobody wants to talk about why they happen.
Bake isn’t a stationary pocket passer. He plays aggressive football, extends plays, fights through pressure, and refuses to quit on a down. Agreed??
That’s the same mentality that produced over 40 touchdown passes and helped keep this offense among the league’s most productive. You don’t get the good without occasionally getting some of the bad.
The real question isn’t how do you eliminate Baker’s turnovers. It’s how do you reduce the unnecessary ones WITHOUT taking away what makes him successful. A healthier offensive line, a more consistent run game, and better situational football would go a long way toward helping that happen.
If we can run the ball effectively and keep Baker out of obvious passing situations, he won’t feel the need to play Superman as often. That’s where a lot of the fumbles come from, extending plays while trying to create something when the offense isn’t staying on schedule.
The Winston comparisons don’t really fit either. Jameis often turned the ball over because of poor reads (ineffective contact lenses) and forcing throws into coverage. Most of Bakes turnovers come from AGGRESSIVENESS and playmaking. I’ll take a quarterback I occasionally have to rein in over one I’m constantly begging to make a play. Can I get an AMEN??
Obviously if Bake cuts down on the strip sack fumbles while maintaining his production, we will be in excellent shape. The goal isn’t perfection.The goal is maximizing production while minimizing the costly mistakes.
I’ll take Controlled aggression, not conservative football. I’d rather dial Bake back than have to crank him up.
LFG!!
Ring ME
June 24th, 2026 at 1:14 am
Good stuff BoriMex 813!
June 24th, 2026 at 1:19 am
Yeah, and he probably had short arms, too.
June 24th, 2026 at 1:51 am
Fun Fact: Baker and Winston have lead the NFL in interceptions the same number of times – once.
June 24th, 2026 at 2:18 am
Yeah but what about 4th qtr crunch time game on the line turnovers in the playoffs. Those are the worst. It’s a Bucs life
June 24th, 2026 at 2:29 am
“Bake isn’t a stationary pocket passer. He plays aggressive football, extends plays, fights through pressure, and refuses to quit on a down. Agreed??“
Go look at this first INT of the year on 1st and 10 from the 14 against the eagles, all that fighting the current to throw a pick in his own endzone killed a 2nd half rally. Throw the dang ball away and live to play another down.
“The Winston comparisons don’t really fit either. Jameis often turned the ball over because of poor reads (ineffective contact lenses) and forcing throws into coverage. Most of Bakes turnovers come from AGGRESSIVENESS and playmaking. I’ll take a quarterback I occasionally have to rein in over one I’m constantly begging to make a play. Can I get an AMEN??“
So explain throwing 30 picks, leading the #3 offense and getting both Mike & Chris 2nd team all pros with neither playing the full 16 games in 2019.
They throw picks for the same reason, bad reads, spitting accuracy, and being out of rhythm. Your context is really just spin, nothing analytical at all. Man if I could post film cut ups in here it save some of us a lot of unnecessary typing lol
Controlled aggression, lol
June 24th, 2026 at 2:33 am
Joe’s hunch is wrong.
Competent ALL22 shows that 50%+ of Mayfield’s INT are clear WR error.
Watch the fumbles. Barton is responsible for the majority. It’s not even debatle. TB has had poor center play for 3 seasons.
It’s not even hard to see if you watch the film.
June 24th, 2026 at 2:57 am
BoriMex 813
What you’re failing to mention is that some of Baker’s interceptions come from his inability to read defenses adequately. Along with the interceptions and fumbles there are numerous bad throws, literally in the dirt. These have led to turnovers on downs which is essentially the same as turnovers.
Like you I have a love hate feelings about Baker. That never given up on a play mentality sounds good. Sounds like Moxie, but in the long run, they are detrimental to the team. They lead to turnovers, they lead to him holding onto the ball too long. How many times have you seen him throw the ball away that boxy also leads to injuries that dragged the team down. If he’s going to be a franchise quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he simply needs to learn to play smart football. He has a lot of talent, but he plays like a caveman.
Smart quarterbacks, protect themselves, protect the ball, protect down and distance, protect leads. Quarterbacks with Moxie just run around like a Tasmanian devil looking for somebody to hit.
The bucks are aware of this, and unless he starts protecting his body, he will not get a long-term deal here or anywhere else. This is his last stop as a starter.
June 24th, 2026 at 6:41 am
ATLBuc – “This is his last stop as a starter.”
Perhaps the most ridiculous statement I have read on this site in awhile (and that’s saying a lot!).
The ONLY way it would ever be accurate is if does get multiple long term contracts with the Bucs and ends his career here (one way or another).
June 24th, 2026 at 6:42 am
The BoriMax813 post is an excellent illustration of why football is a TEAM game.
Mayfield is Not an elite QB- he’s a good QB that needs a quality team around him to perform his best.
This is why his contract extension needs to allow for the Bucs to have enough cap space to continue to sign/re-sign good/elite players for the overall quality talent of the team.
Brady understood this and Mayfield needs to understand and accept this as well.
June 24th, 2026 at 8:16 am
Winston, the only QB in the history of the NFL to lose his job to a Tight End. There is no comparison! The only fans who love Winston are the one’s from the other team.
June 24th, 2026 at 8:19 am
CleanHouse, the Giants are looking for new fans and so are the Saints.
June 24th, 2026 at 8:22 am
He can’t stop turning the ball over in Mini Camp and OTAs so no, he won’t change his stripes now. He cant read defenses or move safeties with his eyes because he cant see over the OL. Also, he rarely sets his feet so he throws high or low which leads to picks.
If Baker is working hard to improve his game, how can he improve? Smh…one more season….
June 24th, 2026 at 8:44 am
@Warren Brooks Lynch
The irony of accusing me of spin is that you’re the one spinning my comment.
I’ve talked production, turnovers, and results my guy. You’ve talked motives and narratives, that’s not analytics, that’s storytelling.
And thanks for proving my point on Winston. He didn’t throw 30 picks because he woke up and felt like it. He threw them for the same reasons Baker throws interceptions: bad reads, poor ball placement, and getting out of rhythm.
Yet when Jameis did it, he was “reckless.” When Baker does it, it’s “aggressive football” and “playmaking.”
That’s the spin.
And by the way, bringing up a QB who threw for 5,109 yards, led the #3 offense, and helped Mike and Chris earn All-Pro honors despite missing games isn’t exactly the slam dunk you think it is.
You keep saying analytics. I’m still waiting for them 🥱 until then…
LFG!!
Ring ME
June 24th, 2026 at 8:46 am
It’s the 4th quarter interceptions at critical times in critical games that exposes Baler as a fraud. But, again, he knows he doesn’t have a defense or a coach that can hold a lead or get a critical stop when it matters, so that adds unnecessary pressure to the situations. All these dudes will be glad to get away from the clown factory and to a team with real coaching.
June 24th, 2026 at 8:57 am
@ATL Bucs Fan
I definitely understand what you’re saying. At least you make some sense.
Could Bake improve at protecting himself? Absolutely. Could he cut down on the occasional hero-ball interception? Absolutely.
But I also think some of those issues can be helped by scheme. One thing I’m excited to see from pistol 🔫 Zac this year is whether he can make life easier on Bake with more pre-snap motion, better route combinations, and more defined reads. Analytics across the league continue to show that quarterbacks perform better when defenses are forced to declare coverage before the snap and when the ball comes out quicker.
Bake will probably never be a conservative, game-manager type quarterback. That’s not who he is. He’s at his best when he’s attacking and creating. The goal isn’t to take away the aggressiveness that produced 40+ TDs. The goal is to channel it better.
If Robinson can help Baker identify coverages faster, get the ball out a half-second quicker, and create more easy completions through play design, I think you’ll naturally see some of the turnovers come down without sacrificing the big-play ability that makes him dangerous in the first place.
That’s why I have a love-hate relationship with Baker. The same mentality that creates some of the frustrating turnovers is also the same mentality that has led to division titles, playoff wins, and countless off-script plays that a lot of quarterbacks simply can’t make.
LFG!!
Ring ME
June 24th, 2026 at 9:04 am
@ATL Bucs Fan
I definitely understand what you’re saying. At least you make some sense.
Could Bake improve at protecting himself? Absolutely. Could he cut down on the occasional hero-ball interception? Absolutely.
But I also think some of those issues can be helped by scheme. One thing I’m excited to see from Pistol 🔫 Zac this year is whether he can make life easier on Bake with more pre-snap motion, better route combinations, and more defined reads. Analytics across the league continue to show that quarterbacks perform better when defenses are forced to declare coverage before the snap and when the ball comes out quicker.
Bake will probably never be a conservative, game manager type quarterback. That’s not who he is. He’s at his best when he’s attacking and creating. The goal isn’t to take away the aggressiveness that produced 40+ TDs. The goal is to channel it better.
If Robinson can help Baker identify coverages faster, get the ball out a half-second quicker, and create more easy completions through play design, I think you’ll naturally see some of the turnovers come down without sacrificing the big-play ability that makes him dangerous in the first place.
That’s why I have a love-hate relationship with Baker. The same mentality that creates some of the frustrating turnovers is also the same mentality that has led to division titles, playoff wins, and countless off script plays that a lot of quarterbacks simply can’t make.
@bucnjim
Amen 🙏 brother
LFG!!
Ring ME
June 24th, 2026 at 9:20 am
@BoriMex
I’m starting to question your reading comprehension right now.
You literally tried drawing a line between the two just to tell me I proved your point of them throwing picks for the same damn reasons.
The Line:
“The Winston comparisons don’t really fit either. Jameis often turned the ball over because of poor reads (ineffective contact lenses) and forcing throws into coverage. Most of Bakes turnovers come from AGGRESSIVENESS and playmaking. I’ll take a quarterback I occasionally have to rein in over one I’m constantly begging to make a play.”
you literally say they don’t fit in comparison, but then say:
“And thanks for proving my point on Winston. He didn’t throw 30 picks because he woke up and felt like it. He threw them for the same reasons Baker throws interceptions: bad reads, poor ball placement, and getting out of rhythm.”
Jameis poor reads, you even mentioned eye contacts, but Mayfield throws them cause he’s aggressive(?)
Then I point out a contrasting point that even with 30 INTs which was absolutely ridiculous, he still managed to PRODUCE enough that both of his WRs that missed games respectively, still had an insane amount of PRODUCTION. in a 16 game season btw.
Jameis in that one year, contributed to more WR-All pros from this team than Baker has gotten WRs to all-pro status in his entire career. The only WR to ever go all-pro catching passes from Baker, just left the team Baker still plays for.
I don’t need to dunk on you, I can just lay it up and take the and1. Knicks in 5 chump.
June 24th, 2026 at 9:24 am
Baker is a 50/50 guy if there ever was one.
Meaning you have the same chance of winning as you do losing with him as your QB1.
The record proves that out to be 1000% true. Facts over feelings.
In prime time as the Bucs QB1 Mayfield is 1-9. Ouch baby, very ouch.
Point to all the stats you want that make you feel good. But what you have never seen is Baker produce anything beyond landfill division titles.
June 24th, 2026 at 9:52 am
@Warren Brooks Lynch
You keep bouncing all over the place because your argument falls apart the second context gets involved. I love it here 🥹
Knicks in 5?
Brother, you’re down by three scores and still celebrating a first-quarter completion.
LFG!
Ring Me
June 24th, 2026 at 10:02 am
@Borimex
You think we’re arguing? that’s cute lol
Dude tries to argue both sides of the coin and then flips it on me like he’s making any type of point at all or the point that I made was the point he was making.
If you read with a stammer, just say that.
June 24th, 2026 at 10:18 am
@Warren Brooks Lynch
The irony here is you’re accusing me of arguing both sides while completely missing the distinction I already made. You truly can’t make this up, now back to enjoying Joe BUC’s fan.
LFG!!
Ring Me
June 24th, 2026 at 10:30 am
The distinction made ZERO sense, I legit just got done telling you that and why I am still questioning your comprehension.
One throws because of bad reads and bad eyes
the other because he’s aggressive
you prefering having to “rein” that in
as if Jameis wasn’t aggressive?
Just to double back to say I proved your point because both throw picks for the same reasons lol
You’re hilarious.
June 24th, 2026 at 10:52 am
How many of those were after the bye? For last year, that could have been the problem. Ribs affected flexibilty. Bother shoulders injured probably mean some numness in his arms from time to time.
When I think about where the pain would be on me with those injuries, I get it. But then at my age everything hurts.
June 24th, 2026 at 11:01 am
3.28.Evans Says:
“It’s the 4th quarter interceptions at critical times in critical games that exposes Baler as a fraud. But, again, he knows he doesn’t have a defense or a coach that can hold a lead or get a critical stop when it matters, so that adds unnecessary pressure to the situations.”
I think that’s a fair opinion and could be accurate.
“All these dudes will be glad to get away from the clown factory and to a team with real coaching.”
And then you ruin a good post by adding a troll remark at the end.
June 24th, 2026 at 11:27 am
@Warren Brooks Lynch
It’s funny how Joe and several others understood exactly what I was saying, yet you’re still confused.
Maybe the problem isn’t my explanation brother.
LFG!!
Join the movement!
Ring ME
June 24th, 2026 at 12:25 pm
@3.28.Evans
Spot on as usual brotha. Keep bringing the heat.
The Pom Pom squad gets a bee in their bonnet with every dose of reality that those of us capable of rationale thought provide for them.
“All these dudes will be glad to get away from the clown factory and to a team with real coaching.”
Correct sir. Especially when we get a REAL DC, not this fraud.
June 24th, 2026 at 1:01 pm
Baker is 2-9 in prime time games!!
June 25th, 2026 at 7:30 am
Winston, Jeff George, Vinny, Jay Cutler…Joe’s kind of quarterback, lol!