Baker Mayfield Is Ranked By 21 NFL Execs & 29 Coaches
August 4th, 2026
“What’s he worth, JPP?”
The deep dive into the crop of 2026 starting quarterbacks has been executed.
Baker Mayfield probably won’t like the results.
This isn’t just another QB survey. Reliable Mike Sando of TheAthletic.com asked NFL coaches, executives and former executives to rank the QBs as follows.
The 2026 QB Tiers results are complete with commentary from the panel of 50 voters, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share candid evaluations.
The panel this year consisted of eight general managers, five assistant GMs, five former GMs and three other executives, plus nine head coaches, 10 defensive coordinators, five offensive coordinators, two offensive assistants, one defensive assistant and two coaches specializing in analytics/game management. That’s 21 execs and 29 coaches overall.
Each voter placed 35 veteran quarterbacks into five tiers, from best (Tier 1) to worst (Tier 5). Quarterbacks were then ranked by average vote and placed into tiers. The survey excludes rookies because voters have not seen them play in the NFL.
So where did Mayfield land? He tied at No. 14 overall with Sam Darnold.
Only four NFL quarterbacks landed in the exclusive Tier 1, per the voting: Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow.
Tier 2 has Mayfield and 12 other quarterbacks.
This is how Tier 2 is defined:
- Carries his team sometimes
- Handles pure-passing situations in doses
- Or has other dimensions that elevate him above Tier 3
- Has a hole or two in his game
Here is one anonymous quote on Mayfield from the voters:
“He probably fluctuates from a 3 to a 2, with some (Tier) 1 games in there,” an exec said of Mayfield. “A little bit of a reckless play style, a little smaller guy. You saw some wear and tear catch up to him last season. I lean towards a 3.”
And here’s another:
“I don’t want to be unfair to Brock Purdy, but I feel more threatened by Baker,” a former head coach said. “I think Baker does more outside of the system. I don’t think he has been as protected in a system like Brock has, and he’s a winner, he’s got that edge to him. So does Brock. Baker is a 2 to me.”
It’s an exhaustive and exhausting analysis of NFL quarterbacks by The Athletic. Joe’s only highlighting.
Mayfield is ranked ahead of Trevor Lawrence and Jalen Hurts, a couple of guys earning more than $50 million annually.
August 4th, 2026 at 7:12 pm
Yeah but!
He’s #1 on the Bucs roster…
August 4th, 2026 at 7:14 pm
Caleb Williams ranked ahead of Baker Mayfield is a joke! They probably should swap places.
Caleb Williams is the next Jameis Winston. The only problem is that Bears fans don’t realize that yet. He couldn’t connect with DJ Moore and he completed 58% of his passes despite having excellent targets.
What a joke!
Dak should be out of the top 10.
August 4th, 2026 at 7:14 pm
I have said it many times cant lock up a 31 year old QB that is a top 12-16 rank with no upside . The 2 year 100mill was more than generous.
August 4th, 2026 at 7:22 pm
Why wouldn’t he like it? I think he was tied at 14th with Darnold, coming off a season where his team was obliterated by injury as he was as well. On top of that the Athletic has never been enamored with Baker. He’s listed ahead of Lawrence and Hurts and Nix, with two of those making over 50 million per season for multiple seasons.
August 4th, 2026 at 7:29 pm
It was a survey of coaches,etc. So the fact that the Athletic is not a Mayfield fan is irrelevant to this discussion. My bad
August 4th, 2026 at 7:42 pm
please get this plus all the commentary of the exec s and the coaches to Baker, he needs to face reality.
August 4th, 2026 at 7:50 pm
Baker should be right next to Goff on here and both Dak and Herbert moved right after him.
August 4th, 2026 at 7:53 pm
Dak Prescott @ 7, what has he done?
August 4th, 2026 at 8:15 pm
Why wouldn’t Baker be happy? The standard of the sorting is tiers, not individuals. Ranking within the tiers is not demonstrated by the methodology. Baker was a two out of five, with only four individuals as ones. Ranking individuals informally, he was tied for fifth in the league. Not bad at all.
August 4th, 2026 at 8:16 pm
Still dimt understand the Herbert glaze
August 4th, 2026 at 8:26 pm
This ranking seems fair. The younger QBs above him are there because of their age and potential upside.
August 4th, 2026 at 8:32 pm
That’s actually a pretty good rating considering last year. Means he’ll be Tier 1 after this year.
August 4th, 2026 at 8:59 pm
Joe,
You should know better.
Hurts 2026 cap hit is 32 million and the Lawrence hit is 24 million.
Look it up.
So stop it with the 50 mil a year stuff.
??? Stop? It’s what matters to Mayfield. –Joe
There’s a difference between an overall contract and guaranteed money.
Yeah, Hurts signed a five year 250 million contract, but only 150 is guaranteed.
Look it up.
If Baker signed a three year deal for 150 mil with only 100 guaranteed I’d be for it.
Not all GM’s are dumb, like they seem to prefer in Cleveland.
August 4th, 2026 at 9:22 pm
Sure seems like a fair assessment to me and I’m not sure why Baker would be upset about it other than it confirming that he is underpaid and worth at least $50 million.
August 4th, 2026 at 9:37 pm
I don’t know that Baker would be upset, but I guarantee he wouldn’t/won’t be satisfied until he’s considered Tier 1. Maybe it will happen, maybe it won’t, but that’s just who he is.
August 4th, 2026 at 9:38 pm
JA,YOU should know better!
Cap hit is not the same as what players are being paid, annualized. A great deal of that money is deferred as bonuses that can be spread out over numerous years, including void years (see Baker’s $30 million cap hit next year – a year in which he is not under contract). They are still making the $50+ million per year when you include the bonus. It is just on the books as a lower amount salary with the bonus spread out over future years in order to manipulate the cap.
Perfect pertinent example … Baker Mayfield is set to earn only $10 million in salary this season. The other $30 million he is actually making is the $30 million dead cap money on the books for next year. He is actually making $40 million this year, which is the real number that everyone uses to compare what QBs are being paid.
August 4th, 2026 at 9:47 pm
This ranks Baker as tied with Sam Darnold who just won the Super Bowl and just signed a three year $100 M to get paid the way Baker has already been getting paid for the last 2 years (without the Super Bowl win or even an NFC Championship appearance).
I rank Baker higher in the second tier, maybe between five and ten, but he is a second tier QB, and that is something he should be proud of.
Continuity is important. I think that it would be smart to offer Baker a 4 year deal with a raise this year to $40 M and yearly increases each year at the same rate of increase as the salary cap – he would go over $50 M in his last year of the deal based on the predicted salary cap for that year.
I am not sure why the Bucs only wanted a two year deal, if that is true. He is not that close to an age where QB play falls off of a cliff. Guarantee the first two years at 100%, and the last two years at 75%? 100%, 90%, 75% and then 60
If those numbers would not persuade him, let him play out his current contract this year and play under the franchise tag next year while the Bucs look behind Door Number Two and Curtain Number Three for a QB whose salary is not a roster killer.
The Bucs can use the money saved to extend Vea and Mauch, and build a plug and play championship roster like Seattle did. Then, when the QB goes money crazy, swap him out for a more cost efficient peripheral – the next Mayfield or Darnold who looked like not so much until they got to be a Part of a really solid TEAM.
August 4th, 2026 at 9:50 pm
Caleb Williams won a playoff game last year in a tougher division, in his second year. He came back from 18 pts down in the playoffs and beat the Packers. When has Baker done that?
2025
Caleb Williams 3,942 yds 27 TDs 7 ints
Baker Mayfield 3,693 yds 26 TDs 11 ints
More yards, more scoring and less mistakes during the regular season. And Caleb balls out in the 4th quarter with amazing throws, in the playoffs. Hes made his mistakes but hes young with lots of upside.
Do yall watch the games? Baker isn’t better than him. But of course Baker fans would think so because they don’t like winning football.
August 4th, 2026 at 10:01 pm
Last I remember, Baker was throwing a perfect QB rating on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.
August 4th, 2026 at 10:12 pm
toopanca – “The Bucs can use the money saved to extend Vea and Mauch”
Once again, there is no money “saved”.
Baker is going to cost the Bucs a $30 million cap hit next regardless of whether he is on the team or not. Prudent minds would probably rather spread that $30 million out over several season rather than eat it all in one year – especially if the guy is not on the team anymore.
August 4th, 2026 at 10:27 pm
Ridiculous to compare one whole season of numbers from Caleb Williams to one down year from Baker. Why didn’t you choose to compare Bakers great 2024 year to the one decent year Caleb Williams had?
QBs who look good one year and not so hot the next are and have been in abundance since the NFL existed. Witness C.J. Stroud or Daniel Jones or Mac Jones or Mark Sanchez or Nick Foles or Robert Griffin III among many others.
In other words, let’s stop with the overblown hype on many of these young QBs who have been in the league for only a couple of years – Bo Nix, Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels.
Unless, of course, you give want to give Baker that same high praise by going back to his first couple of years in the league and see how high everyone was on him for leading the Browns to their first playoff birth and win in 26 years. They haven’t even made a playoff appearance since he left the team.
August 4th, 2026 at 10:37 pm
Compare Mayfield and Williams in 2024, and the numbers tell a different story.
I hope that last year’s injuries were a negative aberration and that the Bucs will not experience anything nearly that bad for a very long time to come.
Winning in 2024 was quite nice, but I would definitely have enjoyed more. Perhaps you recall the ILB and DB travails in 2024 despite the great offense, and JTS’s last hurrah? For the moment, things look to be on par with 2024 for the offense, and the defense looks to be much better than the 2024 defense. I hope to watch the Bucs win more games this year than they did in 2024.
August 4th, 2026 at 10:47 pm
It’s a balanced and fair review.
Getting him locked up for an additional 2 years for 100 mil is a good deal for both sides.
Mayfield is delusional to think he’s worth a long term contract given his style of play and inconsistencies.
August 4th, 2026 at 10:51 pm
“Ridiculous to compare one whole season of numbers from Caleb Williams to one down year from Baker. Why didn’t you choose to compare Bakers great 2024 year to the one decent year Caleb Williams had?”
Baker Bucs stats
2023 64.3% Comp% 4044 yds 28 TDs 10 Ints
2024 71 comp% 4500 yds 41 TDs 16 ints
2025 63.2 comp% 3593 yds 26 TDs 11 ints
Sorry not sorry Baker fans, he didnt have a down year. He had a year. A year identical to past years of his career. The outlier is the Coen year. I didnt compare 2024 because we have 2025 data. Once again Caleb in year two is doing better than Baker right now. Of course the jury is still out on how good he’ll be but he has upside, health and youth. 3 things Baker doesn’t have.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Unless the Bucs extend Baker, they will take $30 M Cap hit in 2027 from three Void Years. But, that is for money he has already received. So, it is just bookkeeping fakery. Baker has already received that money. He gets $27 M actual cash this plus possible incentives, and that is it; has no more due – which is what he doesn’t like.
If, for example, the Bucs extend Vea and Mauch, using signing bonuses or restructuring bonuses, the Bucs can make their nominal salaries relatively small in 2027 with smaller cap hits and offset Baker’s $30 M Void Year Cap Hit by prorating the bonuses into Void Years for Vea and Mauch at the end of their contracts. Cap problem solved! Or, at least perpetually kicked down the road.
The Bucs can play all kinds of games with the Cap. But, the Glazers reportedly keep each year’s actual cash spending tied closely to the year’s Salary Cap, and cash spending is not impacted by the Void Years Cap play.
However, it can be taken too far as the Saints did, seemingly because people kept taking “one more” swing at the fences trying to keep their jobs. The Saints had so much funny money on th books that they had little room left to maneuver.
The Bucs were on that road to ruin in the years after the Super Bowl win. But, they have turned that around. They took a Void Years hit this year when Evans left. After Baker’s $30 M next year, the big money left is for Godwin who has about $16 M in Void year money, Winfield with $12 M, and McColllum with $5. When it comes to cooking the books to beat the Cap, the Bucs have tons of room.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:19 pm
johnnythemoon Says:
August 4th, 2026 at 7:14 pm
I have said it many times cant lock up a 31 year old QB that is a top 12-16 rank with no upside . The 2 year 100mill was more than generous.
———
Agree. He’s a bit delusional and narcissistic. That plus high-variance play and the boneheaded judgment at times. Kinda reminds me of Jameis.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:21 pm
“I don’t want to be unfair to Brock Purdy, but I feel more threatened by Baker,” a former head coach said. “I think Baker does more outside of the system. I don’t think he has been as protected in a system like Brock has, and he’s a winner, he’s got that edge to him. So does Brock. Baker is a 2 to me.”
———-
LOL! You can tell what guy doesn’t watch tape.
2-11 in primetime and playoff games since 2023 is not a “winner.”
With that said, tied with Darnold, is pretty much where I’d have him – but I’d rather have Baker. However, I’d rather have Hurts or Lawrence over Baker – not that Hurts is better, but you can use him more ways. For those dismissing Lawrence, look at how he ended last year once we was settling into the Coen offense, he was even hotter than Baker was at the end of 2024.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:36 pm
Rod — I think that you’re missing the tape — on Purdy. I think that he’s a great passer, but he doesn’t do well under duress. Mr. Irrelevant landed in a choice spot.
And — Hurts over Baker? Isn’t Baker over Hurts like 2-1?
And — Lawrence. Why did it take him all year to settle into the Coen offense? You’re big on consistency so let’s see how Trevor repeats.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:46 pm
Guys — The rating is dynamic. Mayfield’s rating was #4 during the beginning successful run last year.
The only thing that matters is what happens next. Baker is going to play without an extension — and I think that he and the team will flip last season’s results.
Do the smart thing and play the over on prop yards — like 3,500 last night. The final number will be closer to 4,500.
August 4th, 2026 at 11:59 pm
Baker’s 3 year contract total payout, plus or minus incentives, was $100 M – 33 M per year.
Super Bowl winning QB Sam Darnold just signed a 3 year contract for basically the same mone that Baker has been paid the last two years.
Because the Glazers reportedly keep cash spending on a leash tied to the Cap, paying Baker $28 M this year, plus up to $5 M more incentives, and then Tagging him in 2027 for ~$50 M leaves the Bucs with $22 M more in real salary spending cash vs paying him $50 M this year and $50 M next year.
As to cash money he is to receive this year, Baker is gets $10 M base salary, $17 M roster bonus, $1 M in “likely to achieve” incentives – $28 M. There is an additional $5 M possible in “unlikely to achieve” incentives.
With the incentives Baker is deemed “likely to achieve”, the Bucs can keep him through 2027 for just $78 M cash money yet to be paid.
Since they don’ have to do it, I think that it would not only be reasonable but also be generous to offer him $40 M in 2026, $43. 5 M in 2027, $47 M in 2028; and $50 M in 2029 along with the same $1 M and $5 M incentives with the first two years guaranteed 100%, the third year 80%, and the fourth year 60%?
Baker gets lots of guaranteed money, but he also has strong contractural incentives to perform at his best through what should be the prime years of his career.
And, vs 2 years at $50 M or whatever he asked for and the Bucs offered, the Bucs have $10 M more in cash this year and 7.5 M more in cash next year to apply to Vea and Mauch.
The other side of that is the $83 M Baker would receive in 2026 and 2027 is more than the $78 M he would make if he does nothing and the Bucs Tag him, plus he would have guaranteed money for two more years after that.
And, if instead, he plays out his contract this year and is tagged next year, that $78 M vs $50 M x 2 for those two years leaves the Bucs with $22 M more to use to keep Vea and Mauch.
August 5th, 2026 at 12:01 am
toopanca Says: (multiple posts)
Agreed. There are multiple ways for the Bucs to skin the cat if they want to commit to Mayfield.
Other than that, the term of the Bucs current offer was obviously the issue.
My prediction: The Bucs and Baker have a great year and Baker plays the hero by agreeing to a team-friendly deal. He did that on the last contract (when the new ME contract was also at stake). Mayfield’s market value at that time was in the high 30’s range.
August 5th, 2026 at 12:35 am
exBrowns Says: “My prediction: The Bucs and Baker have a great year and Baker plays the hero by agreeing to a team-friendly deal. He did that on the last contract.”
Here we go again, with this talk of a big “DISCOUNT.” Lmao. And, HE DID NOT TAKE ANY “DISCOUNTS” the last time. That is ABSURD. A LIE. And, it’s freakin’ DELUSIONAL. He took EVERY. Single. LAST PENNY. That HE COULD GET. There were NO “OTHER OFFERS.” There were NO “OTHER TEAMS.” Thus, THERE WERE NO DISCOUNTS. He was an ‘unrestricted’ FREE-AGENT, and the Bucs were only ‘bidding’ against THEMSELVES. Denver had no other CHOICE than to go the DRAFT route (and it was already KNOWN pre free-agency AND pre-draft), due to the Russell Wilson DISASTER… They were CAP and CASH STRAPPED. The Vikings had already ANNOUNCED (and had traded UP) that they were DRAFTING A QB. Which leaves ATL and the BUCS… Where, ATL had already TAMPERED ‘behind-the-scenes’ with KIRK COUSINS (and it cost them a PICK and a bunch of of money in FINES). So, that LEFT Tampa Bay once AGAIN, and BAKER COULDN’T ‘SIGN’ QUICK ENOUGH. He. Had. NOWHERE ELSE. To GO. Everyone else, either already HAD “THEIR” QB, already knew what they were going to do and HAD A PLAN, or already KNEW that they were DRAFTING ONE. The Bucs was “HIS” ONLY option.
August 5th, 2026 at 12:45 am
Winfield Junior, and that WEAK SCHEDULE down the final stretch of that first-season SAVED Baker’s (and Bowles’) JOB. He couldn’t move the ball, pick up 1st-Downs, or move the ball… That Offense was STAGNANT. And, Baker was SO BAD that over 90% of the Bucs friggin’ Fanbase wanted to SEE what the hell “TRASK” could do. It was REALLY, THAT BAD. It was basically a mirror image of LAST SEASON. Which means, that the COEN year, was only just an OUTLIER.
August 5th, 2026 at 6:13 am
They keep calling Mahomes the BEST, and he’s been nothing but slightly above average for 3 straight seasons
August 5th, 2026 at 7:39 am
He had a team around him and now he doesn’t. That’s how it works. For EVERYONE.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:40 am
No…nobody wanted to see what Trask could do. Are you nuts?
August 5th, 2026 at 7:45 am
been telling you baker boi’s he’s mid lol
GO BUCS!!!!
August 5th, 2026 at 8:19 am
There is always going to be bias in rankig players. I wouldn’t call Baker elit but he has had elite moments in key games.
August 5th, 2026 at 1:44 pm
This is the fun of a fan site. Opinions are like a$$ holes. Everybody’s got one.
One thing I can say absolutely about what Baker is worth, is he is worth what someone is willing to pay him. Fans here are all over the map on that number, and I personally have no idea. As has been pointed out, there are a lot of stupid GMs out there.
One thing I would say is, I would like it when we stick to what facts we do know. Several people here have commented that Baker was offered 2 years at $50M/year, all fully guaranteed. NO credible source, not even the Bucs, have ever made the claim that the offer was fully guaranteed.
Even Adam Shefter has been throwing out bullsh!t. He has says repeatedly that the offer of $50M per year would put Baker in the top five. Just STOP. There are 12 QBs with an average salary at $51M or higher. So how exactly does giving ANY QB $50M/year put the in the top five? But not only has he said it, it has been used by several media outlets without question.
There is a saying: “There are lies, damn lies, and statistics.” Anyone can be selective in choosing stats to fit just about any narrative. And this is an open board, so have at it and have fun!
August 5th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Sorry but Sam Darnold and Jalen Hurts have to be ahead of Baker. Both have multiple 12+ win years, SB appearances and SB wins, high QBRatings on average. Wins and playoff wins are what matters.
Jordan Love, Brock Purdy, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels all above Baker is about youthful hype. Baker better than all of them. Simple question. Put each of those players on Tampa with Todd Bowls and revolving OCs the last 3 years and I doubt they would have done better than Baker. Put Baker on each of their teams with their HC and OCs especially Green Bay and San Francisco and Baker is making deep playoff runs.
That puts Baker at Top 12 QB which is fair. I would argue Baker is ahead of Justin Herbert who has not won squat and living off his 6 feet 4 inch height. Drake Maye going to SB after 2 years on a team drafted in bottom 5 and Dak Prescott numbers has them deservedly ahead of Baker. The rest are non-arguably ahead of Baker.
August 5th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
I’m glad the ownership has finally opened their eyes and see baker for what he truly is, a mid level QB he is not tier one and I truly question his tier 2 ranking
This year will be his last at Tampa and maybe we can find a tier 1 QB