Unmatched At QB
August 27th, 2026
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
Advantage, Buccaneers.
When assessing the NFL’s upcoming divisional races, Tampa Bay boasts a sizable winning edge at the game’s most important position.
The differential between Baker Mayfield and the other quarterbacks in the NFC South is monumental — the largest QB gap of any of the league’s eight divisions.
And in a grouping that was separated by only two games from top to bottom in 2025, Mayfield gives the Bucs a comfort level under center that the Panthers, Falcons and Saints can’t match.
There’s a reason why the 12 highest-paid players in the league are all quarterbacks. If you don’t have a decent one, you’re going nowhere. If you’re solid under center, you have a chance to compete.
Before turning to the NFC South, here’s a look at the other divisional matchups at the quarterback position:
NFC EAST
Dak Prescott puts up big numbers in Big D, but it’s Jalen Hurts who sports a 57-25 record as Philadelphia’s starter. That doesn’t include two Super Bowl appearances and one Vince Lombardi Trophy.
NFC NORTH
Detroit’s Jared Goff leads all quarterbacks with 101 TD passes during the past three seasons. Mayfield ranks No. 2 with 95 since joining the Bucs in 2023. Goff has been durable and productive over 10 years, but Jordan Love is no slouch. Let’s not forget Love was hardly to blame for Green Bay’s 31-27 playoff meltdown at Chicago, where he threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns.
NFC WEST
This is QB heaven, with Matt Stafford, Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold vying for supremacy. Stafford is the NFL’s reigning MVP and a likely Hall of Famer after he retires by the end of the decade. Purdy’s career passer rating of 104.0 ranks No. 1 all-time and he’s won 30 of 45 starts. All Darnold did last year was lead the Seahawks to a championship, tossing five TD passes and zero interceptions in the postseason. While playing for two different teams, he’s 31-7 in the past two years.
AFC EAST
Josh Allen is the dynamic driving force in Buffalo, a great talent still looking for a ring. But New England’s Drake Maye was just named the league’s 11th-best player in voting by his peers, finishing second behind Stafford in MVP voting while garnering second-team All-Pro honors.
AFC NORTH
Like Allen, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson has come up short in the postseason. Still, he’s won two MVP awards and finished second to Allen in 2024. When Joe Burrow has been healthy for Cincinnati, he has few peers. Burrow has averaged more than two TD passes per game in his six-year career and the overhauled Buc defense will get a look at him in the Sept. 13 season opener.
AFC SOUTH
Who do you prefer, Trevor Lawrence or C.J. Stroud? Lawrence improved markedly for the Jaguars last year under the tutelage of Liam Coen as Jacksonville averaged 32 points in the final 11 games. Stroud has leveled off after a terrific 2023 rookie season, but he’s already 28-18 as an NFL starter and won’t turn 25 until October.
AFC WEST
Coming off knee surgery, Patrick Mahomes is eager to reclaim his status as the game’s premier quarterback. KC’s offensive line is sketchy and Mahomes lacks quality targets. Talented Justin Herbert has a lot to prove for the Chargers, but he has thrown 105 more TD passes than interceptions in his career. All Denver’s Bo Nix has done in his first two years is win 24 games. He beat Allen in a playoff shootout in January but a fractured right ankle sidelined him against the Patriots in the AFC title game.
NFC SOUTH
Mayfield hasn’t missed a start as a Buccaneer and his intangibles are off the grid. He faltered down the stretch last season, but Mayfield has the full support of teammates and coaches. Tyler Shough went 5-4 as a rookie for the Saints, showing potential. Still, he failed to throw a TD pass in two games against Tampa Bay. The Panthers are careful not to overexpose Bryce Young, who has averaged only 180 passing yards in 46 career games. Neither Michael Penix Jr. nor Tua Tagovailoa should scare the Bucs when they face Atlanta. Penix is 4-8 as a starter, with a completion rate below 60 percent. Tagovailoa threw 14 picks in 2023 and 15 last year for Miami, second only to Geno Smith.
August 27th, 2026 at 2:16 pm
“Neither Michael Penix Jr. nor Tua Tagovailoa should scare the Bucs…” No but that renowned Buc killer Kirk Cousin’s sure scared the Bucs.
August 27th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
The Bears quarterback could surpass Goff and Love this year, possibly.
Every quarterback should scare the Bucs. Even rookie backups seem to pick them apart.
August 27th, 2026 at 2:37 pm
Can Baker & the O-line stay healthy with not too many skill player injured simultaneously either?
Has the pass rush and defense improved as much as it seems?
That’s what all of this hope V negative outlook will pivot on.
August 27th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Great article Sage
August 27th, 2026 at 3:13 pm
There’s zero question that baker is the best qb in the division. And what did that get us the last two years? 7-5, almost .500.
I believe we have the best roster and qb in the division. Although I’d expect shough to take a step and the falcons have talent in many places too.
But Moore, Stefanski and Canales have all gotten more out much less than Todd.
That’s a large problem.
August 27th, 2026 at 3:16 pm
Someone seemingly emerges unexpectedly every year and is anointed the second coming of Joe Montana. Then they fade. Or they never take it to the next level.
Daniels in DC the latest. Burrow has done nothing. Lawrence has done less than nothing. Lamar Jackson can do a lot of things except win in the playoffs. Allen has big games at the wrong time.
So who makes the next step this year? The guy from New Orleans? The kid with the Giants? Penix?
Or will it be Baker?
August 27th, 2026 at 3:49 pm
Our Bucs have been roasted by nobody quarterbacks for several years now that it’s almost expected imo. That needs to stop immediately! No more 500 yards games for some backup or a rookie – or at all for that matter. Let’s go D!!
August 27th, 2026 at 4:12 pm
It’s a bit intellectually dishonest to use the Eagles Record as a supporting argument against Dak. The Eagles have (had) the best roster in football while Dallas simply doesn’t draft like Philly. I would feel comfortable putting my own house up to bet that the vast majority of GM’s would take Dak over Jalen. Record isn’t a quarterback stat, and the ability to convert on a stupid, gimmicky tush push that will surely be banned anyway in a year or two doesn’t move me. RPO heavy qbs that can’t make more than one read do not have staying power
August 27th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
Tyler Shough and Bryce Young were both better than Mayfield siren the stretch last year.
Teams that spend $50-$60Mil om their QB’s salary don’t wiin Superbowls.
August 27th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Come on. Ken, Burrow brought the cheapest franchise in the NFL to the super bowl and a whisker away from winning it. I agree with the rest. But if Joe had an offensive line, which is probably the reason he gets injured so often, he’s a top three quarterback in the NFL.
August 27th, 2026 at 4:42 pm
The buying power of $50 Million in 2026 would be $39 Million in 2020. So I feel the players are getting screwed on the salary cap money, cap needs to be much higher. Brady made $41M in 2021 which would be $52million in present day dollars.
Just keep it in mind when throwing #’s around and comparing to players in the past.
I doubt any commentors on this page can relate to these annual salaries and never have approached putting a budget together to field an NFL team, so I will listen to people that have
August 27th, 2026 at 5:00 pm
bryce young is on an upward trajectory he may have a breakthrough season
August 27th, 2026 at 5:14 pm
This will be a different team with a nasty pass rush. And if our offensive line starters play we will win lots of games. Baker will have a half hour in the pocket if he needs it, lol.
August 27th, 2026 at 5:39 pm
Best log of the turd pile. Pay him $65 million a year!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
August 27th, 2026 at 5:39 pm
Tyler Shough and Bryce Young were both better than Mayfield *down the stretch last year.
If Mayfield gets so injured this year that he starts playing bad again at any point, we shouod sit him and play Daniels.
August 27th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Even with Ira being positive that 50s band, ” Tampa Joe and the rock throwers” show up. Even during a 4 year rock throwing storm, Baker has not missed game. Go Bucs, go Baker, go Bowles. B to the third!!!
August 27th, 2026 at 8:42 pm
@eric, you should do some research on that statement. Guess that would require effort though. Since hurst signed his $50m aav there have been 3 super bowls. Two which were won by qbs with at least a $50m aav. So, $50m dollar qbs have won 2/3 Super Bowls since the first $50m dollar aav contract was signed.
August 27th, 2026 at 11:58 pm
Yet Baker is still just 2-11 in primetime and playoff games, and singlehandedly cost the Bucs the playoffs last year, losing 4 games in a row when the Bucs just needed one win to get in. 122 yards, 145 yards, 4th quarter turnovers, missing wide open receivers with the game on the line, Baker was absolutely terrible when it mattered most – and it’s not just like he was bad in 4 games, he was mostly awful from week 7 on, that’s the majority of the season. Baker was so bad he got the entire offensive staff fired. The idea he’s a franchise QB and worth making a top 5 paid player in the NFL is beyond absurd when he’s already under contract and the Bucs can just have him play out the year and see what he does knowing the pressure is on.
August 28th, 2026 at 12:14 am
Rod Munch Says:
” singlehandedly cost the Bucs the playoffs last year”
That’s stretching it buddy, lol. The entire team cost us the playoffs last year.
August 28th, 2026 at 12:19 am
Personally, I do not care whether the Bucs give him a raise now or later.
I think the smart thing is to do it now, considering he might be in the running for MVP again this year. Unlike the Bowles haters, I’m not hoping for a losing season. I’m hoping for a blockbuster season.
I figure if the Bucs can get deep into the playoffs, Bowles will retire. No need to fire him in that case.
I know who I want to be our next Head Coach though…and surprisingly, its a defensive guy. The only Defensive coach I care for.
August 28th, 2026 at 8:42 am
It’s almost comical seeing comments on here about Baker faltering down the stretch last year. Success this year will depend exactly on what it did last year, the health of key players, and Defense performance.. Not to mention working with a 4th OC in 4 years..
Baker struggled down the stretch last year because he got injured carrying the team while the majority of Bucs skill players and O-Line were standing on the sideline in street clothes for a majorly of the year.
Add to that an irresponsible coach who didn’t bench Baker when he got injured, and you have a team who was hobbled for the last half of the season.
Bucs problem is not Baker Mayfield..
August 28th, 2026 at 8:45 am
It’s almost comical seeing comments on here about Baker faltering down the stretch last year. Baker is the only thing keeping the Bucs from falling to the bottom of the NFC South..
Success this year will depend exactly on what it did last year, the health of key players, and Defense performance.. Not to mention working with a 4th OC in 4 years.
August 28th, 2026 at 3:27 pm
Pay him. He deserves it