Jason Licht Punts Baker Mayfield Contract Question
September 1st, 2026
Hey, Jason Licht, you have a franchise quarterback without a contract for 2027. Are you going to try again to lock him up before opening day?
That’s the gist of what the Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager was asked today at One Buc Palace.
Licht caught the ball and punted out of the back of the end zone.
“Well, we certainly respect [Baker] wanting to focus on [this] season. We’re focused on the season,” Licht said, referring to a public Baker Mayfield comment that he’s not talking contract once training camp starts.
Licht continued: “I’ve] been here long enough to know that in this league, I don’t make predictions on what could happen, what will happen, what won’t happen. Right now, we’re all focused on — I’ve been waiting to say this for a long time — ‘It’s on to Cincinnati.’”
The Licht reference to Cincinnati is two-fold: The Bucs open the regular season there in 12 short days, and Bill Belicheat had a famous quote after a blowout loss roughly 10 years ago, “We’re on to Cincinnati.” It was Belicheat’s way of not talking about the loss.
The Mayfield situation isn’t going away. Media chatter will ramp up with every Mayfield high and low this season.
Maybe the Bucs think that’s good for Mayfield, which is good for the franchise. Maybe they’re soiling themselves knowing it’s a pending challenge that could get worse by the month.
Hopefully, the situation doesn’t distract Mayfield. You know, “the TVs everywhere.”
September 1st, 2026 at 12:13 pm
Run Baker Run
Ian Beckles on his most recent YT channel video explores all things recent with the Bucs along with what Baker and human nature just might do if he has a good season.
September 1st, 2026 at 12:13 pm
The Glazers do not want Baker on the books for next year for their new coach . They want Tomlin to go in there and install a mediocre QB and build up a defensive team. But Nobody wants Tomlin except Darcie Glazer. She wants to look good to Goodell. The Bucs are allowing Bowles to retire after this year.
September 1st, 2026 at 12:18 pm
So…. Bucs fans
We are entering the 2026 season
After a miserable preseason
After a torturous end of season SLIDE that was preceded by the false hope beginning of the season that cruelly tricked everyone including the national talking heads.
This team is held together with no identity, no leadership and a team that is getting no respect from virtually the entire NFL world on and off the field.
September 1st, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Huge distraction. Talking about contacts and hot seat coaches instead of football. The gift that keeps on giving. Don’t be distracted by thinking of a pink elephant. See it’s not possible. That’s how the brain works. That’s 1-2 loses/4th qtr interceptions this season easy. Get it done if you’re serious about winning, Licht. Go Bucs!
September 1st, 2026 at 12:26 pm
wise move!!!!!!
after bakers performance in DEC, he has to prove he’s worth the loot!!!!…1 playoff win 3years ago doesnt scream “franchise QB”….it suggest bridge QB at best!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 1st, 2026 at 12:35 pm
Hey, Jason Licht, you have a franchise quarterback without a contract for 2027. Are you going to try again to lock him up before opening day?
——–
Hey Jason, you got a QB who is 2-11 in prime-time and playoff games, he’s coming off an awful season where he singlehandedly cost you the playoffs, and was so bad he got the entire offensive staff fired. Even though he’s already under contract for this year, why don’t you make him one of the top 3 highest paid players in the NFL?
September 1st, 2026 at 12:41 pm
What makes you think Tomlin would want to coach in Tampa, if he returns to coaching? The Steelers still own his rights for two more years, so he won’t be the coach here next year. No way the Glazers are going to trade for him like Malcolm did for Chucky.
September 1st, 2026 at 12:56 pm
I wish all you commenters would just back up our team. These 17 game seasons are grueling. We’re gonna have to grind from the get go. Licht is doing his best. And Bowles. And Baker. And 53 on the roster and 17? on the practice squad. Not to mention all the staff that supports this organization’s work.
Next year the team will look different, nobody knows how much different. This is the 2026 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And they’ve got their work cut out for them.
I’m in for a penny, in for a pound. One thing I know is we aren’t changing the past. We’re going to compete hard this year. Real Hard!! Go Bucs!!
September 1st, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Hey Jason, you got fans that are dumber than a box of rocks. Resign Baker or the whole organization will regret it forever. If Munch mentions primetime games again he should be forever banned.
It’s not Baker’s record, it’s the Bucs record. Stafford wasn’t great until he went to the Rams. With a better defense, Baker’s luck and opportunities will improve.
September 1st, 2026 at 1:03 pm
The media loves beating a dead horse. I’m with Baker, and Licht. On to Cincinnati.
September 1st, 2026 at 1:05 pm
Time to install Easton Stick as the #2 QB. He’s just that good! Actually saw him take several snaps from under center without fumbling once.
September 1st, 2026 at 1:09 pm
Stpetematt… Perfect response about signing Baker.
September 1st, 2026 at 1:20 pm
Maybe someday Baker will get the respect he deserves! Baker is like Bronko Nagurski, he’s like Tim Tebow with an arm. He’ll hit you, run over you and throw for 41 touchdowns in a season and still won’t be respected. But Baker is just the kind of quarterback who will win a championship and then say I’m ready for that contract now !!
Go Baker Mayfield!!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Bengals !!
September 1st, 2026 at 1:29 pm
“Hopefully, the situation doesn’t distract Mayfield. You know, ‘the TVs everywhere.’”
Trust me… Whatever HE misses, HIS WIFE will be there watching every little thing, to run and tell him.
September 1st, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Good for baker staying true his word and good for the organization for holding their line as well.
One side believes one reality and the other a different. The pure definition of an impasse.
September 1st, 2026 at 1:35 pm
I’m going to put $1 into the swear jar every time Munch says “singlehandedly.”
September 1st, 2026 at 1:36 pm
Stpetematt … ‘With a better defense, Baker’s luck and opportunities will improve.’
The same can be said about virtually every QB in the NFL. Give an NFL QB a solid defense, a strong OLine, good targets to throw to, and a deadly running game and voila … almost all will have a winning season. And that’s what Baker had in 2020 in Cleveland when he went 11-5 and 2024 in Tampa when he went 10-7.
Bucs have made a ton of personnel changes this off-season, especially on the defensive side of the ball, although adding Gainwell & Hurst on the offensive side won’t hurt a bit. The biggest improvement though IMO is just getting (and keeping) guys healthy. If we can manage that, we can compete with anybody far as I’m concerned.
September 1st, 2026 at 1:59 pm
“Stafford wasn’t great until he went to the Rams.”
Nah, you just didn’t pay attention to Matt Stafford until he got to the Rams.
Threw for >5,000 Yards & 41 TDs as a 3rd year player. Also played with Calvin Johnson for 7 years of his 9 year career. Again, he wasn’t on winning teams, doesn’t mean he wasn’t good at playing the QB position, way better than Baker btw
September 1st, 2026 at 2:04 pm
Munch:
I’m going to put $1 into the swear jar every time Munch says “singlehandedly.”
CLEARLY, Munch has never played an actual down of football in his life. Madden does not count.
September 1st, 2026 at 2:07 pm
Who is Belicheat?
September 1st, 2026 at 2:09 pm
I get the arguments for waiting. Personally, I think the Bucs best move is to get.Baker signed to a solid, three-year extension, but we shall see…
September 1st, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Baker was hurt last year and played pretty good.
He had to throw all the time because he was playing from behind all year because of a terrible defense. If the bucs don’t pay him he we’ll leave and play great for someone else.
There’s lots of teams that would want him. Also his teammates would walk thru a fire for him.
Doug Pendergraft
September 1st, 2026 at 2:29 pm
There is no reason whatsoever, to give-in NOW and then screw everything up. They got VERY lucky that Baker himself, gave them their OUT. This has actually been the first offseason in a little while, where I have agreed with almost all of their moves, and they actually did what “I” said they SHOULD DO (other than Pyburn). Not since the off-season when they hired Coen and drafted Barton, Tykee, and JMac. One of the few drafts that I agreed with (even the Braswell pick)… Which, isn’t turning out to be the strong class, that I thought it would be. So, we’ll see this season… It’s still up for debate.
I was also, DEAD ON the Baker contract then, at 3yrs/$100MIL. I was mostly DEAD ON the Vea’s deal during THIS offseason, as well. Much closer than anyone else on HERE, that’s for sure. The only real ‘difference’ being, I didn’t want to budge on this year’s salary, but I was willing to guarantee-it. I would’ve been willing to go up to $20-MIL, and making it around $44.5-MIL total. If it had come down to it… Which it did. BUT, the ‘main thing’ was just the ‘1-YEAR’ Extension (at a ‘fair’ dollar amount). Because, you HAD TO keep-it where you could still MOVE HIM during this upcoming trade-deadline, if need be. Or, for the next offseason. THAT was most important. You just couldn’t handcuff yourself like that LONGTERM, to an aging and declining player, & at close to top-of-the-market money.
Extending Baker NOW, would make absolutely ZERO SENSE. There is no advantage of doing so, whatsoever. You might not have even a 20% chance of it costing them, all that much more money, than what they just offered him. EVEN IF he has a great year… The market WILL BE soft for ‘expensive’ (and aging) QB’s. Just exactly the same as it was 3-years prior, during Baker’s last go-around. When you had a GREAT incoming QB-class, with 6 (SIX) being taken within the first 12-PICKS. But, you probably have about an 80% chance of THIS being everyone’s LAST season in Tampa Bay. I’ll be here waiting at the trade-deadline, with “My” approval or not… With how they decide to approach things. Cause, I think we’re looking at 2-7 or 3-6… 4-5 at the very BEST. And, it is THE perfect timing… Right after Chicago, heading into the Bye-Week. It’s when they MUST decide THEN, to do what they have to do… What needs to be DONE. What is RIGHT.
September 1st, 2026 at 2:30 pm
honestBucFan….Bill Belichick.
September 1st, 2026 at 2:40 pm
4-5 and believing that you still have a shot at THIS division, and with THAT remaining schedule, is NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Hell, it’s not even logical. Cause, I mean regardless, you still have NO SHOT against these other modern day franchises. Not now. Not moving forward. Not EVER. There has to come a time, when just the REALITY ALONE, smacks you in the face. And, you are NOT getting the ‘right’ type of HC with JL still your GM. You’re just NOT. They’re going to want THEIR OWN GM. So, you canNOT allow Lickt to be a part of hiring this next HC. I mean, absolutely nothing to do with it. You HAVE TO ‘pull-the-trigger’ on HIM, TOO.
September 1st, 2026 at 2:49 pm
@ Warren Brooks Lynch Says: “Stafford wasn’t great until he went to the Rams.”
WHO in the hail said THAT??? LoL. You can really tell who doesn’t WATCH football. I mean, I saw his EVERY game at UGA. I guess, they’ve also never heard of Calvin Johnson. They were probably one of THE greatest duos of all-time. It’s just a shame that it didn’t last longer. I felt ROBBED TWICE by the Lions. The first-time, of course, over Barry Sanders. WHO are these people!? LoL
September 1st, 2026 at 2:56 pm
SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE MONEY
The Bucs CB are going to get exposed and the team will need to score points to win.
NEWS FLASH: Zac Robinson sucks and Baker will be setup to fail.
Baker is going to run for 1st downs, get sacked, and eventually get dinged up.
Baker will start throwing INTs and losing games late.
The team will go into its midseason collapse.
They’ll end up 8-9 and miss the playoffs.
Todd Bowles will get fired.
The new HC is going to want his own QB. 5x 1st Round Options = 5x Newly Available Vets to choose from. It’s a buyer’s market.
Stubborn Baker Mayfield, instead of having $100M guaranteed, will be back on the street as a journeyman QB.
September 1st, 2026 at 3:10 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch Quoted: “Stafford wasn’t great until he went to the Rams.”
Warren Brooks Lynch SAYS: ‘Nah, you just didn’t pay attention to Matt Stafford until he got to the Rams.’
How about we apply the same measuring stick to Stafford as we do Baker?
Stafford played 12 years in Detroit, made the playoffs just 3 time. His record 0-3, with 4 TDs and 3 INTs. The GM in Detroit was BAD. The Team was nothing to write home about. His HCs were fair at best, but better than Bowles. Send him to a well run organization with an excellent GM and excellent HC and he becomes wildly successful.
The point is, as you correctly point out, that the team has a big impact on the success or failure as a QB. You say Stafford is better at QB than Baker. Yet without a good organization around him he was FAR from successful. Baker won a playoff game for the Browns in year 2. THE BROWNS!!!! Stafford didn’t win a playoff game in 12 years in Detroit.
Give him McVay & Snead and great things happen. And sorry, but neither JL or TB should never be mentioned in the same breath at the Rams leadership.
You may be right that Stafford is a better QB than Baker. But looking at the success of Baker in just 8 years to Stafford in his first 12, and that may be a hard case to make. Baker will never get the kind of support Stafford has received in LA while playing for the Bucs. How do I know…Todd Bowles.
September 1st, 2026 at 3:24 pm
@ Permanently Moderated – HUGE difference. Chucky was a young ‘up and coming’ superstar HC in the league. Tomlin is a has been, and has been a ‘has been’ for many years now. He would be one of the very LAST persons you would WANT for a rebuild, and developing a young QB with. So, let’s hope NOT. It would DOOM the franchise right back into another Lost Decade 💯.
We are now in the new-age NFL. It has looong passed TOMLIN. Just another retread. While, over HALF the league now, has these YOUNG super aggressive and confident HC’s, who know TALENT when they see-it, and can DEVELOP IT. And, most of them can call THEIR OWN plays!!!!
There are just waaaayyy too MANY great (genius) minds out there now, in BOTH the college and pro games. You’re going to start seeing some of these more ELITE College Head Coaches now, being interested in taking the leap into THE NFL.
The games are very similar now, that colleges are having to pay players, & etc. The NFL is A LOT easier lifestyle now, too. You’re not having to rebuild a roster basically from SCRATCH every season… NONSTOP Recruiting… Public events, the downtown athletic club, the car lots, commercials… BOOSTERS… And, on and one. It is literally, NEVER-ENDING.
Right now, you have the perfect-timing for at least 3 of the very TOP candidates… They all have the whole QB-HC combo thing going for them, to look-out for. Freeman and Carr, at Notre Dame. Sark and Manning, at Texas. And, then MY FAVORITE… Dan Lanning and Moore at Oregon.
Dan Lanning is just like CHUCKY. But, smarter, more polished, deeper thinker, and even higher intensity, and a better motivator. Bucs Fans would LOVE HIM. I still get goose bumps every time, when I go and watch his pregame speech before that Colorado Game. Just another level. If you’ve never seen-it before, WATCH IT.
September 1st, 2026 at 3:27 pm
Not So Fast !! That’s why they play the games. One at a time.
Go Bucs !! Beat the Bengals !!
September 1st, 2026 at 3:42 pm
The 100 million was only 50,, the 100 was a if you perform,, so 50 million,, after he beats Cinci it’s 52,,, etc ,,,,’etc,,,,
Etc,,,
September 1st, 2026 at 3:45 pm
DungyDance Says:
September 1st, 2026 at 1:35 pm
I’m going to put $1 into the swear jar every time Munch says “singlehandedly.”
———
You had better have a big bankroll.
September 1st, 2026 at 3:47 pm
Critmark Says:
Give him McVay & Snead and great things happen.
———–
McVay had Baker, and made no effort to keep him.
September 1st, 2026 at 3:53 pm
Stpetematt Says:
September 1st, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Hey Jason, you got fans that are dumber than a box of rocks. Resign Baker or the whole organization will regret it forever. If Munch mentions primetime games again he should be forever banned.
————-
You are aware the Bucs CAN in fact resign Baker AFTER the season IF he performs? Also the Bucs CAN in fact tag him as well.
Baker isn’t going anywhere so long as he plays well.
However if he plays like last year, he’ll be gone – and so will Bowles.
If Licht signed Baker to a huge new deal giving him $55M/year and making him one of the top paid players in the NFL and Baker then performed like he did last year, then Licht would be fired.
Since Baker doesn’t want to take a discount, there’s literally no benifit in signing him early (and again, Baker shouldn’t take a discount if he thinks he’s going to perform well this season).
September 1st, 2026 at 3:58 pm
Rod Munch Says:
Critmark Says: Give him McVay & Snead and great things happen.
———–
McVay had Baker, and made no effort to keep him.
Why would they keep him when they had Stafford that they were paying $40M per year at the time (now $55M)? They had a starting QB they had long-term plans for.
September 1st, 2026 at 4:01 pm
Melvin: there are two ways the Bucs can lose by delaying:
1) Baker (and possibly other players) perform worse because the contract situation negatively impacts morale, and the Bucs wind up with a worse-than-it-would-have been season, and a worse-than-Baker-would-have-been replacement QB.
2) Baker balls out and is pissed off enough that he goes to another team (via tag-and-trade, or whatever), and the Bucs wind up with a worse replacement QB and some level of resentment amongst players who really liked him.
I’m not saying either of these will happen, but they certainly could.
September 1st, 2026 at 4:03 pm
Melvin: also Billy Sims, although that was an injury.
September 1st, 2026 at 4:03 pm
Agree with both Defense Rules and Critmark as far as it’s about the talent level of the team around the QB. I’ve used both Stafford and Patrick Mahomes as perfect examples of this principle. Put Baker on the Seahawks last year and he would have nearly been undefeated. Mahomes’s teams aren’t nearly as good as they were and now he’s struggling. Team change was huge for Stafford. If we make the Bucs defense much better and retain this offense and it’s healthy, this is a near championship team talent-wise. So are the Rams and we will probably have to go through them to get there. Still many unanswered questions about this defense though…remains to be seen.
September 1st, 2026 at 4:05 pm
@ Rod Munch – Another thing they not only completely gloss over, but they leave-out entirely, is LEADERSHIP. Being a TRUE LEADER. Stafford, Mahomes, Allen, Dak, Maye, Hurts, Goff, Purdy, and you can go on… They are ALL LEADERS. They go about their jobs of actually “LEADING” their teams. When with Baker, everything always has to be at ALL times, just ALL ABOUT BAKER. Baker is just NOT ‘the type’ of LEADER, that HC’s and teams are looking for to TRUST putting in HIS hands. There are just waaayyy too many distractions, and other BS that you have to also deal with, that comes along with him. He’s selfish, AND he’s small. Teams’s are NOT willing to invest in “HIM” LONGTERM at ‘top-of-the-market’ MONEY, like that. It’s just too risky. He’s a LOOSE CANNON. Which, would be fine for a star WR, EDGE, or Cornerback. But, teams don’t want THAT, and are not looking for any of THAT, in THEIR ‘Franchise’ Quarterback… It’s really as simple as THAT. Then, throw-in his size, and history or very erratic, inconsistent play, and being constantly banged-up with injuries, and THIS is just what YOU’VE GOT.
September 1st, 2026 at 4:07 pm
And, now he’s old.
September 1st, 2026 at 4:09 pm
@ JustVisiting Says: “Melvin: also Billy Sims, although that was an injury.”
Yeah, that’s the thing… Both of those guys were still healthy, and at the top of their games. Had A LOT still left in the tank.
September 1st, 2026 at 4:14 pm
Munchestilhesblueintheface. Trying to get a dirty little lie in there, aren’t you? It was widely reported, the Rams and Sean McVay wanted Baker as their backup quarterback and heir apparent to Stafford. But Baker wasn’t about to take a backup job, even though he was reportedly offered more money than he was offered at Tampa Bay.
Even though you may be a lying prlck, Munch, you aren’t dumb. You can look up information like that easily enough.
September 1st, 2026 at 4:41 pm
Critmark Says:
Why would they keep him when they had Stafford that they were paying $40M per year at the time (now $55M)? They had a starting QB they had long-term plans for.
——–
You were literally trying to make the point that Baker is probably better than Stafford – and he was younger and much cheaper. Why didn’t they pick Baker then? Maybe go re-read what you wrote if you’re confused.
September 1st, 2026 at 5:03 pm
During my “professional” years, any success I had was based on objective information relying on verifiable facts and evidence. Doing so I had to see the big picture not just bits and pieces of parts. As I read some of the comments on this particular subject, I have to fight to keep from laughing out loud. Laughing out loud from those who are suffering from BMS and the subjective information which is slanted by personal opinions, feelings and biases. The Joes do a great job of opening the door for various opinions and thoughts. I will not use the HATE word for those who comment their opinion but have screen shots that will be posted after the bye week/trade deadline. Sad that some want Baker to fail which will mean the Bucs fail, just because they ???? Baker!
September 1st, 2026 at 5:04 pm
During my “professional” years, any success I had was based on objective information relying on verifiable facts and evidence. Doing so I had to see the big picture not just bits and pieces of parts. As I read some of the comments on this particular subject, I have to fight to keep from laughing out loud. Laughing out loud from those who are suffering from BMS and the subjective information which is slanted by personal opinions, feelings and biases. The Joes do a great job of opening the door for various opinions and thoughts. I will not use the HATE word for those who comment their opinion but have screen shots that will be posted after the bye week/trade deadline. Maybe they are the ones behind the curtain!
September 1st, 2026 at 5:05 pm
During my “professional” years, any success I had was based on objective information relying on verifiable facts and evidence. Doing so I had to see the big picture not just bits and pieces of parts. As I read some of the comments on this particular subject, I have to fight to keep from laughing out loud. Laughing out loud from those who are suffering from BMS and the subjective information which is slanted by personal opinions, feelings and biases. The Joes do a great job of opening the door for various opinions and thoughts. I will not use the HATE word for those who comment their opinion but have screen shots that will be posted after the bye week/trade deadline.
September 1st, 2026 at 5:05 pm
During my “professional” years, any success I had was based on objective information relying on verifiable facts and evidence. Doing so I had to see the big picture not just bits and pieces of parts. As I read some of the comments on this particular subject, I have to fight to keep from laughing out loud. Laughing out loud from those who are suffering from BMS and the subjective information which is slanted by personal opinions, feelings and biases. The Joes do a great job of opening the door for various opinions and thoughts. I will not use the HATE word for those who comment their opinion but have screen shots that will be posted after the bye week/trade deadline.
September 1st, 2026 at 5:32 pm
Kenton Smith, besides McVay having knowledge of Baker and his QB resume, Coach Riley was at USC. The backside of Baker’s stay with the Rams hinged on Matt’s injury and possible retirement, but the Rams were in salary cap problem, Baker was a unrestricted free agent and if he signed with another team, they would get 4th round compensatory draft pick. The Rams knew he wanted and could be a starter so offered him 6-8 million and the rest is history. The comments from folks are so subjective which reveals their //// toward Baker.
September 1st, 2026 at 5:37 pm
Is BMS Baker or Bowles related? The symptoms are similar…
September 1st, 2026 at 5:46 pm
Everybody on the team and all the coaches call Baker a great leader. He’s selfless because he plays injured when he’s hurting. And yet Melvin has unique insight into the inner workings of the team and says the exact opposite.
Somehow, I’m inclined to believe the players and coaches…
September 1st, 2026 at 6:43 pm
I think there’s plenty of evidence that Baker is a leader, going back to his OU days. But he does seem to lead with his body and inspire by physical example. That probably isn’t sustainable for a QB of his size…at least not over the course of a long career.
September 1st, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Stpetematt, playing hurt was ingrained in Baker’s mind and can be traced back to his time at Texas Tech. He had earned the starting quarterback position, played in 5 games and was injured in the 6th came back played the last two but after walking on and paying is own way was never offered a scholarship. Coach Kingsbury was not a fan of Baker so Baker transferred to OU!
September 1st, 2026 at 7:25 pm
I didn’t read All of this but I will throw in with WBL on a funny little thing concerning Stafford and the Rams….
THEY.. (The Rams) DID go after Stafford after all! Traded their first round pick AND additional draft bounty.. for THE PRIVILEGE! THAT’S just a funny little FACT. Tbey clearly thought FAR MORE of him than some of you pro scouts out there in the “home based” inter webs now DIDN’T THEY!
And “OBVIOUSLY” it’s because he wasn’t EXCEPTIONAL at his job according to some of the savants were so luck to be SMDH to.. And to a couple out there that I won’t mention, I kinda thought you were AT LEAST more clever than that but CLEARLY YOU ARE quit ignent…
Be GREAT if half of you would STOP showing your (proving to all that you can’t be taken seriously) type of cards.
FLOP! Oops! You missed the water in the pool AGAIN! BETTER get yourselves a couple of MRI’s to get your heads checked because I’m sure the pink elephants and little birdies ARE cluttering up your brain!
Or…. YOUR just plain DELUSIONAL!
Stafford Wasn’t any good….
Sure thing raggy! Tell “scooby doe and side show Bob” everybody says HIGH while your there…
GO BUCS!
September 1st, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Kingsbury was not a fan of Baker so Baker transferred to OU…
Where he WON the Heinsman and went on to be the #1 draft pick in the draft!
So mucb for King booger and him being a “guru”
September 1st, 2026 at 7:31 pm
“You may be right that Stafford is a better QB than Baker. But looking at the success of Baker in just 8 years to Stafford in his first 12, and that may be a hard case to make. Baker will never get the kind of support Stafford has received in LA while playing for the Bucs. How do I know…Todd Bowles.“
Support? Baker Mayfield will never looks like he has the support Stafford has throughout his career because Stafford plays the QB position better.
All that pontificating about the discrepancies in external factors like HC, Teammates, who the OC is, the weather it all a diversion from the actually point of my post. Which you cannot argue, so you make it about the surroundings, not the clear differences in talent level.
Baker Mayfield can’t throw the deep ball as consistently as Stafford. As players that’s got nothing to do with who the HC or the supporting cast is.
Mayfield doesn’t have the record of being as efficient as Stafford, and Stafford is one of the better QBs throwing at zone and man coverage. Baker has on of the worst drops in epa when looking at his performance against zone compared to the drop in performance facing man coverage.
You’re arguing narratives, what I say about Baker is what I know relative to what I know of the game of football, what he’s shown me with his performance, and how his record as an individual performer reflects that. Some of you super fans don’t care about that, you like the story everything about him as a player is secondary and as a fan of the game, it’s weird.
Baker will be lucky if he can get to Staffords age and still be starting in this league, and no playing QB in the NFL and being a dedicated starter after turning 35 is not the norm. Critmark, you made no point just more of the “well he hasn’t had enough talent or good coaching” with as many coaches he’s been around you’re not even looking at the common denominator. Can’t even believe it needs to be said, you can’t judge guys on the same plane because they play the same position.
Matt Stafford has been on some good teams, and some bad times in his career as an individual interns of production he’s hit highs Baker has yet to and probably won’t reach. Can’t get to 5,000 yards passing in 16 games thrones shallow crossers and screens. Can’t last this long playing better against zone & man it drastically different levels of performance. Can’t be 123 games into your career and again, all those coaches and you’re still talking about your footwork. Stick to the player comparison, not using the same excuses given up for Baker and try to turn it into a player to player comp.
September 1st, 2026 at 8:29 pm
WBL, another subjective analysis of two different quarterbacks! Two components you either dismissed or did not recognize, structure and discipline! Baker’s short stay with the Rams was the only team he played for that had both! Will Stanford be in the NFL Hall of Fame, definitely! Will Baker, no! All I know for sure is get the season rolling so we know what we have or don’t have!
September 1st, 2026 at 8:47 pm
Okiejim. If the Bucs beat the Rams in the NFC playoffs this year on their way to the Super Bowl then turn around and win it again in the next 5 or six years, and Mayfield is the QB, Mayfield will be a first ballot hall of famer. As will several more Bucs. That’s how it works.
September 1st, 2026 at 9:10 pm
Kenton Smith, I it is not in his nature but if Baker will play smarter not harder, he might reach that goal! Time to get the games going and the adult beverages flowing!