New Bucs backup QB Jake Browning.

Jake Browning doesn’t know Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield personally. But the way he spoke Friday to the Tampa Bay pen and mic club in a Zoom conference, Browning figured if the Bucs were good enough for Mayfield, the Bucs were good enough for him.

“I’ve always been a fan of Baker Mayfield,” Browning said. “I’m excited to be in the room and see how he operates.”

For a backup — key point — at times Browning looked sharp. Other times, well, he offered up valid reasons why he wasn’t starting in the NFL.

You know, a typical backup quarterback. Like Joe often says, backups are backups for a reason. You just hope if you need them, they make just enough good plays and don’t embarrass themselves to bridge the gap until a starter returns.

Back in 2023, Browning started seven games for the injured Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow. Browning was 4-3 and connected on 70 percent of his passes. He led an incredible December comeback in Cincinnati against Minnesota.

Trailing 17-3 after three quarters, Browning marched the Bengals to three fourth-quarter touchdown drives, including two touchdown passes from Browning, before Cincinnati won 27-24 in overtime.

So how did he decide on the Bucs, aside from getting to work with Mayfield? Browning said he sat down with his agent toward the end of January and studied teams that his agent expected to be looking for backups. The Bucs were on that list.

“Had [the Bucs] toward the top if not the top,” Browning said. “Obviously, [the Bucs have] been able to win a lot of games here the past few years. A recent Super Bowl [as well].

“Tampa is hard to beat for living, too.”

So why did the Washington product, who briefly played with Cade Otton in college, have such an up-and-down history when taking over for Burrow? Browning was blunt.

“Hero ball,” Browning said. “I tried to make some throws which were dumb.”

In the best of worlds, the Bucs will never have to see Browning make a throw. Not because they may not want to, but that means Baker Mayfield is just fine.

Another reason Browning chose the Bucs? When healthy, he said, the Bucs’ offensive line helps make quarterbacks look smarter, play better and stay upright.

“I ran into Tristan Wirfs in the locker room and [Bucs offensive line coach Kevin Carberry] said that’s what an offensive lineman should look like,” Browning said. “I agree.”