Is QB Instability Driving Team Glazer?
July 1st, 2026
Team Glazer.
So legendary JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman made a powerful point in his recent column.
The Buccaneers have never had a quarterback be their primary starter for six consecutive seasons. So what, you say? Well, only the Bucs can make that claim, per Kaufman’s research.
Every other NFL team has had six or more years of a franchise quarterback. Many teams have had more than one QB hit that tenure mark, including every NFC South club.
Franchise quarterbacks help solidify a franchise and help owners make money.
For you old school types, Doug Williams lasted five years in Tampa before a contract mess chased him away. Vinny Testaverde was here six years but was not the starter until very late in his rookie season. It was a similar story for Trent Dilfer, who later was benched in his sixth and final season. Jameis Winston got five years with a suspension and a benching in between.
Kaufman asserted on his podcast that Team Glazer might be factoring that history of instability at quarterback into its desire to re-sign Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield is entering his fourth season as the starter and a contract extension likely would lock him in for three more. That doesn’t mean its the reason Mayfield already was offered a contract extension, just that it’s a piece of the puzzle.
It was an intriguing point by Kaufman. Perhaps Team Glazer is somewhat motivated to have lasting peace at quarterback, even if they don’t think Mayfield is a top-10 player at the position, or will be in 2027 and 2028.
July 1st, 2026 at 10:55 am
Mayfield has played at Top 10 quarterback when healthy. Last year was a mess with injuries that definitely effected continuity.
We won’t know how 2026 plays out. We have to wait and see. Everything right now is speculation and of course the media emphasizes worse scenarios. The Bucs are getting younger and hopefully injuries will heal faster
July 1st, 2026 at 10:56 am
It’s an extremely relevant point and valid. To get a good qb under contract where you have control and stability is paramount. And they should do do with Baker.
The key however is ti understand the value the asset brings. Like Joe mentioned at the bottom of his post. Mayfield is a borderline top 10 qb in the league. Sometimes he plays like he’s top 5, other times top 10 and then too often the streaky times cause him to play at a level that’s not even top 16. Licht and the glazers have to understand this and do two things: 1) give mayfield a bump and some stability but also protect your franchise by giving it flexibility to move on and 2) get an offensive HC in here to replace Bowles
The second thing provides you with two advantages: 1 – you might be able to get baker to another level, and 2 – if he’s already capped out and hit his ceiling you have the right guy in the building to find a special rookie qb who can replace baker if need be.
I can only hope Licht is providing that type of counsel and guidance to the glazers, to whom at this point have had to rely on buying established HCs and QBs to win SBs.
July 1st, 2026 at 11:19 am
Buccaneers were not even a real NFL team until Brady took pity on them and came to save the day
July 1st, 2026 at 11:34 am
If our defense takes a fews steps forward and Baker doesn’t have to carry the team, he could be a great QB. And if he starts acting like a QB and not a FB and slide instead of trying to run over defenders.
July 1st, 2026 at 11:39 am
Glazers see the big picture imo and they dont buy into uncertainty…which is smart
the same folks screaming pay baker are the same folks that were screaming pay winston….too many question marks around both to extend….
GO BUCS!!!!
July 1st, 2026 at 12:11 pm
Ira is correct and surely he remembers most of the QBs in between who for various reasons did not last long here. Many were just plain head scratchers. Some had absolutely nothing around them. Used to feel sorry for Spurrier He had only one O lineman worthy of being in the NFL. Steve Wilson and maybe Reavis who got one start in 76. As I recall Steve rarely got to finish dropping back and get set before he got beat to heck.
Go Bucs!
July 1st, 2026 at 12:48 pm
The single biggest thing you can do it improve Baker’s consistency and performance is TO IMPROVE THE DEFENSE to the point where Baker does not have to take risks and force throws to make up for the total lack of a reliable defense.
July 1st, 2026 at 12:59 pm
“The single biggest thing you can do it improve Baker’s consistency and performance is TO IMPROVE THE DEFENSE to the point where Baker does not have to take risks and force throws to make up for the total lack of a reliable defense.”
The performance of the defense has eff all to do with the issues that plague Bakers’ game as an individual. No matter how many times it gets parroted on here, it doesn’t make it any truer and just sounds ridiculous.
You see a QB make a bad throw or force a pass into a scrum, the last thing on anybodys’ mind is: “well he did that to make up for his defense” DUDE, WHAT!? No it was a bad decision or bad throw, doesn’t even have to be Baker it could be ANY QB, trying to put a bad rep on offense on the shoulders of the defense while they’re on the sideline is dumb.
July 1st, 2026 at 12:59 pm
@LAN, that is the most logical and intelligent comment I’ve seen here in a while.
July 1st, 2026 at 1:35 pm
Its pretty hard to have “stability” on offense – when there’s a different OC implementing a different system EVERY SINGLE YEAR……
July 1st, 2026 at 1:45 pm
100% agree Pickgrin!!!
July 1st, 2026 at 2:06 pm
Baker is to stubborn to realize he is hurting the team while playing hurt. What’s more frustrating is that Todd “RINSE AND REPEAT” Bowles rather roll the dice with him than benching him.
Forecast for 2026:
High probability of
RINSE AND REPEAT
July 1st, 2026 at 2:08 pm
I’ve become a baker fan. Dude will die to get a 1st down. That’s the type of players you want on your team. I want to see baker be more consistent. I want him to be successful like every other player and coach on the team cause they are a buc. I think baker will do it because he wants to win and he puts in the work.
July 1st, 2026 at 2:48 pm
Fortunately, if they can stay healthy the Bucs have plenty of winning right in front of them. That offensive line will make sure of it.
July 1st, 2026 at 3:32 pm
Somebody please list the top three AVAILABLE QB candidates to replace Baker? I don’t understand the constant chatter.