Bucs’ Baker Mayfield Making Case For Top Five QB Status

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield might be flying under the radar as one of the game’s elite QBs right now. The 30-year-old has already made two Pro Bowls with the Bucs in as many seasons, and he’s tallied a 22-15 record leading the team, including an impressive 3-0 start to the current season.

With the NFL being very top-heavy these days in terms of quality QBs, why shouldn’t Mayfield be considered a top five talent at the position? Since donning a Buccaneers uniform in 2023, Mayfield has put up great numbers and presided over a winning team. What else does Tampa Bay want from its successor to Tom Brady?

While Mayfield will never be Brady, of course, he’s carving out his own path in Tampa and has emerged as one of the NFL’s best leaders.

Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski recently argued that there are only really four franchise QBs in the NFL — Matthew Stafford, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes — although Mayfield was among the QBs that “just missed the cut” for Sobleski.

“Mayfield has been a revelation in Tampa with the Buccaneers,” Sobleski wrote. “He’s thrown for more touchdowns and yards than Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes since the start of the 2023 campaign. His competitiveness and enthusiasm are infectious. Though the 2018 No. 1 overall pick does benefit from an awesome wide receiver corps and a good offensive line (when healthy). He also doesn’t quite have the same playmaking capabilities are others who did make the list.”

2025 has been nothing but brilliant for Mayfield. He has a passer rating of 99.5 with 615 yards, six touchdowns and zero interceptions through three games for Todd Bowles and the Bucs.