Baker Mayfield has been superb since arriving to quarterback the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023.
Two division titles, two Pro Bowls, and some of the best football of his career have Baker revitalized. But last season saw Baker’s standards slip after a 5-1 start, as the Buccaneers crumbled down the stretch, finishing 8-9 and missing the playoffs.
Now entering a contract year, there doesn’t appear to be much doubt over the franchise’s desire to re-sign him, but Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon has an interesting thought.
When naming the players who could have a Sam Darnold-like redemption, he’s named Mayfield, but with a career warning attached to it.
“As an eight-year veteran, Mayfield faces going down the Geno/Jacoby path if he doesn’t bounce back in 2026,” Gagnon writes. “The good news is that with Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. at receiver, a quality offensive line, and soft competition within the NFC South, a late-blooming Mayfield could certainly find another gear at this point in his career.
“The Bucs still aren’t a frontline Super Bowl contender, but they have the talent and experience to make a surprise run if Mayfield delivers a career year. And that’s entirely within the realm of possibility.”
Mayfield already had career redemption
Baker’s first two seasons in Tampa proved his career redemption arc, and last season could have been a blip on the radar.
I don’t put Mayfield into the same category as Geno Smith or Jacoby Brissett, as Gagnon does here; for me, he’s a level above those two.
But Mayfield does need to rediscover his form in 2026 if the Buccaneers are to reclaim the NFC South from the Caroline Panthers. The talent is there, but the injury bug just has to stay away, as that is what torpedoed the Buccaneers’ season last year.
In a contract year, I don’t see Mayfield going down the Geno/Brissett path even if he doesn’t return to the postseason.