“I play a complicated position in an intensely team-oriented game.” Tom Brady describes the QB position perfectly in these words. The offense, for the most part, rides on the back of QB. Baker Mayfield has been walking on eggshells since replacing the GOAT in 2023.

When you replace the greatest, the least you can do is be good, if not great. After winning 6 Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, TB12 won his last (7th) in his first year at Tampa Bay Buccaneers. No.6 played well in his first season and led the Bucs to win the NFC South title. But he still has a long way to go.

Mayfield’s not in the Top 10 QBs: Mad Dog

During his appearance on Loose Cannons Podcast on July 10, 2024, Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo threw shade at No. 6. Hosts JC Cornell and Samer Ali asked him about the prospects of the Bucs in the 2024 NFL season. He noted that the team did not look strong, as Mayfield was not one of the best QBs in the league. He said, “It’s hard to win a Super Bowl with the 12th-best quarterback in the league. He’s not as good as Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes. He’s probably not as good as Jordan Love. So When you get right down to it, you know, He’s not as good as Herbert. So you’re talking about the 12th-best player at the position and that’s the game’s most important position.” But the Bucs’ are showing full confidence in Tom Brady’s replacement.

Baker Mayfield impressed the Bucs management so much in his first year that they signed a three-year contract extension worth up to $100 million, with $50 million guaranteed. He came 3rd in the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year voting in 2023 season. But will he be able to repeat it?

One can argue that he lacks the playoff experience. Being the first overall pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 draft, he has played in the NFL for 7 years. The Bucs’ trust in his abilities should give him the confidence to go for the trophy and improve his numbers in the coming season.

Stats can provide clarity and have their own story to tell. Let’s compare his 2023 season with the other QB that “Mad Dog” spoke about.

Comparing the players, what we realize is Mayfield is not that far from the top. He just has to win a few more games. His Browns’ teammate Myles Garrett gave him the nickname ‘Brett Favre 2.0’ for his toughness. So, is the Mad Dog underestimating the QB?

Timing and Rhythm are critical to Baker Mayfield’s success: Greg Cosell

Senior NFL producer Greg Cosell talked at length during the Pewter Report Podcast on April 5, 2024. While maintaining that, Mayfield is not at the level of Mahomes and Allen. He noted that no. 6 is not as bad as many think. He said, “I think Baker at his core, and I actually thought this when I watched his tape coming out of Oklahoma, he’s essentially a timing rhythm player and he’s smaller, so he needs to be protected. I think Baker can function at a reasonably high level. Now again, we’re not going to talk about Baker Mayfield the same way we talk about Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow or Josh Allen.” Mayfield started in all 17 games in 2023, a testament to his good form last year.

Compared to the GOAT and current best QBs, such as Mahomes and Allen, he is considered mediocre. OC of Bucs’ Canales was able to extract the best out of him in the 2023 season. Without the coach of the previous season, many people doubt him to perform well. But he is a strong contender to be the starting QB.

The 2018 first-overall draft pick has a long distance to cover to even be in the shadows of the GOAT. Will he be able to silence his critics?