The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered the season as a relatively unknown team, especially with the loss of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. The Bucs turned to free agent Baker Mayfield to lead the offense despite throwing just ten touchdowns to eight picks last season. The former AP Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up exceeded expectations, tossing a career-high 28 touchdowns, leading Tampa Bay to the postseason, and, more importantly, winning a playoff game. The NFL recognized Mayfield on Tuesday, with the gunslinger earning Pro Bowl honors as a replacement for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
See you at #ProBowlGames, @bakermayfield & @TristanWirfs78 👏
Tickets 🎟️: https://t.co/IxQG7G2YN7 pic.twitter.com/gDcJ4rPw0o
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 30, 2024
Prescott is not injured but will opt out of this weekend’s Pro Bowl festivities. The longtime Cowboys starter threw for a league-best 36 touchdowns against six interceptions. However, he fell apart in the postseason, throwing two interceptions in a first-round loss.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield: Posts Career Numbers in 2023
Mayfield signed a one-year deal with the Bucs this offseason. The Oklahoma product threw for a career-best 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns in 17 games. He also completed 64% of his passes while tossing ten picks. Mayfield added 163 yards and a score on the ground.
The former first-overall pick shined in December, throwing 11 touchdowns to three picks in five games. Tampa went 4-1 during that span. He also starred in the postseason, specifically during Super Wild Card Weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles. Mayfield went 22 of 36 for 337 yards and three scores in the blowout win. However, he performed up-and-down against the Detroit Lions in the divisional round. The former Heisman Trophy Award winner threw for 349 yards on a 63% completion percentage but threw a brutal interception late in the loss.
Baker Mayfield: 2024 Expectations
Mayfield will hit the open market this offseason but expects to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He should ink a multi-year deal regardless of his next team. Mayfield must operate the offense with a new coordinator if he stays with the Buccaneers. First-year play-caller Dave Canales darted for the Carolina Panthers’ head coaching job, leaving the Tampa Bay OC job vacant. Mayfield is familiar with playing with new coordinators. During his six-year NFL career, Mayfield has only once had the same offensive coordinator in consecutive seasons.
For More Football News:
Follow me on Twitter at @alec_musa. You can also reach out to me via email at musaalec@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest college and NFL news, click here!