Baker Mayfield Graduates To 'Pro QB' In Backhanded Compliment to Buccaneers Star
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is going to be a fascinating watch in 2025, with some waiting to see if he'll eventually revert back into the mistake-riddled quarterback he was earlier in his career, or if he'll continue his career resurgence.
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After two good seasons that have seen Baker catapult himself into the top-10 conversation at quarterback, he is now at a point in his career where the expectations are perhaps the highest they've ever been - a Super Bowl run.
The fact that this is now a well-known opinion for Baker means he's doing something right, and for Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame, he got an NFC evaluator to give his thoughts on Mayfield's growth.
'I think Mayfield is proof of the concept of coaching matters, systems matter, team build matters," the NFC evaluator said. "But more than anything, if you can process quickly and get the ball out on time from the pocket, you don't have to be 6-foot-5 to play in this league. He has become a professional quarterback as opposed to a college kid just running plays.'
Nov 10, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is pressured by San Francisco 49ers defensive end Leonard Floyd (56) in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium.© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
That could come across as a backhanded compliment .... but in the end, it is quite the endorsement for Baker, and in truth, it is more than warranted.
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With another new coordinator in Josh Grizzard, who was the passing game coordinator under Liam Coen last year, Mayfield will again have a different voice in his ear, but he'll handle it.
He has weapons that are the envy of the league, a running game seen as one of the best in football, and that offensive line, which is sneaky good too. Everything feels like it has come together at the right time.
Baker, the professional quarterback? We like the sound of that.
Related: Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield Placed on Impressive List
Related: 'He's Still Got That Hunger!' Buccaneers' Yaya Diaby Praises Newcomer Haason Reddick
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
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