For higher or for worse, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has had numerous supporting casts all through his NFL profession. That has included quite a lot of head coaches and offensive coordinators, to numerous star gamers and offensive expertise.
Heading into 2024, Mayfield is bullish on how the Tampa Bay offense appears to be like primed and able to go, and there’s a newfound sense of stability that has eluded him in years previous. As he appears to be like to construct off a profession season, let’s dive deeper to match his supporting forged this season to those he’s had since being drafted in 2018.
Diving Deeper Into What Baker Mayfield Has Labored With In The NFL
Since coming into the league as the primary total choose in 2018, Baker Mayfield has had a profession crammed with loads of ups and downs.
It began with a Browns group that went 0-16 in 2017 earlier than his arrival in 2018.
Former Browns QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA At the moment
2018 with Browns: Head coach(s) Hue Jackson (fired) and Gregg Williams, offensive coordinator(s) Todd Haley (fired) and Freddie Kitchens, working again Nick Chubb, extensive receivers Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway, and Rashard Higgins, tight finish David Njoku
Beginning file and stats: 6-7, 63.8% completion share, 3,725 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, 14 interceptions
For the primary two video games of the season, Baker Mayfield sat behind Tyrod Taylor because the Browns’ backup earlier than coming in for Taylor in Week 3 towards the Jets, the place he willed the workforce to a comeback win.
He would then be the beginning quarterback for the remainder of the season, with principally constructive outcomes. His 27 landing passes have been the file for a rookie quarterback earlier than Justin Herbert broke that file in 2020. He was in a position to overcome a midseason teaching change to steer the workforce to a 5-2 file to shut out the 12 months.
Mayfield had two major weapons on offense in Chubb and Landry, with different gamers enjoying supporting roles. It was a good forged of expertise round him, however heading into 2019 the Browns tried to make a splash to encompass him with a star extensive receiver.
2019 with Browns: Head coach Freddie Kitchens, offensive coordinator Todd Monken, working again Nick Chubb, extensive receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr.
Beginning file and stats: 6-10, 59.4% completion share, 3,827 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 21 interceptions
Regardless of buying and selling for Beckham within the hopes of giving Baker Mayfield an elite No. 1 extensive receiver, his numbers and the workforce regressed in his second season below heart. Though it was a 12 months by which he had some stability with Kitchens taking the top teaching reins, he was tormented by inconsistency and the shortcoming to develop a fruitful rapport along with his new extensive receiver. The offense was very top-heavy and out of doors of Beckham, Chubb, and Landry, there have been few different weapons to depend on.
Whereas the workforce struggled in 2019, issues flipped below a brand new regime in 2020.
2020 with Browns: Head coach Kevin Stefanski, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, working backs Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb, extensive receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., tight ends Austin Hooper and David Njoku
Beginning file and stats: 11-5, 62.8% completion share, 3,563 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, 8 interceptions
With Stefanski being introduced in after being the offensive coordinator of the Vikings, Baker Mayfield produced his finest season up so far of his profession. With Hunt and Chubb offering a 1-2 punch at working again, it made issues loads simpler within the passing sport. He was in a position to effectively distribute the ball round, with six gamers every recording 20 receptions or extra. That included Austin Hooper, the massive free company signing made by the workforce after he got here off consecutive Professional Bowl seasons with the Falcons.
General, he largely had a dynamic set of weapons, however there’s additionally a component of “what if?” to this season. Whereas it was largely a hit and formally put the Browns on the map, Beckham was positioned on injured reserve in Week 7 after tearing his ACL. If he had remained wholesome, maybe Mayfield would have had even higher numbers and the workforce goes on a lengthier playoff run to safe his future.
As a substitute, it could be Mayfield who must powerful out accidents throughout his remaining season in Cleveland.
2021 with Browns: Head coach Kevin Stefanski, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, working backs Nick Chubb and D’Ernest Johnson, extensive receivers Jarvis Landry and Donovan Peoples-Jones, tight ends Austin Hooper and David Njoku
Beginning file and stats: 6-8, 60.5% completion share, 3,010 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, 13 interceptions
After having a productive 12 months in 2020, the great occasions have been anticipated to proceed heading into 2021 – however it was not meant to be.
Baker Mayfield suffered {a partially} torn labrum in Week 2 which affected him for the remainder of the season, though he performed by means of the ache within the hopes of main the workforce to wins. This effort was admirable, particularly because it was the 12 months that he was in line for an enormous contract extension. With Beckham out of the image, although, it was a battle to do a lot on offense.
Landry was the workforce’s main receiver, however he had simply 52 receptions for 570 yards and two touchdowns. The remainder of the supporting forged did little for Mayfield by means of the air, and out of doors of Chubb’s season on the bottom, he didn’t have a lot to work with. That theme would proceed as he began his rollercoaster 2022 season.
Former Panthers QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA At the moment
2022 with Panthers: Head coaches Matt Rhule (fired) and Steve Wilks, offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, working backs Christian McCaffery (traded) and D’Onta Foreman, extensive receiver D.J. Moore
Beginning file and stats: 1-5, 57.8% completion share, 1,313 passing yards, six touchdowns, six interceptions
2022 with Rams: Head coach Sean McVay, offensive coordinator Liam Coen, working again Cam Akers, extensive receivers Allen Robinson and Van Jefferson, tight finish Tyler Higbee
Beginning file and stats: 1-3, 63.6% completion share, 850 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, two interceptions
With the Browns deciding to commerce for Deshaun Watson and giving him massive cash, it meant parting methods with Baker Mayfield. He was traded to the Panthers and gained the beginning job over Sam Darnold. It was a short tenure for Mayfield, because the group had an unstable teaching scenario, firing Matt Rhule after a 1-4 begin. That was additionally when Mayfield suffered an damage, and when he got here again, Christian McCaffery was traded to the 49ers and he was regulated to backup duties.
After being launched, Mayfield discovered himself receiving a short beginning alternative with the Rams as they limped to the end line. He once more had a stable working again in Akers, however with Cooper Kupp out for the 12 months, he had little to work with at extensive receiver. This is able to all change when he signed a one-year, prove-it take care of the Bucs that proved fairly affluent.
2023 with Bucs: Head coach Todd Bowles, offensive coordinator Dave Canales, working again Rachaad White, extensive receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Trey Palmer, tight finish Cade Otton
Beginning file and stats: 9-8, 64.3% completion share, 4,044 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Bucs OC Dave Canales and QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
It was sudden from the skin that Baker Mayfield would do a lot for a Tampa Bay workforce apart from maintain down the beginning spot whereas the workforce appeared for a younger successor to Tom Brady. That’s the place most have been confirmed mistaken, as he had a profession 12 months working in a quarterback-friendly offense.
It was pleasant due partially to Canales’ scheme, however it additionally helped that the veteran signal-caller had Evans and Godwin to throw to. These two served as the 2 finest, most constant extensive receivers he’s had so far in his profession, and White even contributed closely because the defacto third passing choice. The run sport was inconsistent, though it had some massive moments down the stretch.
When taking a look at if the supporting forged final 12 months was the perfect of his profession, it’s a toss-up between 2020 and 2023. On paper, 2020 supplied extra assist with two high working backs, however 2023 additionally allowed him to turn into a 4,000-yard passer because of a high duo at extensive receiver. 2020 additionally gave him extra stability alongside the teaching workers, as there was a degree of uncertainty surrounding Bowles and Canales when the workforce went by means of a 1-6 stretch midseason.
Whereas it may be debated on when he was surrounded by essentially the most expertise, 2024 appears to be like higher than both season and offers Mayfield the perfect probability at succeeding in comparison with some other level in his NFL profession.
2024 Bucs’ Offense Gives Baker Mayfield “A Nice Group To Be Surrounded By”
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and GM Jason Licht – Picture by: Scott Reynolds/PR
Waiting for this season, Baker Mayfield lastly secured a long-term contract, signing a three-year, $100 million take care of the Bucs. Giving Mayfield that form of cash certainly factored into the workforce’s offensive coordinator search, which led to Tampa Bay bringing in Liam Coen, somebody he’s acquainted with going again to their Rams days.
Not solely will that assist ease the transition at offensive coordinator, however there’s a new inflow of rookie weapons trying to work their means into an already gifted group of talent gamers. Extensive receiver Jalen McMillan has already began to shine whereas working again Bucky Irving can maybe present a legit 1-2 punch that Mayfield has not had behind him within the backfield for a few seasons.
When requested about how he views this group at obligatory mini-camp, he praised them whereas acknowledging that expertise can solely convey you to date alongside.
“Yeah, I imply, any time you get that a lot familiarity and chemistry with the identical guys, you’re going to get higher, too,” Mayfield mentioned on if this 12 months is his finest offensive supporting forged. “However, it additionally helps once they’re that rattling good as a talent group. For me, yeah, it’s up there. However, expertise can solely take you to date. That’s why we’re working our tails off proper now to get this factor down and get on the identical web page. However, yeah, it’s positively an ideal group to be surrounded by. The offensive line, too – having those self same guys and a few new additions. Proper now, it’s a extremely good really feel of how all people works and works collectively.”
The outlook for the Bucs’ offense heading into 2024 is promising, and within the subsequent a part of this story, there can be a deeper dive into why every offensive place group is primed to be even higher than in 2023.
