Baker Mayfield Slighted Amongst League’s Best QBs

Discussions over the top quarterbacks in the league can cause for the most salacious conversations. The most important position in the game off football makes for a passionate debate on a high number of polarizing figures. That includes Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, who Tampa Bay would like to have back next season.

The mutual views of Mayfield and the Bucs are each pointing towards a reunion. Their feelings sure don’t reflect that of this quarterback rankings list by film analyst Derrik Klassen of the 33rd team. In his 32-player quarterback ranking, Klassen has Baker Mayfield as the 20th ranked quarterback in the league. That seems kind of harsh.

Baker Mayfield’s Rankings Seems Off

This is what Klassen said about him:

“There always needs to be a mid-tier gunslinger in a starting job — just one guy who is unafraid to rip it and see what happens. Jameis Winston was the last guy to hold the mantle, but now it’s Baker Mayfield with his new lease on football life. 

“Mayfield simply played with more confidence this season. There was a hint of that when Mayfield took over for the Rams late last season, but it turned up another notch with the Buccaneers. Mayfield was testing tight windows, pushing the ball down the field and standing strong in the pocket in ways he never had before. Not consistently, anyway. 

“Mayfield is still imperfect. He’s less athletic than he thinks he is. Sometimes, he sprays a few throws, and he is far from the NFL’s most reliable decision-maker. Mayfield is at least back to being a functional NFL starter, though. More importantly, he’s fun to watch again.”

Understanding that going off of film tells a different story than just on field stats and team accomplishments, it’s still difficult to picture why Mayfield is ranked so high in the wrong direction after coming off of a career renaissance. The top five quarterbacks are Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert and Matthew Stafford. There’s certainly a lot of great players, but from the names between six and all the way to Mayfield at 20, there could be a couple of spots that Mayfield probably should get bumped up to.

Of some of the other names ahead of Baker Mayfield, there are about four players one could make the case that Mayfield should have a better ranking. They are Anthony Richardson at 16, Kirk Cousins at 13, Geno Smith coming in at 12 and Kyler Murray rounding it out a spot above at 11.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

If there’s a common theme amongst the group it’s that most of these players were injured and had their season either shortened, or didn’t get off the ground. It’s not fair to compare Baker Mayfield’s stats against those of everyone previously listed, but can someone honestly look at a player such as Richardson, who has four career games of experience or Murray, who’s played in 19 out of his last 34 games over the last two season and say they’re better than Baker Mayfield? Rodgers and his situation is impossible to decipher considering he missed the whole year and is on a new team with a new offense and coordinator.

The only quarterback that has a case is Geno Smith, who Mayfield’s comeback has been compared too. While Smith’s had over 200 more passing yards and two more touchdowns in 2022 than Mayfield had in 2023 when each quarterback became a starter again, Smith’s drop in passing yards and passing touchdowns one year later may leave some questioning if a drop off is coming and if we’ve all seen his best. Those questions will come for Mayfield this year on whether last season was his best, but it can’t be answered unless he’s back in Tampa.

Can Baker Mayfield Have The Last Laugh?

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield at the Pro Bowl – Photo by: USA Today

Baker Mayfield was robbed of winning the NFL’s Comeback Player Of The Year Award, which went to Joe Flacco. Mayfield threw for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions, helping the Bucs win the NFC South.

Flacco went on an impressive run with the Browns, but only did it for five games and was eliminated in the first round of postseason. Mayfield did it for all 17 regular season and went further into the postseason, making it to the divisional round. He also happened to win offensive MVP at the Pro Bowl.

There’s a still a chance for Baker Mayfield to have the last vindication over everybody by cashing in on a big pay day. The Bucs look like they’re the front runner, but there’s other teams that should be expected to partake in the pursuit of Mayfield. If he returns to Tampa, the Bucs can maintain continuity and look to make it even further next year.

Check out the list of all the 32 ranked quarterbacks.