Latest news with #BakerMayfield
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield Named 'Most Underrated Quarterback'
Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield Named 'Most Underrated Quarterback' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has enjoyed a career resurgence that has perhaps saved his NFL life. Advertisement After a rough and inconsistent start to his NFL career, on the scrapheap at the end of 2022, Baker found the Buccaneers for the 2023 as they say, the rest is history. Two Pro Bowl nods, two division titles, a playoff win, and a career-best season in 2024 (4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns) have seen Baker save his NFL career. And now, he's finally getting the plaudits he deserves. In Pete Prisco's top 100 NFL players ahead of the 2025 season, after being unranked last year, Mayfield now jumps to No. 57. "Mayfield had his best season in 2024 with 41 touchdown passes and 4,500 yards," Prisco writes. "He might be the most underrated quarterback in the league after the slow start to his career." Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) tries to avoid a tackle by Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Is Baker underrated? There is some merit to that. But there is also merit to the fact that some are waiting for what they think will be the inevitable drop-off. Advertisement There haven't been any signs that a regression is coming from Mayfield, and as we look ahead to the 2025 season, he is surrounded by perhaps the most talented group he's ever been around. A top run game, a receiver room that is dripping with talent, and the entire offensive line from last year is returning. Those are all key ingredients to having a successful season. Of course, expectations are now higher, and a deep playoff run is needed, given the number of weapons at Baker's disposal. And if he can lead this Buccaneers team to another playoff run, and play good football in the process, he might be higher on Prisco's list come next season. Advertisement Related: Buccaneers' Bucky Irving Fighting Negative 'Slump' Narrative In 2025 Related: Buccaneers Searching For New 'Killer' Mindset Under Todd Bowles This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Browns Make Decision On Shedeur Sanders After Two Speeding Incidents
Browns Make Decision On Shedeur Sanders After Two Speeding Incidents originally appeared on The Spun. Colin Cowherd says he's "done" with Shedeur Sanders following the rookie quarterback's two speeding incidents in Ohio this month. But are the Cleveland Browns? The Fox Sports 1 host said on his Thursday, June 19 show that he is officially done with the 23-year-old rookie quarterback. "Shedeur Sanders got caught speeding over 100 MPH. Don't minimize it, don't pander. This is not good for a quarterback," he said on his "The Herd" show on Thursday afternoon, June 19. "I do not cling to opinions. New information, new opinion. I don't think about him the same. When you fall to (pick) 144 in the draft, and then you try to match that number behind the wheel of a car, I don't think the same. "You ignored signs about Manziel and Baker. And, apparently, based on the traffic violation, Shedeur was avoiding some signs, too - that say stop. I'm not sure he's mature enough. Now I'm going to have to like Kenny Pickett." But while Cowherd has said he's done with Sanders, are the Cleveland Browns done, too? The Browns are standing by Sanders - for now. A spokesman for the Cleveland Browns told that Sanders is handling his speeding tickets, while remaining a member of the franchise. "He is taking care of the tickets," team spokesman Peter John-Baptiste told the media outlet. Sanders, who slipped into the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft - he was the second quarterback taken by the Browns, who selected Dillon Gabriel out of Oregon - is still facing an uphill battle to make the roster. The Browns have Gabriel, Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett also at the quarterback position. Flacco and Pickett feel like locks to make the Week 1 roster. So, it could be Gabriel and Sanders fighting it out for the QB3 spot. Cleveland could decide to keep four quarterbacks, which is apparently a possibility, according to team insider Mary Kay Cabot, but that would be a rarity for an NFL team. 'Thanks in part to low base salaries and cap numbers for all of them, they can afford to keep all four from a financial standpoint, and it also makes sense from a roster building standpoint,' Cabot wrote. Sanders has work to do off the field, though. He must pay a $250 fine for the fourth-degree misdemeanor or fight the ticket in Strongsville Mayor's Court on July 3, following his latest speeding incident. The Browns are coming off a highly disappointing 3-14 season in 2024. Browns Make Decision On Shedeur Sanders After Two Speeding Incidents first appeared on The Spun on Jun 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN analyst suggests Bucs' Baker Mayfield may be 'sorta shaky' ahead of 2025
ESPN analyst suggests Bucs' Baker Mayfield may be 'sorta shaky' ahead of 2025 The NFL dominates almost an entire calendar year's worth of headlines. Of course, there are all the happenings of the regular season starting in September through the culmination of the season with the Super Bowl in February, and every sort of power ranking you could think of every week. For some, there is no rest for the wicked because free agency opens in March. Which, of course, means post-free-agency power rankings and grades. As that is going on, we are preparing for the NFL Draft in April. Which leads into watching college game film, understanding a team's needs, creating at least 400 mock drafts each year, and debating it with anyone who will listen. What happens after the Draft? Grades and power rankings. April is also the month when minicamp begins, with rookie minicamp starting in May and running through OTAs and mandatory minicamp in June. June 19th is the last day for remaining teams to hold their mandatory minicamps, which naturally means that this provides more opportunities to grade and rank teams because we really don't do that enough. On The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny, ESPN's Kimes and Ben Sloak ranked their Top 10 offenses heading into the 2025 NFL season; they each had the Bucs sliding in at ten and seven, respectively. Kimes said that she watched more of the Bucs from last season than any other team to try and prep, because the numbers last season were "so insane for them and it feels slept on for how good they were last year." So why the ranking so low for a team that had one of the most prolific offenses in 2024, returning all 11 starters, and added a first-round pick at wide receiver in Emeka Egbuka in the Draft? Is it because Mike Evans is a year older, and Chris Godwin is coming off a brutal ankle injury? Nope. "I have to ding them for sorta shaky quarterback," Kimes said of Baker Mayfield. "He's good, I'm just saying, that and the loss of the coordinator [Coen], so that was it for me," she continued. As we know, Mayfield loves it when the media discredits his body of work, and is always looking for a reason to play with a chip on his shoulder. Maybe there is a bit of natural regression down from the 4, 500 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions due to the Coen leaving for Jacksonville. It's a safe bet that Mayfield will still fall into the Top 10 range simply because there are too many offensive weapons on the Buccaneers roster, paired with one of the best offensive lines in the league, for the Bucs offense to hang on to a Top 10 position by a thread.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Baker Mayfield tabbed as dark horse for major NFL honor in 2025
Baker Mayfield tabbed as dark horse for major NFL honor in 2025 For a litany of reasons, the 2024 season for Baker Mayfield was one to remember. He set career highs across the board, and it sent him to his second straight Pro Bowl with the Bucs. He is poised for a major payday in his next contract. Now, heading into the 2025 season, the Bucs brought back all his offensive weapons after re-signing Chris Godwin. They also added a first-round wide receiver in Emeka Egbuka who promises to be one of the better players on offense now and in the future of the team. All of this has folks think, could Mayfield find himself adding some hardware to his house to join his Heisman Trophy? NFL Media's Judy Battista made her list of dark horse MVP candidates this week, and making the cut was the Bucs signal caller. For Mayfield, she argues, "Often overlooked, Mayfield got two fifth-place votes last season, but he deserves deeper consideration. . . .Mayfield will have to overcome two things to get more serious consideration. He will have his third play-caller in as many seasons with the Buccaneers, after Liam Coen left to become the Jaguars' head coach. (New OC Josh Grizzard was the passing game coordinator last year in Tampa.) And then there's the fact that the Bucs play in the NFC South, considered one of the weakest divisions in the game. . ." Luckily for Mayfield, despite playing in the NFC South, he will be facing off against the likes of the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and the defending Super Bowl champion, the Philadelphia Eagles. Those three matchups alone could be enough to get people taking him seriously as an MVP candidate.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bucs' Bucky Irving Reveals Plan to Not Get ‘Stuck' in Year 2
Bucs' Bucky Irving Reveals Plan to Not Get 'Stuck' in Year 2 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. For a rookie who rushed for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns, it is a little odd to say that they have to prove themselves in Year 2, but that is the mindset Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is taking. Advertisement After usurping Rachaad White for the starting role early on last season, Irving produced several blistering displays that made him one of the better backs in football. However, as we know, success in the NFL isn't linear, and what was good one year may not be the next. And after a standout rookie season, Bucky is taking himself back to square one ahead of Year 2. 'Always going back and looking at the film and looking at things that you can get better at and improve in,' Irving said. 'Also not getting satisfied and stuck in last year because it's a new year, nobody cares about what you did last year, its what can you do for me now, but I always been that guy that never gets stuck in the past and always be with my feet at and work hard every day.' Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) hands off to running back Bucky Irving (7) during a game.© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images After what Irving produced last season, it is only natural to expect an uptick in performance, and with the starting five of the offensive line all returning, there is every reason to suggest Bucky will again contribute heavily to Josh Grizzard's offense. Advertisement Irving only started three games last season, so we imagine that will increase dramatically now that he is the starter, with White and Sean Tucker as the change-ups behind Baker Mayfield. It was a rookie season to remember for the fourth-round pick, but last year was last year - now he's out to prove it wasn't a fluke. Related: Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield Victim of Most Dropped Passes Related: Buccaneers' Coach Todd Bowles is 'More Ron Rivera than Mike Tomlin' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
