Baker Mayfield: Fire The Cannons

[6.19.2016]

I don't dislike Baker but let's not go overboard - by last night, Philly was a mess and playing the worst football of any team in the playoffs. No AJ Brown and Hurts was dinged up as well.

Tampa also went 9-8 (4-2 in the division; 5-6 outside of the division) to win the worst division in football on a tiebreaker - that is not a team on the cusp of Super Bowl contention.

And just about all of the metrics and stats (tradition and advanced) suggest that Baker had an, at best, average 2023 season compared to all other QBs in the league.

Despite last night's win, I'd feel very queasy about giving him a mega-contract this offseason.

He basically repeated his 2020 season, which is solid if you don't follow it up with a 2021 or 2022.

There were no dominant QBs this year per se, with "regression to the mean" by Mahomes (insert reddit memes)/Allen/etc so Baker also looks better relative to the field.

He will basically replace Brady's void year money in a Dimes/Geno type extension, which in the former case was a disaster, the latter OK.

On a different note, did I seriously read Terry Pluto say Baker was "within reach" of the SB on the PD frontpage headline? Bit of a stretch.

 

[Jscc]

4000+ yards, 28 TDs, and 10 INTs is a solid season for any QB in any season imo.

 

[DCTribefan]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/01/20/baker-mayfield-buccaneers-nfl-playoffs/

His road to rebirth in Tampa began July 6, 2022, when he was traded to the Panthers for a conditional fifth-round draft pick in 2024. He led the Browns to their first playoff victory in 26 years in the 2020 season, but his time in Cleveland was rocky despite that success. There were differences with the front office and a beef with wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who felt Mayfield wasn’t targeting him with passes. “We’re good now, and that’s part of me growing as a person,” Mayfield told Pat McAfee in October. “I think normally I would hold a lot of grudges, but no, we’re good. We squashed that.”

 

[DirtyDan]

A reunion between AVP and Baker would be interesting.

 

[Huber.]

2024 Precision Passing Champ

 

[CBBI]

Bucs hired Liam Coen as their OC.

He worked with Baker in LA, albeit briefly.

 

[bushwick_bill]

I have a hard time believing a team gives Baker a Daniel Jones contract and he gets 40m plus but I could be wrong. Would be absolutely hilarious if a team does...

 

[CBBI]

I have a hard time believing a team gives Baker a Daniel Jones contract and he gets 40m plus but I could be wrong. Would be absolutely hilarious if a team does...

I think it's pretty much a guarantee he's either getting franchised by the Bucs or getting a deal in the Carr/Jones range - 35/40M AAV - from the Bucs.

What choice do they have? They won the division and won a playoff game. They can't just let him walk.

And if he signs for $35M AAV, he'll be like the 16th highest paid QB, which is about right for him.

 

[Omar The Horse]

Party at Cheesecake Factory

 

[David.]

Party at Cheesecake Factory

Good for him

 

[CBBI]

Happy for Baker man. He revived his career off life support (which was his own doing) and made some real cash.

 

[Mr. Orange]

Good payday. Though far from a max contract. Geno Smith money. Fair as they are the same level player.

 

[bushwick_bill]

Tremendously disappointed he did not sign with the Stoolers.

 

[Phills14]

Good for him. I've got nothing against Baker at all, I'm rooting for him. He's a starting NFL QB, but he's a bottom 1/3 starting NFL QB. Although it's a great deal for him, it's not a great deal for the Bucs. Their team ceiling is a fringe playoff team with him.

 

[Benway]

What a journey!