Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield had an orthodox path to NFL stardom after being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He bounced around the league, leading many to believe he was simply another draft bust that couldn’t cut it on the professional level.
It wasn’t until Mayfield landed with the Buccaneers to be Tom Brady‘s successor that he found the perfect opportunity to shine and unleash his talent on the league. As if it wasn’t tough enough to follow in Brady’s footsteps, the consensus was that Tampa Bay was his last chance to prove worth as a starter in the NFL.
Despite all the criticism and doubts about his ability as an NFL quarterback, Mayfield has flourished in Tampa Bay and is arguably having his best season in the league, with the Buccaneers sporting a 4-1 record heading into Week 6.
NBA Icon Allen Iverson Pays Baker Mayfield Ultimate Compliment
GettyHall of Fame member and presenter Allen Iverson looks on during the 2023 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Induction.
Mayfield rising out of the ashes of failed stints with the Browns, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams to success with the Buccaneers has not gone unnoticed, with NBA icon and Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson chiming in on ESPN’s First Take on Wednesday.
Iverson was asked to choose who’s the better quarterback now: Mayfield or Dallas Cowboys star Dak Prescott.
“You know I love Dak,” Iverson said. “But Baker is a dog. I love Baker.”
Stephen A. Smith then asked Iverson whether Mayfield reminds him of himself.
“Plays every game like it’s his last, and I love everything about that.”
Iverson made a name for himself as an undersized score-first point guard with the 76ers. He defied the odds during his time at Georgetown, and it carried over and went to another level in the NBA, as he embarked on what turned out to be a Hall of Fame career with an NBA Finals appearance, an NBA MVP and the distinction as one of the best players ever to play the game.
Both Iverson and Mayfield were No. 1 overall picks who had to prove themselves, and they both possessed an edge and an unrelenting will to win. It’s no surprise, then, that the NBA legend is fond of the Buccaneers star and what he’s doing right now during the 2025 NFL season.
Baker Mayfield a Legitimate NFL MVP Candidate?
GettyBaker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Big-name quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes tend to dominate the NFL MVP conversation every single year, with five awards won combined amongst these three superstars.
After the first five weeks of the 2025 campaign, the MVP conversation has gotten more interesting than usual, with Mayfield getting thrown into the mix after a 4-1 start. The veteran quarterback is having an incredible season, in which he has thrown for 1,283 yards, 10 touchdowns and only one interception across five games.
Not only are those numbers impressive on their own, but Mayfield has also had to deal with his team being riddled with injuries and star wide receiver Mike Evans playing in only three of those five games due to a hamstring injury. In Evans’ absence, Mayfield has helped rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka become a household name in the NFL and the favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
If Mayfield continues playing at a high level while leading the Buccaneers to wins on a weekly basis, the former Heisman Trophy winner could be well on his way to winning his first NFL MVP award.
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