Baker Mayfield‘s career seemed like it might be at an inflection point after his departure from the Browns. Once the Browns traded for Deshaun Watson and signed him to a 5-year, $230 million deal, it was clear they had chosen their quarterback of the future. And it wasn’t Baker Mayfield.
But, he benefitted massively from a change of scenery in Tampa Bay and a ‘prove-it’ deal in 2023. Baker Mayfield earned himself a 3-year, $100 million extension. After back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances, and his first share of MVP voting in 2024, could Mayfield be ready for the next leap? NFL Digital Content Editor Grant Gordon thinks so.
“If he continues his glory days in Tampa, Mayfield for MVP might well be a very real campaign in 2025,” Gordon wrote.
Baker Mayfield Could Be First Bucs Player to Win MVP
While the Buccaneers have won both of their Super Bowls since 2000, they haven’t won many individual awards. Unsurprisingly, Tom Brady’s 3-year tenure in Tampa Bay was their winningest stretch in franchise history.
Tom Brady led them to a Super Bowl in 2020, but Ravens QB Lamar Jackson earned the unanimous MVP award. Coincidentally, Jackson became the second unanimous MVP in league history. Brady was the only other player to achieve it back in 2010.
Baker Mayfield will compete against Lamar Jackson during this MVP race, as well. Jackson is one of the favorites, for good reason, but Mayfield is considered a “dark horse” for the award in 2025. While Jackson broke through as the Ravens’ first MVP winner in 2019, Gordon believes that Baker Mayfield could do the same for the Bucs this year.
“Mayfield has found the fountain of career renaissance in Tampa,” Gordon wrote. “Mayfield is playing his best ball and could be a bona fide contender to pull off something the G.O.A.T. was unable to do: win an MVP with the Bucs,” Gordon wrote.
Baker Mayfield joined the following players as the most likely MVP candidates for the teams without an MVP winner:
Mayfield Will Need Some Positive Injury Luck, Another Smooth Transition to a New OC in 2025
Baker Mayfield has had the benefit of playing with future Hall-of-Famer Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Tampa Bay. But, he will need some good luck to have both for the full season in 2025.
Godwin missed the final 10 games last year due to a gruesome leg injury. He suffered a dislocated ankle, fractured fibula, torn deltoid and high ankle sprain. Evans has never missed more than 3 games during his 11-year career. But, he matched that total last season, struggling through a hamstring injury.
“In order for Mayfield to become MVP, he will need Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka to stay healthy and play at their peak,” wrote Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Brener. “He will also need some boost from the offensive line and tight end Cade Otton.”
Baker Mayfield is no stranger to coaching changes, but he will be playing under his third OC in three seasons. His connection with Liam Coen helped spark his career year in 2024, but Coen is now the Jaguars’ head coach.
“A major question will be if Mayfield can maintain his stellar play with offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard — his third OC in three autumns,” Gordon wrote. “Mayfield produced career highs of 4,500 passing yards and 41 passing touchdowns in 2024 under Liam Coen, who’s now the Jaguars’ head coach.”
We’ll see what Baker Mayfield looks like with yet another offensive coordinator. But, I trust that he’ll be able to figure it out with some great skill players around him in Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Bucky Irving, and more.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Baker Mayfield Hoping to Utilize ‘Fountain of Career Renaissance’ for 2025 MVP Campaign appeared first on Heavy Sports.