It’s early, but Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is turning heads with his start to the 2025 NFL season. Through five weeks, the Bucs are 4-1, with their only loss coming to the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles. In that span, Mayfield has four game-winning drives, a ridiculous stat. He’s come up clutch almost every week, and his performance is drawing praise.
James Palmer of The Athletic certainly thinks so. On his Scoop City podcast, he talked about Mayfield’s MVP buzz, positing that Baker has a legitimate claim as an early contender. It wasn’t just him though, as he interviewed Bucs WR Sterling Shepard, a college teammate of Mayfield’s at Oklahoma as well, about if the Tampa Bay quarterback is actually in the conversation.
“You know what? I think so,” Shepard said. “I think his play speaks for itself. And he’s a guy who’s gonna bring a lot of energy, he’s a guy who’s gonna play every single play like it’s his last play, and that’s what we’ve been seeing over the beginning of the season. I think if he keeps it up, you’re dang right, he’s in that conversation.”
Former NBA superstar Allen Iverson has been hyping up Mayfield as an MVP candidate, and Palmer asked Shepard about the similarities between Mayfield and Iverson as players, despite the difference in sports.
“I mean, Baker has some sneaky juke moves,” Shepard responded. “People don’t really see him as a runner like that but when he gets out there man, he’s breaking people off. And I try to tell him all the time, I’m like, ‘Man, when he tucks that ball, he means business.’ And he will run through you, too. I’ve been telling him he needs to slide more, but he don’t listen.”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield is Having a Sensational Season
Soobum Im/GettySEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 05: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at Lumen Field on October 05, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
It’s not just his clutch, game-winning performances or his infectious personality. Mayfield is playing every bit like an MVP candidate for the Buccaneers. On the year (through five games), he has 1,283 passing yards, with 10 touchdowns to just one interception. He’s completing 65.1 percent of his passes and has added 144 yards on the ground.
Now, he does have nine turnover-worthy plays. He’s lucky to have only thrown one pick. But a little luck is involved in every MVP race, and one interception is one interception. Mayfield’s numbers back up what everybody sees when they watch him play.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are Well on Their Way to a Fifth-Straight NFC South Title
With the caveat that it’s still early, of course, Tampa Bay is in prime position to win their division for the fifth straight season. They have a two-game lead over the second-place Falcons, including a head-to-head tiebreaker with a win in Week 1.
Perhaps more importantly, the Buccaneers have clearly been the better team through five weeks, despite the mountain of injuries Tampa Bay is dealing with. When they get healthy, this team will be a force to be reckoned with.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Buccaneers WR Sterling Shepard Sends Bold Message on Baker Mayfield appeared first on Heavy Sports.