Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Welcome back to my “One Question” series, and thank you to everyone who read last week’s AFC South edition — are you buying Cam Ward’s redemption story? Let’s stay in the South, but make our way to the NFC. The NFC South has no shortage of playmakers — guys like Drake London, Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, Chris Olave, Travis Etienne, Emeka Egbuka, Tetairoa McMillan, and Jonathan Brooks have fantasy players in a frenzy to add them to their teams. The only real question with this division is: what will their quarterbacks do this year? Can Baker earn another payday with Tampa Bay, or will his contract situation linger into the season? Can Bryce Young take the next step, or is he who we think he is? Will either QB in Atlanta be good enough to elevate their skill players? And is Tyler Shough the real deal, or was 2025 just a flash in the pan?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers look like the team to beat in the NFC South, but was last year’s brutal Week 18 loss to division rival Carolina Panthers the beginning of the end? Tampa Bay has been active this offseason, bringing in new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson and signing running back Kenneth Gainwell. But there’s been no shortage of drama, as Baker Mayfield (QB – TB) goes into the season without a new deal and has been vocal about his displeasure. Two-time Pro Bowler Vita Vea (DT – TB) requested a trade after not getting a new deal — thankfully, that got reconciled quickly with a one-year contract. Between the new OC, the loss of Mike Evans (WR – SF), Emeka Egbuka’s (WR – TB) toe injury, and a disgruntled quarterback, a lot is riding on 2026 in Tampa. And it starts with figuring out Mayfield’s future.

My question for the Buccaneers is: Should Tampa Bay re-sign Baker Mayfield?

After a promising start in Cleveland, things went south for Baker out of nowhere. After winning their first playoff game in 26 years, he suffered an injury the following season, played through it rather than have surgery, and it likely cost him his job. Things got worse when the Browns pursued Deshaun Watson (QB – CLE) while Baker was still on the roster. Cleveland traded for Watson, dealt Baker to Carolina, and the rest is history.

Baker joined former first-round pick Sam Darnold (QB – SEA) in what looked like a fresh start. It didn’t last. He won the job over Darnold in the preseason, suffered another injury, and played through it again. The Panthers went a dismal 1-5 in games he started. He requested a release, and the Rams picked him up — and that’s when things turned around.

Baker landed with a Rams team, the defending Super Bowl champions, desperate at quarterback of their own. It only took 48 hours for him to make his presence felt. Starter John Wolford, playing through a neck injury, went three-and-out on the Rams’ first series, and the coaching staff pulled him to protect him. Baker took over and led the Rams back from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit, capped by a 98-yard drive with no timeouts to steal the win.

Baker’s Rams stint ended at 2-3, highlighted by a Christmas Day 51-14 win. His next opportunity wasn’t far behind. In 2023, he was part of another QB battle, this time in Tampa Bay, on a one-year “prove-it” deal against Kyle Trask (QB – TB). He won the job, helped the Buccaneers win the division and a playoff game, and earned a three-year, $100 million extension the following offseason.

But as resilient as Baker is…can he win when it matters? In five playoff appearances, he’s 2-3, and his teams held fourth-quarter leads in two of those three losses. In the divisional round against Washington, a bad exchange with Jalen McMillan (WR – TB) led to a fumble and a short-field touchdown. His playoff woes go back to Oklahoma too, where he lost both of his playoff games.

But does that mean he’s not a franchise quarterback? Not so fast! Let’s look at Baker’s resume: the first walk-on player in college football history to win the Heisman, led Oklahoma to two playoff appearances, was the number one overall pick, guided Cleveland to their first playoff victory in 26 years, won a QB battle, won two playoff games, and won two division titles after taking over for Tom Brady.

My question for Tampa Bay: Should they re-sign Baker Mayfield?

My answer: If they don’t, someone else will — and he’ll make you regret it.

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