The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won three consecutive NFC South titles and had arguably the strongest offseason of any team in the NFL, thanks to a series of savvy free-agent moves that included bringing back their top players from 2023 and striking a home run with the 2024 NFL Draft.
No one profited more from the Bucs’ on-field performance last season than quarterback Baker Mayfield, who passed for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns in his first year as Tampa Bay’s starter before signing a three-year, $100 million contract deal in March 2024.
According to Ryan Heckman of The Pewter Report, that is still insufficient to propel Mayfield to the top of his NFC South QB Rankings for the 2024 season, placing him second behind new Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins.
“Bucs fans will not be happy to see Baker Mayfield take the no. 2 spot, but it’s difficult to put him ahead of Cousins purely based on one season of major success,” Heckman stated. “Now, if we fast forward halfway through the 2024 season, there’s no doubt Baker might find himself at the top of these rankings. He has plenty of resources at his disposal.”
Baker Mayfield’s Comeback Took Everyone by Surprise
Two years ago, the prospect of Mayfield signing a $100 million contract would have looked nothing short of miraculous.
Mayfield appeared on course to become one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks in his first three seasons after the Browns chose him first overall out of Oklahoma in 2018.
After an injury-riddled season in 2021, the Browns traded for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson before the 2022 season and offered him the highest guaranteed contract in NFL history — $230 million — prompting Mayfield to request a trade.
He spent 2022 with two separate teams, first with the Carolina Panthers and finishing with the Los Angeles Rams.
Following Tom Brady’s retirement, the Buccaneers signed Mayfield to a one-year, $4 million contract — basically a temporary deal — and he went on to make his first Pro Bowl appearance.
Do Falcons Even Think Kirk Cousins Is No. 1 QB?
Heckman elevated Cousins to the top slot after the Falcons signed him to a four-year, $180 million contract in March 2024, just six months after tearing his right Achilles tendon against the Green Bay Packers.
The Falcons then shocked the NFL by selecting University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, sparking an instant quarterback controversy.
“Finally, it’s hard to argue with placing Kirk Cousins number one on this list,” Heckman stated. “Even though Mayfield had a career year in 2023, Cousins is far more established, and prior to his season-ending injury last year, he was on track for another 4,000-plus passing yards and nearly 40 passing touchdowns.”
“The real question in Atlanta is whether the presence of first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. will alter Cousins’ play. If Kirk struggles, there will surely be an issue – and it will happen quickly.”
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