The 24th-Best NFL Quarterback, Baker Mayfield
May 24th, 2023
The exhaustive film review is complete.
Baker Mayfield is the 24th-best quarterback in the National Football League.
That’s the verdict from NBC Sports analyst and former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms, as part of his annual spring quarterback rankings.
Joe likes the ranking, not because it’s special, but because it leaves Mayfield as the second-best quarterback in the NFC South behind Saints QB Derek Carr (his ranking has yet to be revealed). Considering the Bucs should have a stout defense, Joe can work with having the 2nd-best quarterback (allegedly) in the division.
Simms believes Mayfield was screwed by the Browns and the Carolina approach was miserable with Mayfield last season before head coach Matt Rhule was fired. Even Christian McCaffrey looked bad in that system, Simms explained.
Mayfield was “in some of the shi*tiest situations you can be in the last two years,” Simms said, referring to Mayfield playing hurt in the Browns’ quarterback unfriendly system and joining the mess that was the Panthers to start last season.
Drops hurt Mayfield a lot with Carolina, Simms added, and the Bucs quickly will learn that Mayfield has a trule “elite arm.”
Mayfield plays bigger than his size, Simms said, noting he looks like a quarterback that can see the whole field at all times despite being just a whisper over 6 feet tall.
On the negative side, Simms said Mayfield sometimes throws his big fastball when it’s unnecessary.
Simms ranked Mayfield 17th at this time last year.
May 24th, 2023 at 9:46 pm
I always tell my wife, it plays bigger than it’s size!
May 24th, 2023 at 9:56 pm
Hodad
Keep your eye on the prize
Read the field, take what it gives you
Don’t give it away, and for Gods sake, don’t fumble
Keep your feet moving, your eyes downfield, and watch out for the sack!
May 24th, 2023 at 9:59 pm
Oh, and a smooth delivery of the ball helps too!
May 24th, 2023 at 10:08 pm
It’s Certainly Not Chris Simms point of view concerning what or why I say what I’m about to say and I say this with an *asterisk* and a grain of salt but I have made a choice.
It Does Not change how I feel what so ever and with that said, I’ve decided to give Mayfield a chance.
TRASK Should Be leading this thing out but if the head coach is dead set on it because he’s Running for his life, in a sense I suppose it applies to him as well BUT certainly separately.
Also because I’m not heartless. I do believe Mayfield or Anybody should get a fair shot at turning their life around. That includes Bowles.
So I’m going to lay off of 50% of pounding my Drum until I see it with my own eyes with OUR SYSTEM. EXPECT MORE DRUMS! Just a slightly different tune 🎶 “For Now”
May 24th, 2023 at 10:09 pm
And watch the clock. You don’t want to get ahead of your game plan.
May 24th, 2023 at 10:22 pm
Ranking, wanking, blah blah blah.
What he does on the field this year is what matters. He’s still got ability and he has a good supporting cast around him, and an offensive system that will be built around his strengths. So I’m optimistic. What the media opinionators and yappers have to say is of zero value.
May 24th, 2023 at 10:36 pm
“Simms said Mayfield sometimes throws his big fastball when it’s unnecessary.”
.
.
So he’s just like Brett Favre. Woo Hoo!
May 24th, 2023 at 10:42 pm
It’s Certainly Not Chris Simms point of view concerning what or why I say what I’m about to say and I say this with an *asterisk* and a grain of salt but I have made a choice.
It Does Not change how I feel what so ever and with that said, I’ve decided to give Mayfield a chance.
TRASK Should Be leading this thing out but if the head coach is dead set on it because he’s Running for his life, in a sense I suppose it applies to him as well BUT certainly separately.
Also because I’m not heartless.
I do believe Mayfield or Anybody should get a fair shot at turning their life around. If that person REALLY DOES DESERVE A FAIR CHANCE, GIVES 1000%, and “CAN BE OUR” Franchise QB then… ( meaning a MINIMUM of playoffs every year and in the Super Bowl A LOT!) And if you can’t do that, GET OUT!
That Might include Bowles. I’m NOT too sure about that but for now…
So I’m going to lay off of 50% of pounding my Drum until I see it with my own eyes with and in “OUR SYSTEM”. EXPECT MORE DRUMS! Just a slightly softer and possibly different tune 🎶 “For Now”.
I’m going to support the choice if it’s Mayfield that allegedly wins the QB competition. I TRULY WANT TO WIN!
But I don’t want to win a few. If one or the other doesn’t take us TO THE PLAYOFFS MINIMUM then you can EXPECT A CONCERT FROM ME!
I didn’t say a winning record. I SAID THE PLAYOFFS MINIMUM! And if between them, if they can’t get it done, or at least one of them shows us ALL MORE THAN WE HAD HOPED FOR, I WANT HIM OR THEM GONE and OUR Franchise QB Drafted IMMEDIATELY! (In my gut I still feel like Trask could be THE GUY) BUT….
But until then, I’m going to lay off this one or that one (Trask) “should be” running anything much less Mayfield. In the spirit of “sport, good vibes, and a Winning attitude”. At this point the dye is cast so I might as well support the process. I feel like no matter which one kicks things off, the other WILL get their shot for one reason or the other.
WE WILL SEE!
Okay, powering down 50% so that I can enjoy myself a little more. Good luck to us All.
Now that I think about it, MAYBE IT’S TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE! Just Kidding. (sort of!)
GO BUCS!
May 24th, 2023 at 10:43 pm
Is it just me, or does Mayfield look like he’s rubbing charcoal on his face to make it look like he has a beard?
Just kidding… I hope he’s awesome for the Bucs this year and for years to come.
But still, though… it looks a little weird.
May 24th, 2023 at 11:27 pm
He’s been literally in the mid-30s over the last two years, so he’d need to step up to get as high as 24th.
I like that Simms is WAY higher on him than I am, maybe there’s something there. Who knows.
But please, talk up the Bucs bigly, maybe they can get the line up to 7 1/2, at which point I’ll bet my house on the under.
May 25th, 2023 at 12:31 am
At this time last year, most thought the Seahawks going with Geno freaking Smith was the sure thing to be the tanking team!….
May 25th, 2023 at 1:25 am
Agree. If Dave Canales can work wonders with Geno, one would hope he could do the same with Mayfield or Trask.
Going to be a great season regardless, go Bucs!
May 25th, 2023 at 2:34 am
Honestly, I don’t know or care if Maybefield wins the starting job. If he can beat out Trask so be it. If not…let Kyle cook. I just wanna win some games and land atop the NFCS.
Derik Carsick can kiss my,,……..
May 25th, 2023 at 3:57 am
Sims dropped him 7 spots over last year. So only winning less than 40% of his starts drops down to 33%.
Yup…this is gonna be ugly.
May 25th, 2023 at 4:00 am
if baker can have a couple good games early on and settle into the position (something he hasn’t been able to do the past couple years), he has a shot at a revival of sorts…
he’s a competitor and a hungry aggressive type player – so there is the possibility that he hits his stride again in the right setting…
thus pushing us to be a 10-7 type team…
but if things go sideways,you can cut that 10 win max number right in half
May 25th, 2023 at 7:52 am
I find it amazing that baker with Carolina was going to be pretty good but now with the bucs he going to suck. According to the so called experts . I think he will get a new contract and should lead the bucs to 3rd straight nfc south title. Go bucs
May 25th, 2023 at 12:03 pm
Joe is correct with the Simms quote about the fastball. Old boy is a whole body thrower and his touch passes tend to come in hot or sail from the arm angle of a short boy throwing over those big linemen. That said, Canales offense running a lot of boots and play action is Baker’s game. Pretty sure you’re gonna get 2020 Mayfield and not last years Crap-Show from the Psnther’s statue ball offense. Hope it’s good enough for a playoff run
May 25th, 2023 at 1:18 pm
it would be interesting to know the “actual decision-making process” on choosing the qb. we,ve been told part of the criteria: ball control, limit turnovers, ability to deliver long pass (not necessary nice plus) … are all i remember at the moment there may have been more shared
but what i’m referring to are things like:
bowles saying/or not … i hired dave for his qb knowledge and ability to develop qbs within the same philosophical framework we share
, i trust his judgment.
or
as a defense minded coach, i,ve faced many different qbs. i’m going to direct that focus toward helping to decide which qb would be the most difficult to defend and then with an open mind join in the collaborative process with dave and the relevant offensive/defensive coaches to choose the qb who we think gives us the best opportunity to win. knowing that i will have the ultimate responsibility for that choice.
has there been an interview like that that i have missed?
May 25th, 2023 at 2:13 pm
DOES ANYONE READ JOE’S ARTICLE?
Simms just said, Baker started his career in the worst two offenses in the NFL. He added, Baker has an elite arm and vision.
Why is this relevant? … 1986
In 1986, the Bucs QB threw for 2,200 yards, 8 TD, 13 INT. Horrific. Joe’s fans would be calling for his head. The QB got traded to the 49ers and became one of the greatest QBs in NFL history. Turns out the Bucs had the worst offense in the league.
Baker took one of those two worst offenses 1 quarter away from the Super Bowl. He’s got Evans and Godwin. Why aren’t we hoping for the next Steve Young.
May 25th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
Pirate – Yea – Steve Young was 3-13 as starting QB for the Bucs. It was a good thing he had elite “wheels” because dude was literally running for his life multiple times every game. That ’86 Bucs team in particular was one of the worst NFL teams in history. They managed to win 2 games somehow…. The Offense was really bad but the Defense was the worst I’ve ever witnessed in 50 years of football watching.
Regarding Baker – it’s certainly not a huge stretch that he could be statistically rated among the top 15 QBs in 2023 if things go fairly well. That type of performance coupled with a solid run game and top 10 Defense could mean a “good” season for this team – perhaps 10-7.
I remain hopeful – but it IS only May
May 25th, 2023 at 5:18 pm
Bout right. I had him at 27.
May 26th, 2023 at 1:02 pm
26 is too high. Everyone forgets how bad he was in Cleaveland. he had a great team with one glaring weakness… HIM!