Mike Glennon: Baker Mayfield Is “Solid” But “Not Elite”

September 19th, 2024

This is fun. Former Bucs quarterback Mike Glennon (2013-2016) weighed in strong on Baker Mayfield.

Glennon also talked about the topic of “investiture.”

So Glennon is a regular guest on 99.9 FM sports radio in Charlotte, North Carolina. Of course, Joe listens. Knowing all things Bucs and NFC South football is as important to Joe as a steady diet of Buffalo Shrimp at Hooters.

A hot subject in Panthers country is this week’s benching of quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick in 2023 — after only two games with new head coach Dave Canales, the former Bucs offensive coordinator.

Glennon talked about how challenging it is to evaluate QBs and the subject turned to former Panthers quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold.

No matter how well Mayfield has played since leaving the miserable Panthers organization, Glennon isn’t completely sold.

“Even with how well Sam and Baker are playing, those guys are not elite quarterbacks,” Glennon said. “They’re solid starters in the NFL, where [the Panthers] drafted Bryce to be elite, and he’s just not that.”

Man, it felt a little rough from Glennon (of all people) to say Pro Bowler Mayfield is just a “solid starter.” But that is a rampant assessment around the NFL.

Some even believe Mayfield is subpar and is just on a strong nine-game run courtesy of elite receivers around him.

Regarding “investiture,” referring to how teams care more about the success of certain players if they were drafted or hand-picked by the coaching staff, Glennon says he very much believes that’s real in the NFL. Glennon, keep in mind, played for three Buccaneers coaches in four seasons and two general managers before signing with the Bears.

Glennon said when a team has a ton of draft capital invested, a team will “do everything possible to make it work.”

The phrase “he wasn’t their guy” is a real thing in the NFL, Glennon says, and players in locker rooms know it. He talked about how general managers’ jobs ride on draft picks and those draft stats matter.

So do the Bucs have “investiture” with Mayfield, who was signed off the street? That’s a fun one.

Considering how Todd Bowles lobbied hard to sign Mayfield after Tom Brady retired, and how GM Jason Licht handed Mayfield a strong contract extension in March, Joe thinks the Bucs do have strong investiture in Mayfield. And Mayfield feels it and is thriving because of it.

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74 Responses to “Mike Glennon: Baker Mayfield Is “Solid” But “Not Elite””

  1. Fernando Says:

    This jagoff

  2. darengibo Says:

    So the FIRST overall pick in the 2018 draft not elite, but the first one chosen overal in 2023 draft CAN and should be?

    Glennon is a tool.

  3. darengibo Says:

    Sorry. quick edit.

    Glennon is an ELITE tool.

  4. Adam's Angry Says:

    Well… those who can play, play.

    Those who can’t, yak about it on sports radio.

    The highlight of Glennon’s career is being mistaken for John Heder.

  5. Lakeland Says:

    TBH, in my personal opinion. I think there’s only one elite QB in the NFL. And that’s the guy in KC!

    There are good solid QBs in the NFL
    But l wouldn’t consider them as elite
    You have to win big games to be elite

  6. DS Says:

    There are only maybe 3-4 elite qbs in the nfl, doesn’t matter it’s only about winning imo

  7. BootyLover Says:

    Now THAT is a sexy man. I might turn.

  8. AMI_Chris Says:

    Not a hot take. Hard to disagree with. Who cares? If we can’t have Mahomes, I’ll take solid. If we had solid back in the late 90’s, we’d have won multiple Super Bowls.

  9. Cobraboy Says:

    The Raging Giraffe

    Outside the Stiller comeback, what has he done (besides the best job in the NFL, a #2 QB.)

  10. Jeffs grandpa Says:

    Who really cares what some sub 500 giraffe has to say

  11. Esteban85 Says:

    Mike was JAG with height. Not gonna give an ounce of craps about anything this dude has to say. Now if someone with some credibility says Mayfield is not elite well guess what I wouldn’t give a Shït either. We are two games into his second season with the Bucs and there is a lot of football left to play. Wrong time of the year for a “hot” take, because this is exactly what Baker needs to hear to keep that chip on his shoulder. Love the doubt and hate on our man Baker.

  12. Gotti-Dog-05-20-84 Says:

    Are we sure that’s not Liam Coen’s son? I see a resemblance…..

  13. Not My NFL! Says:

    @BootyLover :: “might turn” ??

  14. Not My NFL! Says:

    @Gotti HAHAHAHA,definitely!

  15. RVATom Says:

    In some ways that’s a fair assessment. I guess it depends how you define elite? How Glennon means the term. If Bake goes 3 4 5 seasons putting up these league leading numbers I’ll go with elite. But Glennons got a point. Last season, 2 games so far. I LOVE Bake. I want to see him continue to be succesful. By my count, he has been elite with Tampa compared to everyone but Brady. And hell, considering Brady sorta glossed that last season over trying not to have his knees and ankles destroyed so he could still date supermodels walking upright, maybe Bake has outdone all but Tommy’s SuperBowl season.

    I don’t fault Glennon with his opinion. But it’s douchey for a former qb on the team to sh*t on a current qb. Glennon wasn’t hardly serviceable as a QB other than in a few short windows.

  16. unbelievable Says:

    I mean I would agree Mayfield isn’t “elite”, as there’s probably only 2 or 3 players who fit that description.

    But is he better than “solid”? Yeah, I’d say so. Really depends if he has time in the pocket or not.

  17. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Elite is a status usually not gained in a short time…..win us a SB Baker and you will be elite…

  18. Simeon4HOF Says:

    Last opinion worth considering is that of glass joe glennon. Shut ur yap oppie

  19. orlbucfan Says:

    Always thought a winning gutsy QB was elite but whatever. I still remember Glennon and Bucs beating the hotshot Seattle Seahawks in their crib. That one was more than elite, it was a shock! Then Bucs went back to losing…oh well.

  20. JK Says:

    Huge Mayfield fan
    Have never considered him, “elite”, although if he keeps playing like he is right now, maybe I will
    I have however, ALWAYS believed that Mayfield was a winner, plain and simple

    LFG!!!!!!!

  21. Irishmist Says:

    Ah good, something new for Baker’s locker door this week.

  22. HC Grover Says:

    bake is as elite as Yogi Berra was.

  23. Pryda…sec147 Says:

    I’d slap that goofy wana be napoleon dynamite lookin ahhhh

  24. Buc4evr Says:

    Don’t give a flip how Baker is perceived by the media, failed Backup QBs like Glennon, or the media. The only thing that counts is winning.

  25. Dave Pear Says:

    Anyone wondering about Kyle Trask’s ceiling need look no further than the feminine hygiene spray nozzle pretending to know something about elite QB play. Jealous much, Lurch?!

    LOL.

  26. JK Says:

    Dayum, HC Grover comparing Bake to HOFer whoaaaaaaaaa

  27. 1#bucsfan Says:

    Most of yall posting on here are raging on a guy who actually played in the NFL and none of you havnt. Glennon’s assessment of baker carries a lot more weight then yalls. That’ll prob hurt your guys feeling but who cares lol. Baker is NOT elite He’s deff above average. Brady , p manning, mahomes those are elite QBs deff a difference between them and baker. I’m a baker fan and he’s deff better than a lot of other QBs but to put him in the category of elite isn’t tru. Doubt baker makes the hall of fame.

  28. Cosimo De Medicinal Says:

    The only QBs in the nfl that have won a SB are Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Stafford, Rodgers, and Joe Flacco. I wouldn’t take any of those guys over Bake except for PM. Baker is like 6-2 against Joe Burrow, .500 against Lamar and has about equal success in the playoffs. He’s certainly done a lot more than Kyler, Herbert, Lawrence, Love, Cousins, Carr, Geno, and Tua. Dak is considered a franchise QB, and I’d take Baker any day of the week over Dak. Jalen Hurts we’ll find out a lot about this year. No one in their right mind would take Goff over BM. So that leaves, PM, Josh Allen, Lamar, and CJ Stroud at the top. Baker is definitely in contention to be the next guy after those guys. Maybe not elite, but still very damn good.

  29. Ra'Shad Says:

    I would have ran off the road had I heard him say that. Of all people this clown ……

  30. Matt_PcAfee Says:

    Glennons neck is elite.

  31. Zoocomics Says:

    @JK…that is the proper response to this article.

    Nothing wrong with what Glennon said, and let’s try not to take it out of context. I think Baker is a good starter, and after last game’s performance against Detroit, who is perineal Super Bowl contender, the kids moving up on my list. Point is we’ve benefited from a division that’s rebuilding, I would say our biggest wins against “good” football teams last season was Minnesota, Saints, and Green Bay. If not for Cousin’s injuries, all 3 of those teams should they were contenders. Imo, Green Bay was a bit overrated. Oh, and we could have really shut the book on all this if not for getting our teeth kicked in against the Saints at home last season. Just when we thought we knew where we stood, Saints beat us bad. That sh!t still stings.

    Since Brady leaving, Last week’s win against Detroit might be our most significant victory as far as a measuring stick against the elite teams of the NFL. Think about that for a moment. It wasn’t the playoff game against Phili its skeleton crew at WR. We caught good football teams last season during some of their worst times.

    Ravens, Eagles, Chiefs, 49ers, Cowboys, oh yeah, Saints too. These are measuring sticks. We have to punch these teams in the mouth at very least for Baker and this Tampa Team to show they’re for real. We have to thump this Denver team this weekend, this shouldn’t be close.

  32. SlyPirate Says:

    I AGREE WITH MIKE … BUT THERE IS A CATCH

    Who are the Elite QBs
    Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rogers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Ben Roth, Brett Favre, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, John Elway

    Is Mayfield “Elite”?
    Nope

    How many “Elite” candidates are there in the NFL?
    1-5 (Mahomes, Jackson, Allen, Burrow, CJ)

    How many “elite” QBs are there in the NFC?
    0

    Bucs have one of the best (if not the best) QBs in the NFC. We’re good.

  33. LakelandSteve Says:

    I’m a little skeptical about Glennons ability to judge QB talent. Just because he was a qb in the NFL doesn’t mean he has the ability to accurately Judge who is elite and who is not. If he has that ability some team would snatch him up to help judge qb’s in the draft. With that said, both Bucs Qb’s who led their teams to the Super Bowl were not drafted by the Bucs. Fortunately you don’t have to be elite to win a Super Bowl although it helps. You need a great defense and the QB has to be able to run the offense, not make mistakes and score enough to win.

  34. Ed Says:

    I would say that Baker Mayfield has “elite” arm strength and so far this year he has been accurate and throwing catchable balls. The only thing about him that isn’t “elite” is his height which sometimes effects his ability to see the entire field. He gets more balls batted down than most, but he is right now a top 10 quarterback in the NFL, especially over his last 10 games.

    Its too early to say he will stay a top ten QB with 15 games to go. It is very encouraging to see him delivering balls on time and very catchable. His mobility isn’t a liability.

    His attitude is an intangible. Team guy, players work hard supporting him. Just keep winning Baker and who cares whether you are “elite” or just simply a very good quarterback.

    Unfortunately when compared to players like Maholmes or Josh Allen, Mayfield isn’t in their class as far as an all around QB game. He is just very good in his current role here in Tampa Bay.

  35. GoneGator Says:

    Ho hum. Time will tell….
    In the meantime us Baker fans will enjoy being right all along 🤣✌🏼

  36. Don'tBmad Says:

    Elite is overrated….gimme the guy that fights to win on every play

  37. DoooshLaRue Says:

    BootyLover Says:
    September 19th, 2024 at 12:52 pm
    Now THAT is a sexy man. I might turn.
    ________

    Pretty sure that’d be beast-e-ality with a giraffe.
    Illegal in most places except for maybe Arkansas and Rod Munches personal petting zoo/barn.
    😀

  38. FloridaGirl Says:

    Who?

  39. Dave Pear Says:

    What a waste of a 3rd round pick. Another one of Dumdum’s Dandies.

  40. Smashsquatch Says:

    He’s already outplaying that $100M contract extension. Something tells me Baker understands how to take less to make more. Brady was the master at that. The best QBs always save pie for their teammates.

  41. First Name Greatest Says:

    Getting QB breakdowns from Glennon is like getting draft breakdowns from Dominik

  42. SB~LV Says:

    Yet …

  43. Oz Len Says:

    I’ll wait for Rod MUnch to reply, thank you very Munch…

  44. Pmike Says:

    Does anyone legitimately put any stock into what Mike Glennon’s opinion is of anything NFL related??? This guys is a joke and is basically the beta version of Trask…..

  45. KABucs Says:

    Glennon knows what inconsistent, #2 caliber is… and he didn’t call Baker a back up so that’s something. At this point, he may have been accurate to call Young out more since Young is starting down that Glennon career path. The similarities? Our front office pretty much sucked back then & Carolina’s front office really sucks right now.

    Mike’s too old to be Liam’s kid…he could be Liam’s younger long, lost brother, tho. They’re only a few years apart.

  46. Pewter Power Says:

    Hey Bryce it’s A whole new world don’t you dare close your eyes lol. You should have been in the weight room lil homie This isn’t college there are a bunch of grown men coming at you that are trying to feed their families.

    and Glennon damn bro there are 3-5 elite quarterbacks in the NFL I don’t care what analyst say. They just pretend because “ it’s a quarterback league”. EVERYONE IN ROUND ONE IS DRAFTED TO BE ELITE. The GM got it wrong he’snot a number one overall pick talent in terms of measurables

  47. GoneGator Says:

    1#bucsfan Says:
    September 19th, 2024 at 2:12 pm
    Most of yall posting on here are raging on a guy who actually played in the NFL and none of you havnt. Glennon’s assessment of baker carries a lot more weight then yalls.

    —————–
    Really? How so? Doing something professionally (and not that well I might add) does not make someone an expert evaluator of others doing the same job. I’d trust some of the commenters here to evaluate QB play over old what’s his name.

  48. Kenton Smith Says:

    Oh Baker is elite all right. Ed you’re close to right. You said Mahommes and Allen. Allen was same draft class as Baker. All three are 29 years old. The three of them have played each other multiple times. Mahommes and Allen were drafted by functional organizations. Mayfield was not. Game knows Game. I can tell the way they have talked about each other the respect each has for the other. All three think that they can win every time they play. Because they respect and love their teammates. Those 3 are the NFLs elite QBs. All in their prime and hungry. Allen and Mayfield are hungrier. Bucs – Bills Super Bowl this year. Remember that heard it here. You’re welcome.

  49. go dawgs Says:

    MGM is BACK!!!!! watch out traskites

  50. JustVisiting Says:

    Too early to say re Baker, but the putdowns on this thread…+those+ are elite.

  51. Donnyd Says:

    Well if Mike Glennon said it, it must be so. I mean he was such a valuable FA that the Bears signed him and the rest is history. Baker is the MAN and Glennon was, well Glennon. Go luck on radio buddy while Bake Show balls out!

  52. Lakeland Says:

    Patrick Mahomes is 15-3 in the playoffs. Two of those losses came against the GOAT. 4 Super Bowl appearances, 3 Super Bowls wins.

    NFL MVP
    Super Bowl MVP

    That’s my definition of elite

    He makes the players around him better

  53. Lakeland Says:

    Maybe Patrick Mahomes is Super Elite

  54. Buc2Blame Says:

    It’s Mike Glennon 😂😂😂 him n Chris Simms are hilarious two of the worst Qb’s to ever grace a field let alone a bucs jersey

  55. Lightningvinny Says:

    Mahomes Elite,,, Josh Allen could be elite ,, everyone else fighting for pretty darn good ,,, it’s a small class

  56. SB~LV Says:

    Glennon DID beat Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh

  57. stpetebucfan Says:

    There are two plays that illustrate perfectly the different legacies Glennon and Mayfield will leave in Tampa, regardless of what kind of record Mayfield goes on to achieve.

    There is/was a STARK DIFFERENCE in their game. Everybody remembers the infamous play with Glennon headed out of bound on 3rd and short and instead of lunging for a CRITICAL First down Glennon trots out of bounds saving his hide.

    Similar situation…Baker not only does not scamper like a wimp for the sidelines he trucks the DB for solid first down run and then runs some smack…”Get your weight up”.

    Those two plays say everything you need to know about the difference in Mayfield and Glennon’s games. One has cojones the other…….

  58. Gipper Says:

    Just a bunch of noise from a forgotten QB who wants to be relevant. Doesn’t matter what he thinks or what any of the talking heads in sports media thinks. We will add it all up at the end of the season and Baker will easily be in the Top 6 QB’s. Don’t care whether that is “elite.” Just know that Mayfield is a solid professional QB tracking Drew Brees statistically thus far. That’s good enough for a lot of us. Brees is a year or two away from HOF induction in Canton.

  59. Zoocomics Says:

    @Lakeland. Agreed. Actually, how many players would you actually place in the category of elite? I’d say your definition is accurate, a QB who makes players better vs skill-players making the QB better. Used to be a larger number imo. Manning, Brady, Rothlisberger, Brees, Rodgers… There’s a ton of inconsistency out there right now. Burrows and Mahomes are trained killers. I still think Rodgers is elite. I think there was a time where Wilson and Watson were in the conversation. Many observers would look to the low hanging fruit of guys like Allen and Herbert, they have all the tangibles, but they haven’t won anything yet.

  60. Kenton Smith Says:

    Reality now. Last 10 games including playoffs in the NFL. Mahommes , Allen , and Mayfield. All 8 wins and 2 losses. Those 3 are top of the league well over half a season sample. Mayfield leads all QBs in this timeframe with 22 touchdown passes. If ( when ) the Bucs win the Super Bowl this year I think that might cement his elite standing with some of you doubters. Baker Mayfield has spent his whole career shutting up doubters.

  61. heyjude Says:

    Glennon disappointed me with all this. Always liked him. Does he mean elite QBs from the past? Montana, Doug Williams, Aikman, Theismann, … Brady? Who would be considered elite? He didn’t name them. What’s his criteria? So many great QBs now and then. Baker is a really good QB. In a couple of years he could be elite.

  62. Mike Johnson Says:

    Glennom man. He played his mediocre string all the way out. Actually, made decent money considering what he did not do. If I were him, I’d just thank my lucky stars I was able to make a living doin the minimum in the NFl.

  63. Jack Burton Mercer Says:

    Wow, so many people are so bitter. Dudes, he’s still laughing at you. Remember, he’s in a fraternity that no one here will ever be in. NFL football player. That’s pretty cool (even if he is not). He played hard and did his best. Too bad it wasn’t good enough. That’s actually most quarterbacks and, sadly, most of the comments on JBF. My comments are elite though. Take that to the bank.

  64. Andrew Catalfina Says:

    This goes right up there with; they are eating your pets. Most former player analyst don’t seem to agree with him, but A for effort.

  65. Natron Says:

    The game manager Giraffe has returned!

  66. Larrd Says:

    Baker is the funnest qb in the league to watch. That makes him elite in my book.

  67. Drunkinybor Says:

    Bucs got him paid fat. Brady farts more quarter back knowledge than Glennon will ever know.

  68. Tbbucs3 Says:

    Just yet another bozo for Mayfield to prove wrong.

  69. Tbbucs3 Says:

    Glennons probably still bitter he couldnt beat out McCown for a 2-14 team.

  70. Buddha Says:

    Was Terry Bradshaw elite. It took him 4 years to become first string. Then he won 4 rings.

  71. Tom Says:

    Shuu!!!! Mike…..

  72. Ralph Cramden Says:

    Mike Glennon? I had to go pro-football reference to find out who this clown is. He played 40 NFL games with a won/loss record of 6-25. Glennon threw for a grand total of 7025 yards 47 TDs and 35 Interceptions with a 60.4% completion rate.

    It stinks pretty bad when a QB throws almost as many interceptions as he does TDs.

    Drafted #283 in 2013, Glennon was on the roster of 7 teams in his 9 year career. He got cut more times than barber cuts hair every day.

    He is in no position to judge Baker Mayfield; there are Arena football QBs looking for just 1 break like Glennon blew in the NFL.

    This is a non-story.

    Rampant assessment around the NFL of Baker is subpar? Have you seen any sports talk shows lately? Even Shannon Sharpe and Steven A Smith, two of Baker’s sharpest critics in the past, are heaping praise on him.

    Joe, fans who agree with this clown are hopelessly out of touch.

  73. TAMPA BAY DEMON Says:

    Well…. Mike Glennon is certainly an expert on what an elite QB is.
    Eyes roll.

  74. Oneilbuc Says:

    Baker does not have to be a elite quarterback or even a hall of famer to help the bucs win a championship. Right now ain’t no quarterback is playing elite right now not even Mahomes. That’s why Mel Kifer want to git rid of the cover 2. Football is going back to the running game because their is no more rules they can pass against the defense. Go bucs!!