BroBible
While he took a relatively circuitous path to get there, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is among the best signal callers in the NFL today.
Just three years ago, however, that would have been unfathomable. Prior to the 2022 season, the Cleveland Browns, who drafted Mayfield No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, traded him to the Carolina Panthers.
Mayfield’s run in Carolina was both short and troublesome. He started just six games, going 1-5 with a 57.8 percent completion percentage, six touchdowns, and six interceptions, before being cut by then-Panthers head coach Steve Wilks.
He later popped back up with the Los Angeles Rams, with whom he revived his career with four starts in relief of an injured Matthew Stafford.
On Sunday, Mayfield threw for 233 yards and a touchdown in a 29-27 victory over the New York Jets, who currently employ Wilks as their defensive coordinator.
Afterwards, the Bucs QB was his usual, outspoken self.
At his postgame press conference, Mayfield explained that the comeback victory was special for several reasons, in particular because some ties that multiple Tampa Bay players have to the Jets.
“I loved it,” Mayfield said. “And also their D-coordinator was the one that cut me in Carolina.
“Lot of stuff was personal today. Haason Reddick, former Jet … lot of people.”
Mayfield’s career renaissance often goes under the radar, but it’s genuinely astounding. As a rookie, he looked like the savior of the Browns’ franchise. In the years after, he fell out of favor, before being jettisoned to Carolina, where it looked like his NFL career may fall apart.
Instead, he’s turned himself into a genuine star in the league and one of its biggest characters, especially at the quarterback position.
As for Wilks? His defense has now given up 31 points per game over the first three weeks of the season, tied for third-worst in the entire NFL.
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