Entering the 2026 season, the sentiment surrounding Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was that he was a high-end franchise quarterback in the NFL. Not quite in the elite tier, but not far from it, either.
FanSided’s QB rankings entering the season reflected this. A panel of 50 experts ranked Mayfield as the NFL’s 14th-best quarterback, landing him in the “Strong QB1” tier.
But Mayfield has since come back down to Earth, and as he continues to struggle at the helm of the NFL’s worst passing offense, his reputation has taken a hit.
Baker Mayfield takes a tumble in FanSided’s QB rankings
FanSided’s midseason quarterback rankings saw Mayfield land at No. 19, a fall of five spots since the preseason rankings. The Buccaneers quarterback also dropped out of the “Strong QB1” category down into the “Solid Starter” category.
Only three starting quarterbacks took a bigger dip in the rankings: Justin Herbert, Kyler Murray, and Daniel Jones.
Mayfield has been passed by C.J. Stroud, Jalen Hurts, Bryce Young, and Sam Darnold.
With how awful Mayfield has been this season, it’s hard to blame the voters for their harsh evaluation of the Buccaneers QB.
As FanSided’s Buccaneers representative on the panel, I contributed my own perspective on Mayfield, and my assessment wasn’t all sunshines and rainbows, either:
“The Baker Mayfield experience is a roller coaster. He’s been wildly inconsistent during his Bucs career, looking like an MVP-level quarterback at times while also having stretches where he’s one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL. You live by the sword, you die by the sword, and Mayfield’s fearless gunslinger mentality is what makes him so special when things are clicking. But when that aggressiveness gets the better of him, he can become a reckless decision-maker who puts his team in difficult situations, raising legitimate questions about whether Tampa Bay can consistently rely on him as its franchise quarterback.”
Baker Mayfield has regressed and become the Buccaneers’ weakest link
This has undoubtedly been Mayfield’s worst season since joining Tampa Bay in 2023. Through six games played, he’s responsible for more turnovers than touchdowns.
Mayfield has thrown three touchdowns to four interceptions. He’s rushed for a touchdown, but has also lost three fumbles. He’s been the weakest link on a Buccaneers team that has legitimate championship potential.
If that sounds crazy, it’s not. The Buccaneers currently boast the NFL’s No. 3 total defense and the No. 1 run defense run. They also have the league’s best rushing offense behind a dominant offensive line.
But despite everything they have going for them, the Buccaneers are just 3-6, and poor quarterback play is the biggest factor holding them back.
Mayfield has single handedly lost Tampa Bay two games this season.
He lost three fumbles against the Bengals in Week 1 and Cincinnati scored 17 points off his turnovers in a contest the Buccaneers lost 33-27.
On Sunday Night Football in Week 9, the Buccaneers took the Super Bowl-contending Chicago Bears to the brink. The defense delivered a performance for the ages, forcing five turnovers and largely shutting down Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams’ dangerous offense. But that heroic defensive effort went to waste as Mayfield had two turnovers of his own, including a backbreaking pick-six.
In Mayfield’s two wins as a starter this season, he's attempted just 14 passes combined. In one of those games, he didn’t complete a single pass. Tampa Bay has found success when they keep the ball out of Mayfield’s hands, which is hardly an encouraging development for its franchise quarterback.
As the franchise quarterback, it’s Mayfield’s duty to provide consistency, protect the football and avoid putting the team in adverse situations. Instead, his inconsistent play and poor decision-making has repeatedly hurt the team.
The Buccaneers are 4-11 in his last 15 starts dating back to last season, and the organization’s decision to reward him with a three-year $165 million contract extension in the offseason is already aging poorly.
His steep fall in FanSided’s QB rankings is 100% warranted, and he needs to get back to looking like a franchise quarterback consistently. Otherwise, he’ll continue to fall, and before you know it, the Buccaneers will be looking for their next quarterback.
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