The NFL’s Top 100 list is an annual ranking of the league’s best players, voted on by active players themselves. For the first time in his Tampa Bay Buccaneers career, Baker Mayfield has cracked the list, earning the No. 50 spot after a remarkable 2024 season.
“He had the best year of his career, obviously. He’s the ultimate teammate,” said Buccaneers running back Rachaad White in the official video honoring Mayfield's 2024 season.
As White put it, Mayfield is coming off the most productive season of his NFL journey. In 2024, he set career highs across the board — completions (407), completion percentage (71.4), passer rating (106.8), passing yards (4,500), and touchdowns (41). He finished top-three among all quarterbacks in passing yards, touchdowns, and completion percentage.
“That’s a guy that has a Superman ability,” said Saints safety J.T. Gray.
Plenty of Mayfield’s peers echoed that sentiment, praising his toughness and leadership.
“Baker is a competitor, man,” said 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. “He’s one of those guys that, anytime he’s on the field, he’s gonna elevate everybody else’s game around him and make some crazy plays.”
“He’s a badass. He’s fiery. He’s gonna compete for us. He’s gonna go out there and lay it on the line, and that’s what you love. Like, he’s a dawg,” said All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs.
Mayfield has come a long way since arriving in Tampa Bay ahead of the 2023 season. After being cast aside by the Browns, Panthers, and Rams within his first five NFL seasons, many viewed his one-year, $4 million deal with the Bucs as his last real shot to start in the league.
Since then, Mayfield has blossomed into a true franchise quarterback. He signed a three-year, $100 million extension following the 2023 season, and after delivering elite production in 2024, he’s due for another massive deal.
He’s earned the respect of the entire NFL through his first two seasons in Tampa Bay. Along with being ranked as a top-50 NFL player on this Top 100 list, Mayfield was also ranked as the league’s No. 9 overall quarterback in Jeremy Fowler of ESPN’s annual position rankings — voted on by league executives, coaches, and scouts.
Mayfield went from fighting for his football life, to cementing himself as one of the league’s best quarterbacks, and Tampa Bay is lucky to have discovered such a diamond in the rough that kept them competitive and relative after the end of the Tom Brady era.