Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold have a unique history coming into focus this Sunday when the Buccaneers take on the Seattle Seahawks.
The two quarterbacks first became a heated topic of debate in 2018, when analysts were split over which quarterback to draft first overall. It feels weird looking back, because Lamar Jackson (2x MVP) and Josh Allen (2024 MVP) were both also a part of the 2018 draft class, but at the time, it was not Allen and Jackson being considered for the No. 1 slot. It was Darnold and Mayfield.
Many scouts and analysts preferred Darnold, with a bigger arm and larger frame. But the Browns disagreed, and selected Mayfield.
Of course, being drafted to the Browns and Jets with the first and third overall selections did not turn out to be a blessing for either quarterback. Both struggled in their first teams, and both found themselves in Carolina in 2022, looking for redemption.
Darnold actually joined the Panthers in 2021, where he won four of his 12 starts, and missed multiple starts due to injury. The Panthers held an open QB battle the next offseason between Darnold and Mayfield, and it was Mayfield who came out on top.
However, Mayfield was eventually benched after starting 2-8, and Darnold led the Panthers to four wins in their last six games.
Heading into 2023, both quarterbacks had been benched for the other, but neither had proved much since their high draft status. That changed for Mayfield in 2023, when he led the Buccaneers to the playoffs and beat the defending NFC champion Eagles in the first round. Darnold resurrected his career in 2024 with the Vikings, winning 14 games.
Now, the pair of quarterbacks is set to square off for just the third time, and the first time since they rose to become elite quarterbacks in the NFL. The last time they played each other was in 2020, a game in which Darnold's Jets upset Mayfield's Browns. Technically, Darnold is 1-0 as a starter against Mayfield. The only other time they've played each other was Week 3 of 2018, a game that Tyrod Taylor started for the Browns. Mayfield entered the game and led Cleveland on a comeback win against Darnold and the Jets. Darnold was making just the third start of his NFL career, and Mayfield would make his first start the next week.
This weekend, the rivalry between Mayfield and Darnold is renewed in a big way. Whichever quarterback who comes out on top likely claims the title of "third best QB of the 2018 draft class." It also matters in the standings. Both Seattle and Tampa Bay is 3-1. The winner of this game would be 4-1, and would be just a game behind the Eagles for the NFC's top seed.
Mayfield will likely have to play hero ball again, with so many injuries on the Tampa Bay roster, which would only make the win more impressive for him.
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