Ranking Baker Mayfield among every quarterback on Buccaneers 2024 schedule

According to CBS Sports, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one of the easiest schedules in the NFL this season.

Based on the quarterbacks they will face, it's pretty hard to believe the schedule is "easy." It would be easier to name the star quarterbacks not on Tampa Bay's schedule this season. But the Bucs also have a pretty good passer who recently signed a new $100 million extension.

Having a top-tier quarterback can tilt the field in your favor on Sundays. Baker Mayfield reminded everyone how talented he was last season by throwing for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while leading Tampa Bay into the NFC Divisional Round.

Where does Mayfield rank against the Buccaneers' competition this year?

Ranking Baker Mayfield vs. every quarterback on Bucs schedule in 2024

15. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Bo Nix threw 45 touchdown passes with only three interceptions for Oregon last season and now gets to work with Sean Payton, but it's impossible to predict how well he will perform as a rookie. Is he ready to start right away?

14. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young's rookie season couldn't have gone much worse, throwing only 11 touchdown passes with 10 picks. He has a better supporting cast helping him out this year, but Young has a lot to prove.

13. Aidan O'Connell, Las Vegas Raiders

Aidan O'Connell started 10 games as a rookie, throwing 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He faces competition from Gardner Minshew for the starting job in Las Vegas. Neither option will make the Raiders competitive in the AFC West.

12. Daniel Jones, New York Giants

Daniel Jones was limited to six games due to injury last term but managed just two touchdowns with six picks. Don't worry, Giants fans, it's not like Jones has a cap hit of $47.86 million this year and even higher numbers for two more seasons after that. Right?

11. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Expectations are high for second-overall pick Jayden Daniels, who had 50 total touchdowns (40 passing, 10 rushing) and only four interceptions at LSU last year. It's tough to predict how well a rookie quarterback will perform in year one, but all signs point to Daniels starting immediately.

10. Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints

If you want to finish somewhere between 7-10 and 9-8, sign Derek Carr to be your quarterback. Carr posted respectable numbers in his first season with New Orleans, but he won't make Tampa Bay's division rivals an NFC contender anytime soon.

9. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Here we go. Baker comes in at No. 9, which isn't a knock on his recent performances. It says more about the incredible quarterback talent the Bucs will come up against this season. Mayfield set career-highs in passing yards and touchdowns last season, and the best is yet to come with an even better supporting cast in 2024.

8. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Jared Goff is another former No. 1 draft pick who has turned his career around on a new team. In three years with the Lions, Goff has thrown for 12,258 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions and led them to the NFC Championship Game. Is Goff benefitting from a top-tier offensive system, an elite offensive line, a strong run game, and a superstar receiving duo of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta? Sure, but he is still getting it done at a high level.

7. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

Kirk Cousins threw for 171 touchdowns and 55 interceptions with a 101.2 rating during his six seasons with the Vikings. He is one of the best very good quarterbacks in the league, and his arrival in Atlanta makes Tampa Bay's life that much tougher. With a strong supporting cast, Cousins should put up great numbers, assuming he's back to full strength after an Achilles tear.

6. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones is in no rush to pay Dak Prescott, which makes no sense after he put up MVP numbers last season. Prescott led one of the league's top offenses, with Dallas finishing 12-5 and winning the NFC East.

5. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Is it Brock Purdy's talent, or is he benefitting from playing in Kyle Shanahan's quarterback-friendly offense while being surrounded by All-Pros? The answer is somewhere in the middle. Purdy is in the perfect offense, but he is also executing at a high level and making plenty of big-time throws. Not every quarterback can throw for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions with a 113.0 rating, regardless of the system they play in.

4. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Despite the Eagles throwing away a 10-1 start to last season and getting eliminated by the Bucs, Jalen Hurts is still one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He threw a career-high 15 interceptions last season but had previously never had more than nine. He still had 38 total touchdowns (23 passing, 15 rushing) and should get back to his best in 2024.

3. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

With two 4,000-yard seasons, one 5,000-yarder, and 114 touchdown passes to 47 interceptions in the past four years, Justin Herbert is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league. But it hasn't led to success for the Chargers. Can Jim Harbaugh help him reach an even higher level in 2024?

2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

The reigning NFL MVP is coming off an outstanding season, throwing for 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions while putting up 821 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Adding Derrick Henry to this offense will make Lamar Jackson even better.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes is in a league of his own. In six seasons as a starter, Mahomes has 28,140 passing yards, 219 touchdown passes, 62 interceptions, a 103.7 passer rating, three Super Bowl MVPs, two NFL MVPs, three All-Pros, and six Pro Bowl selections. Mahomes has a Hall-of-Fame resume in only six years. No other quarterback is on his level.

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