Growing respect.
Just a couple of years ago, Baker Mayfield was thrown on the trash heap of the NFL.
The former No. 1 overall pick was discarded by the Browns (in what has turned out to be maybe the worst decision in NFL history this side of the Steelers passing on Dan Marino, thinking a broken down, washed Terry Bradshaw was the way to go) when you factor in who the Browns invested in to replace Mayfield.
Mayfield then went to Carolina where he flamed out. He later ended up in Los Angeles and there, Sean McVay and Liam Coen sort of gave Mayfield hope.
Now look at him. Statistically, he was one of the best quarterbacks in the league. And not that long ago the league had given up on him.
NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell, who works with football coaches and shot-callers regularly, said those who know think Mayfield has reinvented himself into one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
“Baker Mayfield, around the league, is highly, highly respected,” Cosell said. “He’s a really good thrower of the football.
“I’m not sure people think about that with Baker Mayfield.”
Cosell is correct, though the tide is turning. People, that is folks outside the Tampa Bay area, are starting to give Mayfield the respect he has earned. It’s not quite there yet, but Joe can sense it and feel it.
“He’s a really, really good thrower of the football,” Cosell said. “He’s grown up, you know? He’s aggressive. So every once in a while, he’ll make a play that’s viewed as reckless.”
That happens with every aggressive quarterback. Same could have been said for Brett Favre too, and others (no, Joe is not comparing Favre to Mayfield).
So long as that aggressive play leads to wins, no one will care and Bucs fans will celebrate.
And as Joe has typed many times before, the more Mayfield and the Bucs win, the more respect he will get from around the league.
Winning is the greatest perfume.
“Baker Mayfield around the league is highly, highly respected. He's a REALLY good thrower of the football.”@GregCosell on the latest @RossTuckerPod: pic.twitter.com/fZk4X4yApv
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) July 5, 2025