Baker Mayfield has got the data down — 9, 4, 11 — and it means a lot to him.
During his interview with the 4th and South podcast, Mayfield talked about his maturation as a player and how much his quarterback experience and wisdom translates to the field. He agreed he’s a journeyman quarterback but a franchise QB at the same time.
“Year 9 now, fourth team, 11th OC,” Mayfield said. “It’s been a lot to handle but it also, where I’m at now where the game’s slowed down. [That vast experience] has helped me out to realize what I really like, the [plays] I’m comfortable with checkin in — like third- and fourth-down, gotta-have-it situations.”
Yes, most good quarterbacks improve with age. As Mayfield said about Tom Brady with the Bucs in the same interview, Brady knew what the defense was doing before he reached the center for the snap.
Joe believes Mayfield is improving and has improved since he’s been in Tampa. But that’s what makes Mayfield’s hiccup last season more troubling. He struggled as the Bucs lost to the Saints, Falcons, Panthers and Dolphins in succession to choke away the season.