A League MVP Call For Baker Mayfield
August 6th, 2025
Joe liked this analysis because it came with an intelligent explanation.
Former NFL safety and Eagles director of player personnel Louis Riddick, now a reasoned and seasoned BSPN analyst, made a case this morning for Baker Mayfield winning the 2025 Most Valuable Player award.
Riddick isn’t tweaked by Mayfield changing offensive coordinators because Mayfield himself is consistently good with change.
“That has been the story of his career but it doesn’t faze him,” Riddick said today on ESPN TV. “This dude has hit his stride. He’s also a lesson for everyone who really wants to jump the gun and consider quarterbacks busts in Year 1 and Year 2. It took Baker a minute but he’s found it now. And don’t be surprised if as as Tampa maybe starts winning this year, this guy gets talked [for MVP] about if he has the kind of season he had a year ago.”
What intrigued Joe is Riddick suggesting Mayfield doesn’t need to do anything differently this season to win MVP — other than win more.
That’s a very fair assessment.
In the past two seasons, the Bucs have had a losing record when the clock struck Dec. 1. That’s no way to impress the panel of 50 or so media and ex-NFL people who vote for the MVP award. Winning is still a major component of the honor, as it should be.
Joe will stand and applaud if Todd Bowles and Mayfield can navigate their team to a winning record after playing the Cardinals at home on Nov. 30. That would mean the team is at least 7-5 with five games remaining against the Saints, Falcons, Panthers (twice) and Dolphins.
That smells like a steady 11-win season, one good enough to put Mayfield in the MVP conversation if he has the requisite stats.
READ NEXT
Twinning Exercise For Baker Mayfield