Baker Mayfield’s high-leverage success could be the standout story of the Buccaneers’ off-season, as Todd Bowles reportedly urged general manager Jason Licht to bring in Mayfield, a move that now stands as one of the most impactful free-agent signings for Tampa Bay outside of Tom Brady.
The Mayfield move has sparked a broader conversation inside the Buccaneers’ fanbase, including questions about how Kyle Trask fits into the long-term plan and whether prospects like DJ Lagway could factor into the equation down the line.
Analysts who study the quarterback’s performance point to Mayfield’s efficiency in pressure-packed moments last season. On the Athletic Football Show, Robert Mays highlighted that Mayfield ranked second in the NFL in dropback success rate on third down, trailing only Patrick Mahomes. That production helped fuel a Buccaneers offense that, by TruMedia’s measure, logged the sixth-best third-down conversion rate of the past 25 years. The teams that populate that elite list read like a roll call of historic offenses: the 2011 Saints, the 2006 Colts, the 2004 Vikings with Daunte Culpepper, the 2001 Rams, and the 2022 Bills, among others. It’s a reminder that great offenses and elite quarterback play tend to coincide, though not all teams sustain that level over time.
Last year also marked Mayfield’s first full season in a lift-the-weights new set of on-field coaches. He played under Liam Coen as offensive coordinator and alongside Josh Grizzard, the third-down strategist who remains with the team. Grizzard’s return means Mayfield will be working with a system he already understands, and the voice behind the third-down concepts he’s learned to execute. That continuity could translate into a smoother, deeper understanding of what the staff wants on crucial plays, and perhaps an expansion of those strengths as the offense grows more comfortable with the scheme.
The take here is hopeful: Mayfield has already shown an ability to excel in high-stakes moments, and with Grizzard back and a full year in the same system, there’s a credible path for him to build on last season’s performance. If the Buccaneers’ surrounding talent stays healthy and the line holds up, Mayfield’s proven efficiency on third downs could become a stabilizing force for an offense that is essentially built around maximizing those high-leverage opportunities.
What to watch next:
– How Mayfield’s rapport with the offense evolves as the playbook and timing mature.
– The impact of Grizzard’s continued third-down philosophy on overall offensive success.
– The balance between Mayfield’s improvisational instincts and the Buccaneers’ designed plays, particularly in late-down scenarios.
– The broader quarterback conversation in Tampa Bay, including how Trask and Lagway’s prospects are managed in the short and long term.
Bottom line: If Mayfield maintains the high-leverage efficiency he flashed last season and the Buccaneers’ third-down system remains as efficient with Grizzard guiding it, Tampa Bay could maximize its offensive upside and add a meaningful chapter to the franchise’s post-Brady era.