Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming off a career-best season last year and began his 2025 season with a gritty 23-20 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Mayfield, who was on the scrap heap before he signed with the Buccaneers, has seen a career resurgence unlike anything we've seen before. To go from a player on the outer to one who is now seen as a top quarterback in football in a matter of two seasons is impressive.
But here is where the conversation gets interesting after Mayfield threw for three touchdowns in the Week 1 win, two of which were to rookie Emeka Egbuka. Where does he rank among fellow quarterbacks?
CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin has compiled his quarterback rankings after Week 1, and coming in at No. 9 is Mayfield.
"All that preseason Emeka Egbuka hype was warranted, apparently," Benjamin said. "Mayfield loves to throw the rock around the yard, and whenever he fired it the rookie's way to open 2025, spicy things happened for Tampa."
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Mayfield seen as an MVP dark horse?
With the Buccaneers seen as one of the better teams in the NFC, and one that has a legitimate chance at winning the conference barring devastating injuries like last season, that would mean Baker has himself a great season.
But after last year, which saw him throw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, that wasn't enough to claim the top prize. So, Mayfield would likely have to improve on those numbers and win more games to be in the running.
Is that impossible? Far from it, but it is a challenging thing to complete.
The Buccaneers managed to slay their closest division rival in Week 1, so things are off to a good start, but Baker as an MVP candidate? I need to see more over the coming weeks.
But if he keeps stacking wins and not throwing back-breaking interceptions, then who knows what 2025 will have in store.
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