The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have claimed three consecutive NFC South Division titles and had an excellent offseason with smart free-agent moves, bringing back key players from 2023 and hitting a home run with the 2024 NFL draft.
No one benefited from the Bucs’ on-field success last season more than quarterback Baker Mayfield, who had his best year with 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdowns as Tampa Bay’s starter and signed a 3-year, $100 million contract extension in March 2024.
According to The Pewter Report’s Ryan Heckman, Mayfield is now ranked No. 2 in his NFC South QB Rankings for the 2024 season, behind new Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins.
“Bucs fans may not like seeing Baker Mayfield at No. 2, but it’s hard to rank him above Cousins based on just one successful season,” Heckman wrote. “Maybe halfway through 2024, Mayfield could take the top spot. He has plenty to work with.
Mayfield’s Comeback Surprised Everyone
Securing a $100 million contract for Mayfield seemed impossible just two years ago.
Mayfield seemed destined to become one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks in his first three seasons after being drafted No. 1 by the Browns in 2018.
After an injury-filled 2021 season, the Browns traded for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson before the 2022 season and gave him the largest guaranteed contract in NFL history — $230 million — prompting Mayfield to request a trade.
He spent 2022 with two different teams, starting with the Carolina Panthers and ending with the Los Angeles Rams.
After Tom Brady’s retirement, the Buccaneers signed Mayfield to a 1-year, $4 million contract — essentially a stopgap deal — which led to Mayfield making his first Pro Bowl.
Do Falcons Even Think Cousins is No. 1 Quarterback?
Heckman ranked Cousins at No. 1 after the Falcons signed him to a 4-year, $180 million contract in March 2024 — just six months after he tore his right Achilles tendon against the Green Bay Packers.
Then, the Falcons surprised the NFL by choosing University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, creating a sudden quarterback controversy.
“It's difficult to argue placing Kirk Cousins at the top of this list,” Heckman wrote. “Despite Mayfield's career year in 2023, Cousins is established and was on pace for over 4,000 passing yards and nearly 40 passing touchdowns prior to his injury last year.
“The real question in Atlanta is whether the arrival of first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. will affect Cousins' play. If Kirk struggles, there will undoubtedly be controversy.
