Tony Dungy believes Baker Mayfield’s leadership has energized Tampa Bay, fueling hope that the former first-overall pick can finally overcome his postseason hurdles and secure a championship.
Of the 32 projected starting quarterbacks for this year’s NFL season, nine have started a Super Bowl game, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield isn’t one of the nine.
A former Buccaneers head coach thinks that could change.
“I do,” Tony Dungy said on SportsGrid Friday. “I think he’s captured the city. “He’s captured the locker room, the building. The players believe in him. Every guy that I’ve talked to on that team just speaks so highly of him, and I think he has the drive and I think he has the talent to do it. So I’m excited for them, and I do think they have a chance.”
Whether or not the Buccaneers have a chance depends on Mayfield, as is the case with any team and any starting QB.
When Mayfield was at his best last season (16 touchdowns, two interceptions through the first nine games), the Bucs were one of the NFL’s best teams at 6-3.
When Mayfield was at his worst (10 touchdowns, nine interceptions through the last seven games), the Bucs could barely beat anybody and ended up missing the playoffs at 8-9.
Now, Mayfield might be entering his last season as Tampa’s QB depending on what ends up being, or not being worked out with his contract.
But the Bucs will have him for this year, and many will wonder if he can do what Sam Darnold did last year.
Like Mayfield, Darnold was one of the first players selected in the 2018 draft, with Mayfield going first overall and Darnold going two picks later.
Like Mayfield, who started his career with the Cleveland Browns, things didn’t go the way Darnold planned with his first team, the New York Jets. Mayfield’s time in Cleveland only last four seasons, and Darnold spent even less time in New York (2018-2020). Both QBs have landed on their feet in a new home, with Mayfield becoming one of the best at his position on Bucs history and Darnold finding stability with the Seattle Seahawks, his fifth pro team.
But unlike Mayfield, Darnold is a Super Bowl champion, and that’s something the city of Tampa Bay hopes the two have in common before long.
Mayfield led the Bucs to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons, but hasn’t gotten past the divisional round.
Before last season, Darnold had started just one playoff game and lost it.
For Mayfield to get to the Super Bowl, he’ll need help from an offense that no longer has the greatest receiver in franchise history in Mike Evans.
The Bucs began training camp Monday, July 27.
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