The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are relying on a big year from starting QB Baker Mayfield. Head coach Todd Bowles is confident that his QB will be at his best this upcoming year.
Amidst an offseason filled with contract negotiations and extension talks surrounding Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' brass, the team remains focused on winning.
Mayfield had talked about having a deadline in place to turn the page from extension conversations and focus on the upcoming season, which has since passed.
On Wednesday, General Manager Jason Licht said the team would continue to honor this deadline, while saying he is focused on Week 1.
For Mayfield, dialing in for a matchup is not a problem, as the Bucs' signal caller plays each game with passion and top-end energy.
On Tuesday, head coach Todd Bowles joined 95.7 WDAE with radio host Tom Krasniqi to talk about the roster and overall state of the team, where he talked about his expectations for Mayfield.
"Baker's pissed off every year and every game," Bowles said. "He wants to beat the piss out of somebody. This is nothing new. It's a normal deal for him, whether it was contract or no contract. We'll get the best Baker Mayfield that you can probably get."
This has been a common thought throughout sports media, as multiple analysts have pointed towards the contract negotiations being a positive for Mayfield's level of play.
Giving Mayfield additional incentive to play hard is not difficult to do, and this just adds fuel to the fire.
Last season, Mayfield was tenth in the NFL with 3,693 passing yards, throwing for 26 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions, but his numbers don't tell the full story of Tampa's strange season.
Following Tampa's strong 5-1 start to the season, the Bucs dropped seven of their last nine to end the year, losing the NFC South crown for the first time in five seasons.
Mayfield played through some lingering injuries, and his production suffered for it.
But, this season, the team projects to be much healthier heading into Week 1, with Mayfield looking to prove himself during a contract year.
Hiring Zac Robinson to be the new offensive coordinator should only help Mayfield's production, as he comes from the same Sean McVay coaching tree as Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen.
Coen and Mayfield formed one of the most-productive NFL offenses in their lone season together, with the former Heisman winner throwing for 4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and a franchise-record 71.4% completion percentage.
Coen compared Robinson's system to his own at the NFL Owners Meetings, saying that Mayfield will thrive in an offense more similar to his breakout 2024 season.
"Obviously their connection – they have a prior relationship, and again, that definitely helps with Baker," Coen said. "He’s going to probably be teed off – a little ticked off to have a better season, get back to the playoffs and do some of those things."
While the uncertainty surrounding Mayfield's future in Tampa is not ideal, having an extra-motivated player leading your offensive attack is a good sign of things to come.
