Baker Mayfield isn’t losing sleep over offseason quarterback rankings. As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers began training camp, the veteran quarterback made it clear that opinions from outside the locker room won’t shape his focus or his future.
Mayfield shared his blunt thoughts, saying, “I do not really think about them (QB Rankings),” Mayfield said. “Most of the people that vote on the position have not played a position at a high level or in the NFL, so I just do my job. That is not a knock on people that vote, but the rankings do not mean anything if you do not win games.”
It’s a message that echoes across the building. Mayfield’s return in 2025 comes after a season in which he exceeded expectations, having his best season to date and leading the Buccaneers back to the playoffs and another NFC South title. While some analysts continue to rank him in the middle tier of NFL quarterbacks, Mayfield isn’t biting.
Instead, he’s doubling down on what matters most: wins. After a tough ending to the 2024 season, Mayfield’s focus is on bringing another Lombardi Trophy to Tampa Bay.
This isn’t the first time Mayfield has used external doubt as fuel. Since entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, he’s faced a rollercoaster of praise and criticism. But in Tampa, he’s embraced a veteran mindset. His comments reflect a locker room culture focused on internal accountability, not headlines. While media debate where he ranks among his peers, Mayfield has one ranking that actually matters in mind, and that’s the NFC South and beyond.