News Barron

Look, I’d consider myself a baker fan. Millions cringed as they watched him hit Fortnite emotes in Cleveland and wrote him off completely when he failed to produce in Carolina while sharing a backfield with future hall of famer Aryan soldier Christian mccafferey. But me personally? I still believed the UOklahoma heisman winner who threw for 14,000 total NCAAF yards was in there.

Than, the once journeyman found long time refuge in Tampa Bay. The team had just won a Super Bowl on the back of sports legend Tom Brady and needed a semi temporary solution that bought them a few years until they had a favorable spot in the draft. Enter stage left, the hero everyone loved to hate, baker mayfield. Depends who you talk to, but I think big bake won some hearts in Tampa bay. The team would go on to produce a winning record to the surprise of many, and baker at an individual level made putting up 300+ passing yards a habit. Despite losing both of his top receivers two years in a row, baker was still able to pull wins out of his hat.

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”, so let me say what I like about baker mayfield. I think he’s creative, I think he finds ways to get the job done that other quarterbacks would refrain from, I think he’s courageous and like how he’s not afraid to tuck the head and run straight into two 250 ib linebackers, I don’t think his arm/deep ball are huge threats but I’d say he knows how to use them. Now, for the downside. It’s just not working anymore. He’s used up his magic. The spark is gone. The big risks he takes in between the whistles are playing out against his favor. He’s not holding onto the ball when he makes those courageous runs. He doesn’t have that look of confidence before making an audacious decision with the ball in his hands that he used to have. He has a decent receiver core, but not good enough to trust him with throwing the ball deep. I don’t think bakers done playing in the league, but I think it’s time he becomes a permanent QB2 and plays behind some fresh legs, maybe pivoting to a mentorship role. That’s what would be best for his legacy.

This past Sunday, baker took a finger injury that’ll have him on the sidelines for three games. I think this will not only be a positive development for Tampa Bay (who ranks at the bottom of the worst division in the league) but after baker comes back he shouldn’t get his starting job back. The buccaneers are playing Jalon Daniels, an absolute monster out of Kansas U who hasn’t gotten an NFL snap yet. At 6’1 215 ibs, jalon is a force to be reckoned with. His senior year he recorded nearly 2500 passing yards and almost 500 rushing yards for the Jayhawks. His qb draft class was stacked, allowing him to fall to free agent status. Massive steal for the buccaneers. In preseason jalon completed 27 of 44 passes for 239 yards, 1 passing touchdown, and no interceptions over 3 games. Preseason is a little iffy to make judgements on, because it’s just backups playing backups, but I think we see massive improvements to Tampa Bay’s passing game as well as a dual threat backfield creating a lot of opportunities for Bucky Irving.

Tampa bay if you’re reading this, here’s all I’ll say: if Daniels translates well to the NFL and gets the job done over the next three weeks, you have no reason to put Baker back in the game.