After throwing for 41 touchdowns in 2024, Baker Mayfield has been named a dark horse MVP candidate by NFL.com’s Judy Battista.
Baker Mayfield took his game to new heights during the 2024 campaign when he set a new career high in touchdown passes with 41, besting his previous mark by 13. His 4,500 passing yards were also a career high, marking the first time in his career he has thrown for 4,000+ yards in consecutive seasons (4,044 in 2023).
Both of his latest campaigns also ended with the Bucs in the postseason. Unfortunately Tampa Bay did not end up winning their wild card matchup against the Commanders, even with Mayfield playing a clean and efficient game with 185 yards, two touchdowns, and zero picks.
The hype behind Mayfield and his play has never been higher as he enters his third season with the Bucs and what could arguably be the best receiver room he’s ever played with. The team returns Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan, but now adds 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka to the group. This group is a big reason why Mayfield has been tabbed as a dark horse MVP candidate by NFL.com’s Judy Battista.
“Often overlooked, Mayfield got two fifth-place votes last season, but he deserves deeper consideration,” says Battista. “The Buccaneers had a top-five offense in 2024, and Mayfield completed 71.4 percent of his passes for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. This season, he will throw to receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and first-round pick Emeka Egbuka. Mayfield will have to overcome two things to get more serious consideration. He will have his third play-caller in as many seasons with the Buccaneers, after Liam Coen left to become the Jaguars’ head coach. (New OC Josh Grizzard was the passing game coordinator last year in Tampa.) And then there’s the fact that the Bucs play in the NFC South, considered one of the weakest divisions in the game. Thus, the schedule might not be littered with marquee matchups, though Tampa does have games against Philadelphia, Detroit and Buffalo.”
It’s unfortunate but a fair assessment to say that Mayfield playing in the NFC South may end up hurting his case, regardless of how well he ends up doing in the division. The Panthers and Saints are in a very weak place as franchises and the Falcons aren’t much better right now entering a year with a first-time starting quarterback. Mayfield may have to go undefeated in the division to truly get the respect he deserves, as well as winning his non-division games, as well.
With this team’s well-rounded roster, it would not be a surprise to see Tampa Bay have a phenomenal season in 2025, but they also wouldn’t be the first team with high expectations entering the year to ultimately fall short. They still have to perform week-in and week-out.
But something tells me this team is up to the task.