Pressure has followed Mayfield from being a walk-on college quarterback to a Heisman Trophy winner.

From being the first overall pick by the Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft to leading them to the playoffs.

From being traded to the Panthers and getting waived to getting one final chance at a starting job with the Bucs.

Now, as he has settled in as the Bucs franchise quarterback, Mayfield once again heads into a season with mounting pressure surrounding him and the rest of the team. The sentiment heading into 2026 is that the team is nothing more than middle-of-the-pack.

The saying goes that “pressure makes diamonds.”

Few careers embody that more than Mayfield’s.

Losing wide receiver Mike Evans has symbolized from the outside looking in that Tampa Bay no longer has the competitive advantage to play playoff football, even in the NFC South. Mayfield’s struggles down the stretch last season hold more weight, given the uncertainty of the team’s long-term direction and the fact he is entering a contract year.

All signs point toward things unraveling, but that is exactly when Mayfield has done his best work.

Outlining Why Baker Mayfield Will Play With His Back Against Wall In 2026

While this narrative might be tiring to hear of Baker Mayfield, there is no question that the chip on his shoulder right now is the largest it has been since 2023, at a time where he was just trying to find his footing again. Mayfield initially followed up Tom Brady’s time in Tampa Bay with two Pro Bowl seasons, including the year paired with Liam Coen in 2024, when he threw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns.

Fast forward to now, and the soon-to-be 31-year-old has his back against the wall yet again.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: IMAGN Images

The Bucs rode some late-game heroics and “Mayfield Magic” to a 6-2 start last season. Optimism permeated across Tampa Bay as they did this despite dealing with significant injuries. Even when the losses began to add up, the team had a favorable end-of-season schedule.

That is what made the 8-9 collapse to end 2025 feel so real, and why it played a part in Mike Evans searching for greener grass toward the end of his legendary NFL career. The Bucs’ offseason moves have maintained the status quo, only marginally changing the team’s trajectory.

It is now up to incumbent players to chart a new course or 2026 will be a lost season. Many returning players have much to prove, but no one is more important than Baker Mayfield.

For all intents and purposes — Mayfield is the Bucs X-Factor.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

That same sentiment was something NFL analyst and media personality Kay Adams brought up on the Up & Adams show last week.

“What does [Mike Evans leaving] mean for Baker?” Adams questioned to begin her segment. “What does it mean for a team that at training camp last year and even at Owner’s Meetings talking to Jason Licht last year at this time — it was Super Bowl or nothing, right? It was a Super Bowl… that was the goal. Winning the division again and being consistent like that wasn’t it for them in their 50th year as an NFL franchise.

“Then you take away Mike Evans, what are we admitting there? What’s the message to the rest of us? Is it over? Is the window over?”

Bucs WR Mike Evans and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Adams poses an interesting thought here in that it was not long ago that expectations were sky high. It feels crazy to think about now but heading into last season I predicted the Bucs to win 12 games.

After steadily climbing and rising, it appeared the pinnacle was within sight.

That things were coming together and that a Super Bowl window was opening. That passing thought might be gone in the eyes of anyone who witnessed how things have since unfolded, but to someone as fiery as Mayfield, it would not be surprising to see the doubt propel No. 6 to new heights.

“It does feel like that’s going to be a narrative, that things are starting to come apart in Tampa,” Adams said about the current line of thinking about the Bucs heading into next season. “All that that means for me is that Baker is about to have a monster year. If you track Baker, this is perfect for him. He does his best work when he’s put into a corner and people start doubting him. It was almost too perfect for him.

“They’re going to go all the — no. He doesn’t perform at his best in those situations. He’s going into the final year of his deal, people. He went from getting MVP buzz early to having people completely abandon him. With injuries mounting, the team struggling, and now he loses his Hall of Fame wide receiver. What is it going to look like? His back is against the wall, that’s how I like my Baker.”

There is enough fuel to add to the fire and pressure to make diamonds.

What Baker Mayfield does with it will not just define his 2026 season but define whether he is the quarterback to lead this franchise forward.