In a new mini-series coming to Pewter Report, Josh Queipo and I will be diving deeper into the success and tendencies of Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield. Through six games, Mayfield is not just playing at a level to make him the early MVP frontrunner – he is redefining his identity as one of the NFL’s most dangerous deep-ball passers and having fun doing it.

One can point to his statistics: 1,539 passing yards, 12 touchdowns to one interception, and a 66.2% completion percentage. As a whole, those numbers paint a surface-level picture that he has cut down on interceptions, remains efficient at throwing touchdowns, all while maintaining his increase in completing passes since joining Tampa Bay.

What do the advanced numbers say about these claims? Are they justified after watching his film?

The most striking part of Mayfield’s evolution is how he has harnessed his ability to throw downfield in offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard’s offense this season.

Baker Mayfield and Emeka Egbuka: The NFL’s New Deep-Ball Duo?

The biggest part of Baker Mayfield’s success on passes beyond 20-plus air yards this season is rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. Mayfield and Egbuka are an exciting, explosive pairing. What has been a driving factor of their respective success starts with the ways that Josh Grizzard has opened up the playbook to dial long distance.

Bucs OC Josh Grizzard and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If there was a criticism of Liam Coen’s offense last year, it would be that there was a deviation from long passes to emphasize the quick passing game. That comes with some give and take, as while Mayfield set career-highs with 41 passing touchdowns and a 71.4% completion percentage, there were not a ton of longer passes attempted to open up the offense even more. Shortening the field allowed the defense to sit on more of his intermediate and short passes, playing a role in throwing a league-high 16 interceptions.

Allowing the modern-day gunslinger to take some chances has paid large dividends, starting in Week 1 when he found Egbuka for what would be the game-winning touchdown against the Falcons.

As mentioned in the post above that came before the Week 6 game against the 49ers, Mayfield has gone from attempting 8.8% of his passes beyond 20-plus air yards to 16.4%, a drastic increase that is the highest in the league, with the second-highest mark being Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts at 15.7%.

More than just the higher frequency of throwing deep, it has come with positive results. Mayfield has a completion percentage on those passes of 43.8%, up from 39.2% in 2024. For added context, he attempted 13.1% of his passes beyond 20-plus air yards in 2023 but had just a 29.7% completion percentage in Dave Canales’ offense.

Mayfield has always had the ability to throw it deep with the best of them and getting the chance to has meant a higher volume of game-changing, beautiful throws. Facing Philadelphia in Week 4, he carved up their secondary like he was playing “Fruit Ninja” to find Egbuka for a 77-yard touchdown.

This touchdown came on a corner route, showcasing both Mayfield’s deep ball accuracy and Egbuka’s ability to create significant yardage after securing the catch. The combination of the 36-yard throw and 41 yards after the catch resulted in the explosive scoring play.

If you have noticed a strong correlation between throwing it deep to Egbuka, you would be correct. Mayfield has completed 14-of-32 passes with eight touchdowns in the aforementioned range of 20+plus air yards. To just ‘Mek’ alone, his totals are eight of 13 passes with four touchdowns, with his completion percentage spiking from 43.8% to 61.5%. That means for every long ball not thrown to the rookie sensation, Mayfield has only completed 6-of-19 passes for two touchdowns, with that completion percentage being just 31.6%.

Baker Mayfield And Emeka Egbuka Torched Seahawks’ Stingy Secondary

Want two more examples of Baker Mayfield and Emeka Egbuka establishing a highlight-reel rapport in the early going?

Of course you do, they are must-match television.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

The Week 5 matchup between the Bucs and Seahawks was an instant classic, with Tampa Bay coming out on top 38-35 in Seattle. Both Mayfield and Sam Darnold were slinging it at will, finding their respective Ohio State alums with plenty of success.

Ultimately, the “6 to 2” pairing proved to be more decisive in coming away with a victory. Egbuka finished the game with seven receptions for 163 receiving yards, adding this beautiful touchdown catch in the third quarter. Again, what you will find here is Mayfield trusting his wide receiver to break from the opposing cornerback and carve out enough separation for him to put it where only he can haul it in.

Mayfield had the time to wait for the play to develop, and what deserves credit is the pass protection holding up well overall. That was something Josh Grizzard took time to praise following the game.

“I think it starts up front, being able to protect it up,” Grizzard said about what has enabled the offense to throw it deep. “Being able to have those guys hold up in protection, giving us a good dish to let it rip. Then it comes down to practice, execution of it, being able to get it done out here and assuming some of the looks are going to be similar in the game to be able to attack the defense and put pressure on them. It was good to see [against the Seahawks].”

The Bucs have struggled to find another deep threat opposite of Mike Evans. No disrespect to Chris Godwin Jr., who was off to a torrid start in 2024, but his bread and butter comes from being a possession wide receiver on short and intermediate passes. Coming off his dislocated ankle injury, that will most certainly remain his role going forward as he eases back into the swing of things the rest of this season.

It helps when Egbuka can just fly between the white dashes on go routes. This 57-yard gain was brought to you by great body control and a 53-yard pass that Mayfield uncorked.

Baker Mayfield Will Eventually Have To Target Other Bucs WRs Downfield

As great as Emeka Egbuka has been establishing himself as the next best thing at wide receiver, it cannot be just him. After Egbuka’s hamstring injury coming with the expectation that he will miss time, the top wide receivers are Sterling Shepard, Kameron Johnson, and Tez Johnson, who hauled in a 45-yard bomb for his first NFL touchdown versus the 49ers, until further notice.

When at full strength, “The Mike and Chris Show” has aired with great ratings over the years, but they have a new co-star who they will have to share the pigskin with.

When Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. return from their respective ailments in the next week or two along with Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan expected back at some point down the stretch, each of them will be a vital part of the deep passing game.

You do not need much reminder about Evans’ own route-savviness, but in case you did, here is a preview of it on display earlier this season.

Connecting this all back to Baker Mayfield, his success throwing it deep this season is nothing new. During his rookie year with the Browns in 2018, Mayfield threw 14.8% of his passes beyond 20-plus air yards, completing 44.4% of them with an adjusted completion percentage of 51.4% and 11 touchdowns. While inconsistency within the offense and organization muddled the rest of his Cleveland tenure and subsequent stop with the Panthers, things begin to get back on that trajectory in Tampa Bay.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

At 30 years old, Mayfield finally has an offense built for his arm and attitude. With Josh Grizzard calling plays and a receiver room loaded for takeoff, Tampa Bay’s aerial attack looks ready to light up the league – now and in the future – one deep ball at a time.

Watch out NFL, because Baker Mayfield is just getting started and has plenty of big plays coming soon to a stadium near you.