I think having all four starting offensive linemen back, both starting WR’s and a big X target, and a couple of starting RB’s to share the load all season, oh and his shoulder, arm, knees, being better protected, and healed…may help him more than anything Arch-the-fake-Manning will do for this team to get dialed-in.Baker is supposed to be in Netflix’s Quarterback this season. Should be fun.
filmed during the 2025 season
dude gets MVP talk after 6 games, commercials abound
Would be nice if he is more "dialed in" for the 2026 campaign now that he has all this galavanting behind him
And a defense that can stop an opponent on 3rd & 28 could go a long way to helping, too.
We’ll see.
Meanwhile, back in Texas…wonder how many commercials Arch is using to dial-in?
i love how now you think i am all of a sudden the Arch Manning guy. I am just suggesting if we have a top 10 pick, it might behoove us to trade up and try to get a QB that could be our guy the next 15 years; but again that's assuming we have a top 10 pick which would mean the wheels fell off - which would mean Bowles, Baker, and defense, etc. If Bake Show shows up again as he did in 2024 and first 6 games of 2025; then there is no way we have a losing record. This would mean we are likely buzzing with a top 5, 10 offense and Baker is performing at a top 10 level.
Injuries will happen again in 2026 bud. I agree, hopefully it's not as extensive, particularly on the offensive line but if Ben Brederson was so damn important and same with Cody Mauch, i am not sure the Bucs just resigning the same back-ups and drafting a guy in the 5th round was exactly comforting in solving the depth issue.
Defense lost 1 of the last 6 games during that collaspe. One would argue, they won the 2 games we won (20-17, 16-14). Sensible others would argue the 3 other losses were on the offense
I think having all four starting offensive linemen back, both starting WR’s and a big X target, and a couple of starting RB’s to share the load all season, oh and his shoulder, arm, knees, being better protected, and healed…may help him more than anything Arch-the-fake-Manning will do for this team to get dialed-in.Baker is supposed to be in Netflix’s Quarterback this season. Should be fun.
filmed during the 2025 season
dude gets MVP talk after 6 games, commercials abound
Would be nice if he is more "dialed in" for the 2026 campaign now that he has all this galavanting behind him
And a defense that can stop an opponent on 3rd & 28 could go a long way to helping, too.
We’ll see.
Meanwhile, back in Texas…wonder how many commercials Arch is using to dial-in?
i love how now you think i am all of a sudden the Arch Manning guy. I am just suggesting if we have a top 10 pick, it might behoove us to trade up and try to get a QB that could be our guy the next 15 years; but again that's assuming we have a top 10 pick which would mean the wheels fell off - which would mean Bowles, Baker, and defense, etc. If Bake Show shows up again as he did in 2024 and first 6 games of 2025; then there is no way we have a losing record. This would mean we are likely buzzing with a top 5, 10 offense and Baker is performing at a top 10 level.
Injuries will happen again in 2026 bud. I agree, hopefully it's not as extensive, particularly on the offensive line but if Ben Brederson was so damn important and same with Cody Mauch, i am not sure the Bucs just resigning the same back-ups and drafting a guy in the 5th round was exactly comforting in solving the depth issue.
Defense lost 1 of the last 6 games during that collaspe. One would argue, they won the 2 games we won (20-17, 16-14). Sensible others would argue the 3 other losses were on the offense
And the way we get to the shiny new Jameis Winston prize is to tank.
sorry, no thanks.
I think having all four starting offensive linemen back, both starting WR’s and a big X target, and a couple of starting RB’s to share the load all season, oh and his shoulder, arm, knees, being better protected, and healed…may help him more than anything Arch-the-fake-Manning will do for this team to get dialed-in.Baker is supposed to be in Netflix’s Quarterback this season. Should be fun.
filmed during the 2025 season
dude gets MVP talk after 6 games, commercials abound
Would be nice if he is more "dialed in" for the 2026 campaign now that he has all this galavanting behind him
And a defense that can stop an opponent on 3rd & 28 could go a long way to helping, too.
We’ll see.
Meanwhile, back in Texas…wonder how many commercials Arch is using to dial-in?
i love how now you think i am all of a sudden the Arch Manning guy. I am just suggesting if we have a top 10 pick, it might behoove us to trade up and try to get a QB that could be our guy the next 15 years; but again that's assuming we have a top 10 pick which would mean the wheels fell off - which would mean Bowles, Baker, and defense, etc. If Bake Show shows up again as he did in 2024 and first 6 games of 2025; then there is no way we have a losing record. This would mean we are likely buzzing with a top 5, 10 offense and Baker is performing at a top 10 level.
Injuries will happen again in 2026 bud. I agree, hopefully it's not as extensive, particularly on the offensive line but if Ben Brederson was so damn important and same with Cody Mauch, i am not sure the Bucs just resigning the same back-ups and drafting a guy in the 5th round was exactly comforting in solving the depth issue.
Defense lost 1 of the last 6 games during that collaspe. One would argue, they won the 2 games we won (20-17, 16-14). Sensible others would argue the 3 other losses were on the offense
And the way we get to the shiny new Jameis Winston prize is to tank.
sorry, no thanks.
Nobody wants to tank. Bucs are the best team in this crap division.
BUT...the schedule is tough, team quit on Bowles last year, Bowles is mid to begin with, Baker is coming off his worst year as a Buc, Evans and David - leaders of O and D - are no longer with u. Said another way, while we should be a playoff team this year, there is some reasons to think we might.
The main thing we got going for us is we play well when we are not "given our flowers". Heading into last year, everyone and their mothers was picking the Bucs to win that division. Nick Wright and Pete Prisco had us in the Superbowl. Didn't end up too well for us.
so now that everyone is clamoring that the other teams are improved, it's right where the Bucs need to be....doubted
Ill have to see the full schedule when it comes out but i could see this team anywhere from 6-11 to 11-6. Either way, worst case would be picking around the 8th spot so not going to land the "Jameis Winston prize" pick
I promise you my criticism of Mayfield is more out of love then it is the interesting take you have of me wanting some rookie QB where they never work out. I just hold Baker to a higher standard because i want us to win. I hope he dominates this year and i can eat crow that shit man....Ben Bederson healthy, play calling, and Baker not banged up made all the diffence in the world.....but until then...it's simply speculation
Yep, but only you made the argument that the fault lies with the QB.
Baker’s a quality starter with a good supporting cast, and credible offensive coordinator that runs a system similar to the one he had the most success in 2 seasons ago. The fact that we didn’t run Liam Coen’s system last year - as well as the fact that we did let someone run a system that wasn’ Ready for prime time - is not Baker’s.
No one’s advocating for a backing up a Brinks truck to Baker’s front door or for mortgaging the future, just the going rate for a good QB that the Glazer’s have benefitted from 2 previous home town contracts. Cap problems are the payment you make for previous poor decisions.
Yep, but only you made the argument that the fault lies with the QB.
Baker’s a quality starter with a good supporting cast, and credible offensive coordinator that runs a system similar to the one he had the most success in 2 seasons ago. The fact that we didn’t run Liam Coen’s system last year - as well as the fact that we did let someone run a system that wasn’ Ready for prime time - is not Baker’s.
No one’s advocating for a backing up a Brinks truck to Baker’s front door or for mortgaging the future, just the going rate for a good QB that the Glazer’s have benefitted from 2 previous home town contracts. Cap problems are the payment you make for previous poor decisions.
clearly it's not all Bakers fault
as Olaf pointed out, shit special teams, shit defense, and injuries, poor OC all contributed
i just find it ironic that nobody places any blame on Baker when he is the QB and clearly contributed to the collapse. Not Protecting the football doesn't seem like it's offensive line or injury related. He is not untouchable from the criticism.
The fact of the matter is that the Bucs were favored in the final 6 games, went 2-4 where the offense only scored more than 20 points in 1 of those games. I dont give a shit how terrible the defense was (who ranked 6th best in lowest points allowed); the offense only showed up in 1 game where the defense blew it.
it's a team sport but to absolve the QB of any blame is where i am over-correcting here.
Baker's been in the league 8 years and last year was arguably his 5th best season. Again, it's good to say "yeah but".....but NFL Historians wont remember it that way when reflecting on career when its all said and done.
it's a team sport but to absolve the QB of any blame is where i am over-correcting here.
Baker's been in the league 8 years and last year was arguably his 5th best season.
I dont think anyone absolves Mayfield?
I think people rank contributing factors, particularly when the player has a pretty good track record in the same season and in the two year's prior. So, in this instance you have a fired OC, a team collapsing and an injury to Mayfield.
also, just to this part:
Not Protecting the football doesn't seem like it's offensive line or injury related.
of course it is. its all of those things, especially if you compare it to 2024. In 2024 Mayfield is allowed to be the "point guard" and the team is often playing with the lead and a strong running game and A STRING HEALTHY O-LINE
In 2025 he is strip sacked by the Saints in a key game. I call that one up specifically because you have posted a couple times some version of "Wirfs was back" as if that meant he was not injured. Here's the play
Its 3rd and 12 to start with and reight before the half and ALL WORLD (but injured) Wirfs gets blown up by Young and causes a Mayfield to fumble. is that on Mayfield? Watch the play.
In 2025, especially with his strong start, the team then has some big losses and he gets hurt. Mayfield starts pressing, pressure increases etc. Turnovers creep upbecuae of that and because hes playing behind a decimated line.
Thats the way it works. Thats why EVEN IN A GOOD YEAR you have Mayfield and a rookie receiver bumble up a jet sweep had off in the playoffs or mess up a snap down near the goal line when you MUST have a TD, both because of the pressure of playoff football
Back in 2025, at practice Mayfield probably completes the Falcons first down pass to Egbuka 10 out of 10 times, but with the game on the line Egbuka runs a little off and Mayfield throws a little off and its . . incomplete. pressure, fatigue, injuries etc.
SO THAT IS WHY some people would not buy your 11 games of Mayfield and especially not with injuries everywhere, a fired OC etc
Was Mayfield to blame for the coaches wanting to run it 30 times against the Panthers? Not good for his stats/
Next years draft is deep at QB so taking a QB in round 1 with that rookie contract is going to be enticing if Mayfield has priced himself out of the Bucs range and he does not perform to what they believe is satisfactory.
Next years draft is deep at QB so taking a QB in round 1 with that rookie contract is going to be enticing if Mayfield has priced himself out of the Bucs range and he does not perform to what they believe is satisfactory.
that's the thing though, the market has already been set for QBs.
Prescott was signed at a ridiculous 60M per year
Burrow, Allen, Love, Lawrence all at 55 per year
Goff, Purdy, Herbert, Jackson, and Hurts all 51-53M per year
So to me the floor for Baker is $50M with the ceiling at $55M and this doesn't matter if he throws 40 TDs again in 2026.....that's the 55M we are talking about. He comes in with 28-30, likely looking at 50M.
I think the Bucs are prepared to pay him for that once they are comfortable with his performance.
Let's do a critical thinking exercise - If Baker would have replicated 2025 with 2024 performance, is he not already extended? Be honest with ourselves here.
So why would you think you can avoid the market dynamics?Next years draft is deep at QB so taking a QB in round 1 with that rookie contract is going to be enticing if Mayfield has priced himself out of the Bucs range and he does not perform to what they believe is satisfactory.
that's the thing though, the market has already been set for QBs.
Prescott was signed at a ridiculous 60M per year
Burrow, Allen, Love, Lawrence all at 55 per year
Goff, Purdy, Herbert, Jackson, and Hurts all 51-53M per year
So to me the floor for Baker is $50M with the ceiling at $55M and this doesn't matter if he throws 40 TDs again in 2026.....that's the 55M we are talking about. He comes in with 28-30, likely looking at 50M.
I think the Bucs are prepared to pay him for that once they are comfortable with his performance.
Let's do a critical thinking exercise - If Baker would have replicated 2025 with 2024 performance, is he not already extended? Be honest with ourselves here.
You don’t have to like it, but Baker’s proven he is a quality starter, probably better than Purdy. If the Bucs sign him, it will be because it’s good for them…the length of the contract is the thing.
So why would you think you can avoid the market dynamics?
This is the part I don't get about all of these discussions. Just as you say, the market is what it is. We need a QB.
This is the part I don't get about all of these discussions. Just as you say, the market is what it is.
Correct.
And, to a certain extent, it's been inflated due to bad QB's getting bad contracts.
But, as you said, it is what it is.
That being said, if Baker is "your guy", you just get it done.
If anything, I don't think it's about them waiting to see what happens this year with his play. I think it's more about the length of the terms, and where the Glazers are at with their cash spend mirroring the cap.
So why would you think you can avoid the market dynamics?Next years draft is deep at QB so taking a QB in round 1 with that rookie contract is going to be enticing if Mayfield has priced himself out of the Bucs range and he does not perform to what they believe is satisfactory.
that's the thing though, the market has already been set for QBs.
Prescott was signed at a ridiculous 60M per year
Burrow, Allen, Love, Lawrence all at 55 per year
Goff, Purdy, Herbert, Jackson, and Hurts all 51-53M per year
So to me the floor for Baker is $50M with the ceiling at $55M and this doesn't matter if he throws 40 TDs again in 2026.....that's the 55M we are talking about. He comes in with 28-30, likely looking at 50M.
I think the Bucs are prepared to pay him for that once they are comfortable with his performance.
Let's do a critical thinking exercise - If Baker would have replicated 2025 with 2024 performance, is he not already extended? Be honest with ourselves here.
You don’t have to like it, but Baker’s proven he is a quality starter, probably better than Purdy. If the Bucs sign him, it will be because it’s good for them…the length of the contract is the thing.
who says i'm ignoring market dynamics. If anything, that's those thinking they can get him at a bargain now. I am saying you can't.
I was displeased with Bakers play last year, contributing to the collapse. So much, that now i am uneasy if he's the guy for the next 4-5 years.
So i am waiting because i want to see if he is actually the guy. As i said before, if he repeated 2024 in the 2025 season, we wouldn't be having this discussion because he likely would have gotten extended in January....if not during the season last year. (and please debatable dans...dont miss the point here, he would have been extended already)
Can we agree on that point or do you actually think they'd let Baker play his final year at such a discount if this guy just threw 80+ fucking touchdowns in 2 years. His ass would have been extended already
This is the part I don't get about all of these discussions. Just as you say, the market is what it is.
Correct.
And, to a certain extent, it's been inflated due to bad QB's getting bad contracts.
But, as you said, it is what it is.
That being said, if Baker is "your guy", you just get it done.
If anything, I don't think it's about them waiting to see what happens this year with his play. I think it's more about the length of the terms, and where the Glazers are at with their cash spend mirroring the cap.
Hard to argue with this
What is working against Mayfield is that there is no continuity with offensive coordinator and a head coach who was not picked by Licht. But Licht wants Mayfield to return and Mayfield wants to stay in Tampa Bay.
But the numbers have to make sense so this team can keep building talent because right now this team is stuck in the mediocre zone of not bad enough to draft high but not winning enough to make a push into the playoffs.
But the numbers have to make sense so this team can keep building talent because right now this team is stuck in the mediocre zone of not bad enough to draft high but not winning enough to make a push into the playoffs.
it's where the Steelers have been for 2 decades under Tomlin
There's no doubt both sides will want to maintain this marriage, it's just a matter of timing. I've discussed the prudent approach at nauseum and 2026 performance (both team and QB) will determine length of contract and $ amount when the calendar hits 2027.
The Bucs would have to be brutally bad for them to consider a QB in the draft. And other than a potential Joe Burrow sweepsteaks, i don't see much else out there in terms of 2027 free agents with Stafford and Mayfield leading the way.
Bucs are in a weird state right now though where as you said, they've competed but not been good enough to be taken seriously. The fact that they won the division most years loses it's luster when you consider how bad the division is. Given the schedule, 8 wins could take it again next year.