The injuries to the o-line, and his own, resultant, mounting injuries, are the reason for Baker’s poor play in the 2nd half of the season. Not concerned that he is declining, he was just beaten to a pulp in starting in Detroit, and he was never healthy afterwards, the re-injury of his non-throwing shoulder finished it.
But he won several warm games, largely on his own merit & sheer will & determination.
None of his injuries were seemingly (permanently) structural, but they were limiting. It is the reason I’m ok with adding an eventual, significant, upgrade at IoL this draft in the 1st round, if we don’t trade, or mnage a trade down. Even if either/both occur, I’m expecting a mid-round pick to be IoL.
this seems basic common sense to me
Its no guarantee that Mayfield is a solution or even worth the $ but to see 2025 as a reason to doubt Mayfield seems odd. Hopefully he is the least of the Bucs problems, lets just get him some decent run game and line play.
if you take the blinders off....2025 is every reason to doubt Baker Mayfield.
he had some costly bone headed turnovers that makes you question if that was injury related or just poor decision making.
dude suffered a low-grade shoulder sprain on his non throwing shoulder. Certainly will have some impact but was healthy enough to play
Do you not think Mike Evans himself questioned Baker's ability after the 2025 season? Sure, we can blame Todd Bowles and i most certainly will....but Evans sprinting out of here had a little to do with Baker as well.
I dont see it that way at all, but you could be right about all of that.
I don't think its "blinders" to note a statistical drop off that matches with the Rams game injury or to see a decimated O-line and I think that all QBs make turnovers/missed throws when they press.
The hallmark of the 2024 offense was a GREAT run game and short passing. The 2025 season was most often no real run game and often momentum/drive killing LONGER passing.
One is a recipe for QB success (2024), the other (2025) often failure. Add in injury to the entire line and the QB himself.
so which camp are you in
1 - extend him now at 50M plus
2 - wait until 2026 plays out
for those thinking we can get him at 40M....ok, i can consider that type of extension NOW...but i would be thinking Bakers agent is taking your approach that he's a 40 plus TD guy and that injuries abound is why 2025 was a dissapointment.
if i am Licht, there's no way i am giving the benefit of the doubt.
if the argument is 40M per year versus 55M per year if we extend him now, then i can see that...but if we are talking 50M now versus 55M later....i am not sure i see the downside of option 2. what say you?
This season is going to be unbearable. I clicked on the Pewter Report video about Joel Glazer and had to turn it off because all Reynolds and Matera were talking about was Liam Coen and the Jaguars.
well unbearable seems to be the status quo with Bowles at the helm
2022 and 2025 were unbearable seasons
2023 and 2024 were enjoyable, relatively speaking for this franchise
2026 is the tiebreaker my friend.