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National outlets continue to be low on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 2023.
PFF released its rankings of all 32 NFL quarterbacks, and the it was not impressed with Tampa Bay’s options. It tabbed Bucs QB [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag] as the starter (despite him technically not winning the job yet) and ranked him No. 28 of the NFL’s 32 starters heading into 2023.
Here is what the list had to say about Mayfield:
It’s difficult to argue that Mayfield’s 2022 season was easily predictable, but it’s equally difficult to maintain any kind of lofty expectations for him going forward after witnessing it. His 50.6 PFF grade on the year was 13 grading points lower than his previous career-worst mark (which involved a torn shoulder), and it speaks volumes that the Rams were happy to let him walk after he led the team to a remarkable win just after stepping off the plane after they traded for him. Mayfield has very good play on his NFL resume, but it’s getting harder and harder to see it in the rearview mirror.
Mayfield is ranked ahead of the Colts’ Anthony Richardson (32), the Falcons’ Desmond Ridder (31), the Texans’ C.J. Stroud (30) and the Cardinals’ Colt McCoy (29). The player immediately above him on the list is the Commanders’ Sam Howell (27).
Weariness about Mayfield is warranted, as his campaign in Carolina in 2022 was very, very poor. He hasn’t showcased the talent he displayed in 2020 in quite some time, but the Bucs will hope that he can bring that back without having to worry about injury rehab like he has the past few years — if, that is, he successfully beats out QB Kyle Trask for the starting job in camp.