(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Just a year or two ago, Baker Mayfield was considered a mercurial and enigmatic quarterback who had plenty of natural talent and potential but simply couldn’t get out of his own way.
But the 2023 season was a revelation for him, and he was rewarded with a three-year contract extension that will be worth up to $100 million.
One may think that he may now be ready to rest on his laurels, but he made it clear to the media that he’s just getting started and that his goal is to win the Super Bowl championship, per SiriusXM NFL Radio.
He also expressed his gratitude for his teammates and coaches allowing him to blossom.
“This locker room, they have allowed me to be the best version of myself. I’m at my best when I have that edge,” Mayfield said.
“I’m not satisfied with just having a job and getting extended”
Baker Mayfield says that even with the new deal in Tampa, he’ll continue to play with a chip on his shoulder.https://t.co/ZV0Iyt5pGV@Buccaneers I #WeAreTheKrewe I #NFLTrainingCamp pic.twitter.com/52J8kVJ4dC
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) August 20, 2024
Mayfield was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft after starting his college career as a walk-on who earned the starting QB spot as a freshman at Texas Tech University.
He was taken by the Cleveland Browns in 2018, and he was expected to become an epic player for the long-suffering franchise.
But while he had his moments there, he ultimately clashed with his coaches at times, and he ended up asking to be traded two offseasons ago when someone in the Browns front office remarked that the team preferred an “adult” at QB.
After spending the 2022 season with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams, Mayfield found his way onto the Buccaneers, and it looked like perhaps his last chance to prove himself.
He certainly proved himself by throwing for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns, which earned him his first Pro Bowl nod, and taking the Buccaneers to the playoffs, where they played the Detroit Lions to a standstill through three quarters in the divisional round.
Now, excellence is expected from Mayfield, and it is a refreshing change.
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