The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 0-2, and Baker Mayfield has played a major role in their disappointing start.
Tampa Bay opened with a 33-27 loss against Cincinnati after losing four fumbles. Three of those turnovers came during the first half.
The Buccaneers then lost 23-19 at home against Cleveland. Tampa Bay held a 16-6 third-quarter lead before ultimately surrendering the game.
Mayfield has not done enough to consistently settle the offense. Through two games, he is 44-of-62 for 398 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
His 86.6 passer rating and 6.4 yards per attempt reflect an offense struggling to generate consistent production.
Mayfield’s Ranking Should Be Heading Down
Pro Football Focus ranked Mayfield 15th among quarterbacks entering Week 3. PFF also classified him as “trending down.”
After what Mayfield has shown through two games, that ranking certainly should not be moving upward.
His 57.8 PFF grade is the sixth-lowest among qualified quarterbacks. His 13.1% negatively graded play rate is also the fourth-worst through two weeks.
Mayfield finished against Cleveland 21-of-34 for 182 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He was also sacked three times.
Those numbers simply do not match the expectations surrounding Tampa Bay’s franchise quarterback.
This Happened Immediately After His Payday
The timing makes Mayfield’s struggles particularly difficult to overlook.
Just before the season, Tampa Bay agreed to a three-year, $165 million extension with its quarterback. The deal keeps Mayfield under contract through 2029.
At $55 million annually, the contract made Mayfield the highest-paid player in Buccaneers history.
That commitment came after a public contract negotiation that included Mayfield criticizing Tampa Bay’s initial offer. He ultimately received the massive contract he wanted from the Buccaneers.
Now, immediately after getting that commitment, Mayfield has struggled through the team’s first two games.
That does not erase everything Mayfield accomplished previously. It does, however, make his current performance impossible to separate from the expectations created by that contract.
Mayfield’s Mistakes Have Been Costly
The problems began immediately in Cincinnati.
Tampa Bay lost all four of its fumbles against the Bengals. Those turnovers contributed to 24 Cincinnati points and put the Buccaneers in a difficult position.
Mayfield then struggled to consistently make plays against Cleveland. His 49-yard completion to Tez Johnson was his best passing play, but explosive plays were difficult to find.
The Buccaneers needed more from their quarterback after building a 10-point lead. Instead, the offense could not finish the job.
His Previous Success Still Matters
There is certainly context worth considering.
Mayfield’s first two games do not erase his previous three seasons in Tampa Bay. From 2023 through 2025, he helped the Buccaneers win two NFC South titles.
According to the Buccaneers, Mayfield also ranked second in the NFL in touchdown passes and third in passing yards during that span.
That production explains why Tampa Bay made such a significant investment. It also explains why expectations are now considerably higher.
The Buccaneers did not give Mayfield $165 million to hope he eventually rediscovers his previous form. They paid him because they believed that version of Mayfield was their franchise quarterback. They, like some of us thought THIS was the real Mayfield.
The Contract Changes The Standard
Mayfield deserves time to correct his early-season struggles.
Two games are not enough to erase three productive seasons. However, the standard changes after signing a contract worth $165 million.
Mayfield publicly pushed for a better offer. Tampa Bay ultimately gave him the enormous commitment he wanted.
Now, the quarterback needs to start looking like the player the Buccaneers believed they were paying.
That means fewer costly mistakes and more consistent production. It also means delivering when Tampa Bay has opportunities to close out games.
Minnesota Provides His Next Opportunity
The Buccaneers now face the undefeated Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 27.
The game kicks off at 4:05 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay enters the matchup desperately needing its quarterback to find his form.
Mayfield’s PFF ranking should be heading in the wrong direction after these first two games. More importantly, his performance needs to head in the opposite direction.
The Buccaneers gave their quarterback the contract he wanted. Now they need the quarterback they paid for.
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