Baker Mayfield had a career year in 2023, throwing for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. But consistency has been a bit of a struggle for the 2018 No. 1 overall pick, and the Bucks needed more of it when they signed him to a three-year, $100 million contract this offseason.
Through five games of the 2024 season, Mayfield is doing just that.
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
No, he wasn’t perfect. But a major part of last year’s inconsistency problem was the plonk he threw throughout the season.
Against the Eagles, he was 15-of-25 for just 146 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. In the loss to the Lions, he went 19-of-37, throwing for 206 yards, zero touchdowns, and one interception. He even had 14-of-29 performances in wins over the Panthers and Falcons. He performed well in those games, but was far from efficient.
Well, so far in 2024, only one of Baker Mayfield’s games can truly be called a “pop.” However, its appearance was very different from the ponkotsu of a year ago. Despite being sacked six times in the Week 3 loss to the Broncos, he still completed 25 of 33 passes (75.8%). And it ties into a major theme for the number six so far this season. He was extremely efficient and incredibly accurate.
Mayfield is completing 71.9 percent of his passes through five games, tied for the third-highest completion percentage in the league entering Week 6. by Pro Football Focusthe Bucs’ signal-caller has an adjustment accuracy rate of 81.7%. That’s the best mark among quarterbacks with at least 50 dropbacks this season, narrowly beating Patrick Mahomes’ 81.1%.
Whether it’s more security in his role as the Bucs’ starting quarterback, comfort in Liam Cohen’s system, or established rapport with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Baker Mayfield took his accuracy to another level in 2024. And that’s part of the reason. He’s on track for another career-best season in his second year with the Bucks.
Baker Mayfield is on track for a new career in 2024
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Prior to 2023, Baker Mayfield’s best season in the NFL was 2020, when he completed 62.8% of his passes for 3,563 yards and 26 touchdowns to eight interceptions, leading the Browns to a 17-year playoff drought. He overcame the situation and helped lead to their first playoff victory since 1994.
But after being traded to Cleveland last year and released to Carolina in 2022, Mayfield, in need of a career revival, signed with Tampa Bay and put together an impressive production. He set career highs in completion percentage (64.3%), passing yards (4,044) and passing touchdowns (28), helping the Bucs complete a three-peat as NFC South champions and win a playoff game.
He parlayed his career into a three-year contract worth $100 million, essentially giving him a real home in the NFL for the first time. And he’s lived up to that contract, and so far so much more. The Bucks currently have some disappointing losses heading into the 2024 restart, but Mayfield is off to a tremendous start. Through five games, he has a completion percentage of 71.9% for 1,164 yards, 11 touchdowns, and just two interceptions.
Baker Mayfield has been active this season:
— 1,164 yards (3rd place)
— 11 touchdowns (1st tie)
— 11.2 Pass rate (11th place)
— 2 interceptions
— 5 games6 is 🧑🍳 pic.twitter.com/IoXUGsRYHX
— BakerMuse (@MuseBaker) October 4, 2024
If you average those numbers and extrapolate them over the remaining 12 games, Mayfield will have Pro Bowl-worthy numbers and a line that matches what he did in Tampa Bay last year. At this pace, the 29-year-old is on pace for a 71.9 percent completion rate, 3,958 yards, 37 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. This means that while his completion percentage and passing touchdowns are career highs, his interceptions are career lows.
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Of course, if it were up to Baker Mayfield, he would trade for a career-high number of wins in any category. He won 11 games with the Browns in 2020 and will aim to match or ideally top that total this year.
The kind of continued accuracy (and accompanying numbers) he’s shown in his first five games could help him do just that. But the key will be getting through the toughest schedule the Bucks currently have. Tampa Bay is 1-1 in its first two games, starting Sunday in New Orleans. After this game, the team will host Baltimore, Atlanta at home, Kansas City on the road, and San Francisco at home.
However, there is no future outlook. The first goal for Mayfield and the Bucs is to Back on track against Saints Sunday at the Superdome. His 2023 best came last October, when he completed 25 of 32 passes, threw for 246 yards, and scored three touchdowns (including one interception) in a win over New Orleans. This was where one of the matches was held.
He will look for a similar performance and result on Sunday.
The article “2024 Baker Mayfield Accuracy Takes to Another Level” was first published on Pewter Report.
