– Bucks QB Baker Mayfield Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It’s only late May, but the Bucks are already predicted to be one of the worst teams in the NFL next season. Instead of being predicted to be picked again as the NFC South champion, he is already in the top five in the 2024 mock draft and is picking a new quarterback.
Just a few days ago, ESPN released the following news: 2024 Draft Order Predictions The Bucks came in third, with an 11.3% chance of finishing first and a 68% chance of finishing in the top 10.
But let’s just say that just as Jeno Smith was disqualified in Seattle, Baker Mayfield had a similar season in Tampa Bay. Or even if he can’t be the answer, Kyle Trask realizes his potential after sitting behind Tom Brady and becomes a quality signal-caller.
What impact could this have on the team, and could one of them ultimately be talked about as one of the greatest quarterbacks in team history?
From the outside, this may seem unlikely, but inside Bucks headquarters there is considerable optimism about the team’s quarterback situation. There’s still plenty of talent left on the roster at every level, and the team’s ability to make the playoffs shouldn’t be underestimated.
This is the kind of optimism that Bucks fans should have too. After all, things could get even worse.
Instead of the dark days after the 2002 Super Bowl winning team, much of the core of the 2020 Super Bowl winning team is staying there, young enough to lead the next era of Bucks football.
Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask could be one of the greatest QBs in Bucks history
Now, to say that either Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask could be one of the greatest quarterbacks in team history is very bold statement.but is it true or Unrealistic?
Yes, the Bucks recently hired the greatest quarterback of all time in Tom Brady. But aside from him, no quarterback in the history of the franchise has truly changed the game by wearing either creamsicle orange or red and pewter.
If I had to create a list of the Bucks’ top five QBs based on wins/losses, stats, and performance in Tampa Bay, it would look something like this:
Bucks QB Tom Brady – Photo Credit: USA Today
1. Tom Brady (2020-2022): 32-18, 14,643 yards, 108 touchdowns, 33 points, 98.1 QB rating, Super Bowl LV champion, 1-time Pro Bowler
There should be no discussion here. Brady’s three seasons in Tampa Bay were filled with some of the biggest moments in the history of the franchise and the city. No other quarterback can match this in terms of performance.
Combine that with a 7th Super Bowl win, and spectacular boat paradeAnd bringing his competitive spirit and influence to the team will have a lasting impact. Brady’s final two seasons were back-to-back champions in the NFC South.
2. Brad Johnson (2001-2004): 26-23, 10,940 yards, 64 TDs, 41 INTs, 83.2 QB rating, winner of Super Bowl XXXVII, 1-time Pro Bowler
Notice the theme here? Winning the Super Bowl carries significant weight and prestige in this list. But Johnson was no slouch as an underrated signal-caller in a team that was defensively focused under Jon Gruden.
He had three straight seasons with 3,000 yards and a positive touchdown-to-interception ratio, more than impressive. He had the best record and the second best passer rating compared to other quarterbacks on this list.
this highlight video Please pay attention as a journey to trace his memory as he led the offense in 2002.
3. Trent Dilfer (1994-1999): 38-38, 12,969 yards, 70 TDs, 80 INTs, 69.4 QB rating, 1 Pro Bowler
This is where it gets interesting and I can understand some of these guys shuffling. However, choosing to stick with Dilfer here, he brought the team back to good form between 1994 and 1999. Despite not having a winning record since the shortened 1982 season, Dilfer led the Bucks to two seasons over .500 and one season at the .500 mark.
This may not seem like a big deal, but it was a far cry from the dark days of a double-digit losing season. Dilfer has the most wins of any quarterback in team history and even made the Pro Bowl in 1997. He would later go on to win a Super Bowl, but that was the season after he left for the Baltimore Ravens in 2000.
4. Doug Williams (1978-1982): 33-33-1, 12,648 yards, 73 touchdowns, 73 points, 66.2 QB rating, 1-3 playoffs
QB Doug Williams – Photo Credit: Buccaneers
Williams is perhaps best known for winning the 1987 Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins at the time, but Williams was the first prominent quarterback in team history.
By today’s standards, he wasn’t a record-board figure, but he led Tampa Bay to the playoffs three times and led them to their greatest success long after he left.
He holds the franchise record for most winning drives (14) and fourth-quarter comebacks (13). At the end of his playing days, he returned to the Bucks as personnel officer and pro scouting coordinator. He still does what he did to put them on the map.
5. Jameis Winston (2015-2019): 28-42, 19,737 yards, 121 touchdowns, 88 INTs, 86.9QB rating, 1x Pro Bowler
Last but definitely not least is Winston, the league’s first 30-30 season holder (33TD, 30INT). To be fair, his time with the Bucks wasn’t terrible, and it wasn’t much better than many other No. 1 overall picks. Still, he was just an average quarterback rather than truly changing the trajectory of the team and failed to live up to draft status.
It’s worth noting that he holds team records for passing yards and touchdowns in a league that’s more pass-driven than ever.
How Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask Can Make The List
At least either Mayfield or Trask would have to start at least three seasons with the Bucks, possibly more, to be on this list. In addition to this, both sides need to perform well over several seasons and win the playoffs. Other than Winston, each quarterback above has won at least one playoff his game.
But to become the second-greatest quarterback in team history would take tenure and a playoff spot or a Super Bowl victory over Johnson. The Bucks are currently seen as less of a Super Bowl contender, but there’s a lot to like about the 2023 squad, despite the 2023 Bucks being questioned.
Bucks WR Mike Evans – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
The offense has the best NFL weapons in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and Rashard White should emerge as leadback. All-Pro Tristan Wirfs will lead the offensive line, while Vita Wer will captain the defensive line.
We have excellent players at each level of defence, including Labonte David, Carlton Davis III, Jamel Dean and Antoine Winfield Jr.defense pewter report discussed in detail recently.
This means that whoever becomes the Bucks’ quarterback this season won’t feel a lot of pressure. They just need to play their kind of game. For Mayfield, that means swinging around the league and then swaggering in on the team. Trask just needs to make no mistakes and be the “point guard” in offensive coordinator Dave Canales’ system. The franchise is in a position to surprise people, but it all comes down to quarterback play.
Mayfield or Trask could quickly move up the pass leaderboard once they feel comfortable as starters. If one of them were to serve as quarterback for the next five seasons, he would likely hold the record for nearly every passing record on the team.
That’s right, Bucks fans have already started making their Christmas lists, double-checking them, and begging for the likes of Caleb Williams and Drake May. However, instead of Santa Claus, it was Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask who came to town this time. Will they have a chance of survival? Let’s break it down.
Baker Mayfield has experience and could be a long-term Bucks QB
Baker Mayfield is Tampa Bay’s newest player to watch, and there’s a lot to love about having him on the team. The Bucks signed him to a cheap one-year demonstration deal, but he has a lot to prove.
For him, this is his last chance to prove himself as a starting quarterback in this league. When he signed in March, he talked about how the opportunity could finally give him the stability he’d been looking for for years.
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch//PR
“I think when you look at some of the quarterbacks who have had a lot of success, you realize their consistency,” Mayfield said at the time. “Unfortunately, I haven’t had that experience, but not everyone else does. I’m not playing to the best of my ability – I flashed it.” There’s something, I know, and I’m looking forward to the next opportunity to see what it will be like.”
After being drafted No. 1 overall by Cleveland, he got off to a promising start to his career. All he’s done to lead the Browns to the playoffs has been forgotten in this calendar year.
After being rudely fired by the Browns to acquire Deshawn Watson, Mayfield struggled with the Carolina Panthers until he was released. He was acquired by the Los Angeles Rams and played better, but with Matthew Stafford returning to the team, it was a stopgap option to end the season.
On a more positive note, he’s only 28 and has a playoff win since Cleveland’s 2020 season. If he can go back to being a player like he was that year, the Bucks may choose to keep him instead of drafting his successor. Even if the team finished the same way they did last year, they wouldn’t be able to draft Williams or May anyway.
But it shouldn’t be considered a death sentence for the Bucks. The Seahawks are comfortable investing in the long term after Genno Smith’s career season ends, and Mayfield will undoubtedly bring another turnaround to the table.
He has the pedigree and the talent, but it was difficult to put it all together. Now that he has the best collection of weapons ever and a tireless offensive coordinator who’s learned a thing or two from his 13 seasons in Seattle, there’s no need to ignore Mayfield just yet.
Don’t think Kyle Trask is out yet either
And let’s not forget about quarterback contender Kyle Trask.nothing has been decided for all stories and predictions Mayfield being the starter. Yes, Trask has yet to start an NFL game and spent most of last season inactive behind Brady and Blaine Gabbert as game days.
But behind the scenes, Bowles admired him for always striving to improve and throwing balls on the practice range all the time. This offseason, he stepped up more comfortably and felt more confident in his throws and windows to get the ball in.
Bucks QB Kyle Trask – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
It’s been a tough year for him, but he’ll get his first real chance at real NFL playing time and he’ll be able to shine in the Florida sun again just like he did with the Gators.
By most accounts, men enjoy playing with and learning from Trask. Including top pick Anthony Richardson. He says all the right things and is excited about the possibility of being a starter.
“I’m very, very excited about this new offense,” Trask said in April. “So far, I like all the pieces. Looking back at what they did in Seattle last year, it was a very quarterback-friendly offense.
“I think that’s very good for the people in this building. It’s a very young team and it’s going to be a team with a lot of rookies, so it’s not necessarily a simple system, but a system that allows you to play fast and play with confidence. will be very important.”
So Bucks fans should take some optimism about the two quarterbacks already on the team until they prove incapable of doing an effective job. They still have months before they can compete and bring out the best in each other.
Few players offer the level of talent and opportunity surrounding a new quarterback like the Bucks compared to other rosters in the league. If the team has a solid season, one of them will have a chance to stay and perhaps one day become one of the greatest quarterbacks in Tampa Bay history. After all, this is not a long, great list.
