Baker Mayfield and Buccaneers Get Shaded in NFL Ranking

Baker Mayfield is one of those quarterbacks that always seems to make noise. He’s been around long enough to be a household name when it comes to quarterbacks, but the Bucs still haven’t become the primetime sensation that they were when Tom Brady was in the fold.

But even with that said, Mayfield is usually an exciting quarterback to watch. He’s dependable on the field. He makes splashy plays, too, and knows how to play to the cameras and crowd. Without Mayfield, the Bucs would pretty much be lost, but with him, they’re one of those teams other NFL franchises don’t want to come up against.

But, not everyone thinks Mayfield and the Bucs are going to be fun to watch in 2025. One NFL analyst is throwing a little shade at the Bucs in a different kind of NFL ranking.

More sports news: Tom Izzo Doesn't Hold Back on Michigan State Amid Administrative Turmoil

In a feature for USA Today, Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz lists every NFL team from most to least entertaining. He has the Bucs at No. 24 on the tally. But, he does throw Mayfield a bone.

“Baker Mayfield’s unpredictability ensures the Buccaneers won’t be entirely boring,” he admits in the story. “But the shine is off the apple for Tampa Bay after the team’s four-year reign over the NFC South came to an end last season.”

He adds: “Unless coordinator Zac Robinson proves to be more Liam Coen than Josh Grizzard, there might not be much of a path forward for a group that seems to be growing stale entering Todd Bowles’ fifth year at the helm.”

Are the Bucs a Team to Watch in 2026?

So, are the Buccaneers a team to watch in 2026? I personally think so. Why? It’s because of Mayfield. He has a bone to pick after this past season. The Buccaneers were 8-9 for the season and had the same record as the Panthers and Falcons in their division. It wasn’t a bad showing, but it wasn’t enough to really make noise in 2025.

NFL news:Daniel Jones' Injury Recovery is The Crucial Factor For The Colts in 2026

Mayfield and the Bucs are determined to come back this season and be the noisemakers. It’ll be fun to watch what this franchise does to pull ahead in the race for the NFC South.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 10:05 AM.