Baker Mayfield didn’t sound like a quarterback trying to be polite about his own defense on Wednesday. He sounded like a guy who has spent all offseason getting hit with it, chased by it, and forced to stare down a unit that keeps showing up with more juice than he’d prefer in practice.
That’s part of what made his comments stand out after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced on Tuesday that Mayfield had agreed to a new three-year, $165 million contract. The tension from earlier this offseason, when Mayfield openly voiced frustration with the team’s initial offer, gave way to the kind of public reset teams and quarterbacks usually hope for. Mayfield and general manager Jason Licht then shared a joint press conference Wednesday to talk through the new deal and the stability it brings to both sides.
The offensive side of the ball got plenty of attention, but Mayfield’s strongest praise was reserved for Tampa Bay’s defense - and, in particular, the fact that he won’t have to deal with its full force in practice the way he did during the offseason program and camp.
"Well, I can tell you I'm happy we're into game plan, getting scout team looks [and] that they're not all out there at once. It's been pretty frustrating throughout the offseason program and camp," Mayfield said.
"They're flying around. [There are] upgrades everywhere between culture, depth up front in the defensive line…We've got some guys that can make truly game-changing plays."
He kept going, rattling off names and making it clear this isn’t just generic quarterback optimism. Mayfield singled out [Alex] Anzalone for his leadership and experience, noting, "Alex Anzalone has been an incredible leader - obviously, he got voted a team captain just getting here - he's been an incredible leader with a lot of experience," he said.
"Josiah Trotter, I've mentioned him a lot, he's an animal - I'm looking forward to seeing what he does. Rueben Bain [Jr.] is just all ball.
It's fun to see Rueben go to work. Getting David Walker back healthy…I mean, I'm going to forget guys, but A'Shawn Robinson, 'Nacho' (Rakeem Nuñez-Roches), people that come in and they bring the attitude for us."
The defensive front looks like the obvious strength, and Mayfield’s words matched that expectation. The bigger question remains the secondary, where Tampa Bay still has to prove it can hold up over a full season. Mayfield, though, sounded bullish there too.
"It's great to see. In the secondary, Zyon [McCollum], 'Tweeze' (Antoine Winfield Jr.), Tykee [Smith], Jacob Parrish, Ayden Garnes.
I mean, it's the group of guys that they've put together, and they all feed off that energy together and they play for each other," Mayfield said. "It's been extremely competitive.
I'm excited for those guys to cut it loose."
If he’s right about the defense taking a real step forward, Tampa Bay could have a very different feel this season. If he’s wrong, the spotlight only gets hotter on Mayfield, who now has to back up the investment the Buccaneers made in him while carrying the pressure that comes with it.
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Now the question around Garnes is no longer whether he belongs in the conversation, but how soon the Buccaneers might need him to be more than depth. A player who impressed enough to make the team after entering as an undrafted rookie naturally carries a different kind of intrigue once the season begins, especially at a position where opportunity can appear fast. For Tampa Bay, Garnes has already gone from camp story to rostered defender, and the next step may be just as revealing. [Read more 🡒]