Baker Mayfield isn’t just watching the Buccaneers offense come together in camp - he sounds like a quarterback who can feel it tightening up in real time.
As Tampa Bay keeps installing Zac Robinson’s system, Mayfield said the group is cleaning up the little things and expanding what it can do, even with injuries forcing some early changes. Camp, in his view, is the perfect place to challenge himself with tight-window throws and different personnel looks.
Once preseason games arrive, the mission gets simpler: play efficiently, protect the ball, and keep the communication crisp. Mayfield summed up where things stand by saying the offense is “in a good place,” and he believes the constant rotation of players has already made the unit more flexible for what comes next.
That growth has shown up in a few players who have clearly caught his eye. Mayfield described Kenny Gainwell as much more than a gadget piece, praising him as a smooth route runner who also has real vision as a runner. He pointed to Gainwell’s college slot receiver background as something that shows up every day, and said it gives Bucky Irving a strong complement in the backfield.
Ted Hurst III has also made a fast impression. At 6-foot-4, Hurst is earning trust by winning contested catches, high-pointing the football, and bringing physicality as a blocker. Mayfield said Hurst is becoming a red-zone option in the same kind of critical moments the team has used Mike Evans for.
The other side of the ball is drawing plenty of attention too. Mayfield said the defense looks “completely different” thanks to new talent and deeper rotation up front.
Even without Vita Vea practicing, he sees a group that’s disrupting timing and forcing quarterbacks to adjust. He singled out SirVocea Dennis, Alex Anzalone, and rookie Josiah Trotter as linebackers who have raised the level of that room.
Trotter, especially, stood out to Mayfield for his confidence and physical style. The quarterback said Trotter “is not a rookie” in the way he carries himself.
There’s been praise for the younger guys on offense as well. Rookie tight end Bauer Sharp is still getting noticed by both Mayfield and Todd Bowles, thanks to his quickness at the top of routes and a growing commitment to blocking. In a tight tight end group, that combination has helped him keep moving forward.
Mayfield also had good things to say about rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, pointing to his arm talent and the jump he’s made from spring to now. He said Daniels attacks every moment and has made major strides in understanding and commanding the offense.
And while there’s been outside doubt about Tampa Bay, Mayfield isn’t buying any of it. He said he expects the Buccaneers to “shock a lot of people” this season, and when it comes to confidence in this roster, he didn’t leave much room for interpretation: he is “hell yeah” confident.
With more preseason work ahead and a road opener against Cincinnati waiting, Mayfield believes the team’s energy, depth, and edge are pointing in the right direction.
In Other News...
Buccaneers May Finally See A Path Through The Vita Vea Standoff
Vita Veas holdout has been one of the more notable tensions hanging over Buccaneers training camp, with the veteran defensive tackle seeking either a new contract or a trade while Tampa Bay tried to sort through its options. For a while, the situation carried plenty of uncertainty, especially with Vea still under contract and backed by a strong recent performance history, even as outside interest in a possible trade continued to circulate.
Adam Schefter recently suggested the mood around the standoff may be changing, saying the sides now appear closer to a potential resolution than they did before. Tampa Bay has also started engaging in extension talks after previously not getting into that conversation with Veas camp, which at least opens a path forward for a player the Buccaneers have not been willing to move despite the trade noise. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Still Have A Real Playoff Path Despite One Clear Concern
Tampa Bay enters the new season with a familiar mix of optimism and uncertainty, having kept much of its core together after finishing last year 8-9 and second in the division behind Carolina on a tiebreaker. Even with expectations trimmed a bit, the Buccaneers still look like a team with enough continuity to make a push back into the playoff picture, especially if the offense can keep building around Baker Mayfield and Chris Godwin.
Recent practice work has offered some encouraging signs, with Mayfield, Godwin and Kenneth Gainwell all standing out in those sessions. The bigger issue remains on the other side of the ball, where the defensive front seven still looks like the area most in need of a jump. If that group comes around, Tampa Bay could make its path to the postseason a lot cleaner than it appears right now. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Suddenly Have A QB Battle That Matters More Than Usual
Baker Mayfields contract situation has added a little more weight to a backup quarterback job that usually gets handled in the margins. Tampa Bay still views Mayfield as its franchise quarterback for now, but with his negotiations paused and free agency looming after the season, the Buccaneers have at least something to monitor behind him as camp and the preseason unfold.
Jake Browning and undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels are in the mix for the No. 2 spot, and Daniels gave the Bucs a reason to keep watching after an encouraging preseason debut. Todd Bowles has made clear the job will be settled by competition this summer, which gives Tampa Bay an unusual bit of intrigue at a position that could become a lot more important than the label suggests. [Read more 🡒]