Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield Named Finalist for Comeback Player of the Year Award
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' quarterback Baker Mayfield saw a resurgence in his career in 2023. After being drafted first overall out of the University of Oklahoma in 2018 by the Cleveland Browns, Mayfield spent the first four years of his career in Cleveland, Ohio.
During his final season with the Browns, the organization discovered that Mayfield had been playing with a torn labrum and also suffered other injuries during the 2021 season and during the 2022 offseason, the Browns decided to move on from Mayfield as they traded for former Texans' star quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Following the trade, Mayfield publicly demanded a trade from Cleveland and eventually landed with the Carolina Panthers before eventually getting pushed out and landed off of waivers by the Los Angeles.
Things seemed pretty bleak for Baker at this point in his career and many had him tabbed as a career backup at this point. However, near the end of the Rams' 2022 season, they needed his services and he came in ready to work as Sean McVay allowed Baker to be Baker and not someone else. He finished the season off strong for LA before becoming a free agent following the season.
Then Mayfield got his chance at being a starter again.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were in search of a cheaper option at the quarterback position following the retirement of Tom Brady and Baker fit that bill as he was looking to revive his career. The marriage couldn't have fit any better as he led the Bucs to a 9-8 regular season record and helped them clinch the NFC South for the third consecutive season.
On Thursday, Baker's efforts this season were recognized after he was announced for his bounce-back performance being named a finalist for the AP Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Mayfield is joined by Bills' S Damar Hamlin, Browns' QB Joe Flacco, Rams' QB Matt Stafford, and Dolphins' QB Tua Tagovailoa.
Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 season.
