Keyshawn Johnson proclaims Baker Mayfield has SILENCED the noise of Tampa Bay looking for Caleb Williams next year
Baker Mayfield has the best passer rating in the NFL on 3rd down.
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Keyshawn Johnson impressed with Baker Mayfield's start to life in Tampa (Image via IMAGO)
Baker Mayfield needed a home, and according to Keyshawn Johnson, he has finally found one. Before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mayfield bounced around three different teams in three seasons.
The 28-year-old has had a brilliant start to the season, completing 47 of 68 passes for 501 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 105.1. He is currently the fifth-best quarterback in terms of taking at least 50% of their teams’ snaps this season.
There was a lot of chatter when the Buccaneers announced a one-year, $4 million contract for Mayfield. Few point out the downgrade in the quarterback department. Considering he has big shoes that are the size of Tom Brady, the former Rams player was completely written off.
On top of that, rumors of drafting high-value college prospect Caleb Williams started to spread. But judging by Mayfield’s first two-game performances, Keyshawn Johnson believes that the 2018 first-round pick has somewhat silenced that noise.
“He [Baker Mayfield] has quieted the noise of Bucs looking at a Caleb Williams or a Shedeur Sanders,” he told Skip Bayless in a recent segment of FOX Sports 1’s Undisputed. “Whenever he had talent around who had been good, he was good. Whether it was college or early days in Cleveland.”
Baker Mayfield finding form with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Keyshawn Johnson, who played for Tampa in early 2000, made a valid point. Before his draft, Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy (2017) while playing for the Oklahoma Sooners. In three seasons, he threw for 14607 yards and 131 touchdowns and amassed a record of 38-8.
At Tampa Bay, he seemed to be regaining the form that he showed in college. As Johnson points out, he has talent all around him. Veteran wide receiver Mike Evans, who has nine consecutive 1,000-yard seasons under his belt, leads the team. Then there’s highly regarded linebacker Devin White protecting him, along with Shaquil Barrett, who scored the game-winning touchdown to beat the Chicago Bears.
Buccaneers offensive coach Dave Canales seems to understand what the requirements are for their quarterback to thrive. Films show that Baker Mayfield is comfortable when he has less pressure, and that’s thanks to the offensive line. But when the opposing team’s blitz play is strong, it creates problems.
Mayfield is not great at playing in the pocket. The longer he takes to release the ball, the more he gets sacked (170 times before joining the Bucs). That’s one of the reasons he is choosing to rush more often (14 rushes in 2 games for 28 yards). It will be a fascinating encounter when they go up against the Philadelphia Eagles in their next game.
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Ishan Misra
(3186 Articles Published)