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Football

Who is Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield?

Philip Marsh
Who is Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield?Getty Images

Not for the first time in his career, Baker Mayfield will suit up for a new team next week hoping to kick-start his NFL career.

Coming out of college back in 2018, there was big expectations on Mayfield's shoulders — expectations he has never really lived up to.

DAZN takes a look at Mayfield's NFL career to date.

Mayfield selected number one overall

With the very first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected Mayfield to be their new franchise quarterback — ahead of the likes of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.

Mayfield's arrival was meant to signal the start of a new era for Cleveland, one which was destined for success.

After watching from the sidelines the first three weeks of the season, Mayfield was named the starter from Week 4 on and put together a solid rookie campaign.

His 63.8 percent completition rate and 27 touchdowns thrown are still the highest single season figures of his career.

Rollercoaster years in Cleveland

In his sophomore year things took a turn for the worse, as Baker led the Browns to a 6-10 finish, throwing 22 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.

Things improved dramatically the following year, as the Browns recorded a regular season record of 11-5 and beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

Their postseason run was eventually halted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round, but Mayfield's 4,030 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions that season was a big step up.

However, like in 2019, Mayfield could not build on the success. An injury-hit campaign saw Mayfield sacked for the most times in his career as the Browns finished 8-9 in the AFC North.

The grass is not always greener

After the Browns traded for Deshaun Watson following the 2021 season, Mayfield requested that he be traded away from the franchise.

The situation in Cleveland turned sour, before the Carolina Panthers eventually traded for Mayfield for just a 2024 conditional fifth-round draft pick.

It was not a match made in heaven, however, as Mayfield went 1-5 to start the season before suffering an ankle injury and requesting to leave the franchise — which Carolina granted.

The 2018 first rounder then signed for the Los Angeles Rams after an injury to Matthew Stafford.

Despite a 98-yard game-winning drive on his debut, Mayfield would then go on to lose his next three games as Rams quarterback before being released at the end of the season.

Signs of a comeback?

The 2023 season will be crucial if Mayfield is to have a significant future in the NFL, and this offseason has provided some hope that he can turn his fortunes around.

Mayfield has beaten out Kyle Trask to the starting role after completing 14 of 15 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns this preseason.

"I know how talented I am, I know what type of leader I am. Now, it's just time for the real thing," said Mayfield after being named the starter.

Now it is time for him to prove once again why he was selected number one overall back in 2018.