For years, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been an overlooked contender in the NFL.
Todd Bowles’ team continues to rule the NFC South, long after Tom Brady left.
With that in mind, analyst Bucky Brooks recently made a somewhat bold prediction about Baker Mayfield, saying the quarterback could be a legitimate MVP candidate this season.
“If Mayfield matches his 2024 numbers (71.4% completion rate, 4,500 passing yards with 41 touchdowns) and the Buccaneers win the NFC South for the fifth year in a row, I won’t be surprised if the former No. 1 overall pick rises to the top of the MVP conversation,” Brooks wrote. “With the Bucs climbing the ranks as a dark-horse contender, Mayfield could ride off with the league’s top honor at season’s end.”
The Bucs have been solid on offense for years now, and Mayfield has excelled within the system.
He’s developed strong chemistry with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and adding rookie Emeka Egbuka to the mix gives the Buccaneers one of the strongest wide receiver groups in the game.
Bowles is a defensive-minded coach, and the Bucs have been underrated on that side of the ball as well.
In the division, the Carolina Panthers are expected to be better, but they’re still not a real threat.
The New Orleans Saints will most likely be in the mix to get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
That leaves the Atlanta Falcons as the only potential foe atop the division.
If Mayfield takes another step forward and has a strong campaign, he could add the prestigious award, as Brooks suggested.
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