When you look at the Bucs roster, it is easy to see what general manager Jason Licht had in mind when he was building the team for the 2025 season. He wanted the offense to be able to carry the torch for Tampa Bay, while the defense was able to pick up the slack without too much pressure being placed on it to be the team’s breadwinner.
The straw that stirs the drink for the Bucs on offense is, of course, quarterback Baker Mayfield. The veteran signal caller took a while to find his forever home, but he has done so in Tampa Bay and is now settling into directing one of the best offenses in the NFL.
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In their team previews, ESPN discusses a variety of topics for each team, including a key stat to know. For the Bucs, ESPN Research highlighted a notable aspect of Mayfield’s 2024 season. They write, “Mayfield was at the forefront of Tampa Bay’s success last season, tying for second in passing touchdowns (41) and ranking third in passing yards (4,500) and completion percentage (71%). He was the only quarterback to rank in the top three in all three of those categories last season.”
Mayfield did that with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin missing significant time in 2024 and tight end Cade Otton being his leading receiver at one point. Fast forward to 2025, he now has Evans back, Godwin is on the fringe of returning, and general manager Jason Licht has drafted another top option for Mayfield in the first round, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.
The sky remains the limit for the former Heisman Trophy winner and the Bucs offense.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Can Baker Mayfield replicate his impressive 2024 season in 2025?