Baker Mayfield, Kingmaker

Should Bucs fans be worried?

No, Joe is not talking about Tristan Wirfs or Chris Godwin. Joe is talking about a guy who will never step on the field.

Josh Grizzard takes over as Bucs offensive coordinator, succeeding perhaps the second-best playcaller the Bucs have ever had, Liam Coen. Super Bowl-winning head coach Bucco Bruce Arians was the best.

As Ted Nguyen of The Athletic recently pointed out on Twitter, Baker Mayfield is a “kingmaker.” The last two years he has made largely untested, first-year coordinators head coaches almost overnight. That’s Dave Canales and Coen.

So here is the conundrum for Bucs fans: If the Bucs do well this season, it stands to reason the offense will be strong. So that makes Grizzard a prime candidate to be atop head coach candidate trees.

NFL owners love offense. And why shouldn’t they? Offenses drive the NFL engine. Big offenses often lead to big wins. Offenses attract fans like moths to a porch light. Offenses excite fan bases. And most importantly, offenses = revenue, the highest value of owners.

So if the Bucs win another division, and just as important if the Bucs win a game or two in the playoffs (or more?), look for Grizzard’s name to be in the rumor mill come January.

Unless, of course, the Bucs offense goes into the tank.