Baker Mayfield’s spot in latest QB ranking is flat-out disrespectful

Since Baker Mayfield battled back from rock bottom and re-proved himself to the NFL as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting quarterback, you'd be hard-pressed to find any expert who still doubted the talent.

Yet, here we are.

CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin put together his most recent list of quarterback rankings, and Mayfield failed to check into the top five.

As a matter of fact, Baker didn't even make it into the top 10.

No, Mayfield came in at no. 11 overall, to be exact.

Baker Mayfield can't escape the disrespect even after putting the narrative to bed

Top-15 quarterbacks according to CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin:

1. Jayden Daniels
2. Jalen Hurts
3. Joe Burrow
4. Lamar Jackson
5. Josh Allen
6. Patrick Mahomes
7. Matthew Stafford
8. Jordan Love
9. Jared Goff
10. Brock Purdy
11. Baker Mayfield
12. Justin Herbert
13. CJ Stroud
14. Dak Prescott
15. Bo Nix

How on earth could anyone put Baker as the league's No. 11 overall quarterback after the season he had last year?

Mayfield engineered the league's No. 3 overall passing offense in 2024 (over 250 yards per game). He was second to only Joe Burrow in touchdown passes (41) , third in passing yards (4,500) and third in completion percentage among qualifying starters at 71.4 percent.

Mind you, we're talking about a year that saw him play a good chunk of it without Chris Godwin, along with Mike Evans being banged up at times, too.

No disrespect to Benjamin or anyone else who contributes to rankings such as these, from CBS Sports, but it simply does not add up. Placing 10 other quarterbacks ahead of Baker, all while he finished higher than the majority of them in all major categories, seems silly.

It is truly inexplicable, but apparently there is still somewhat of a narrative left over from the pitfall Mayfield's career took once upon a time.

What else does he have to do to prove he's the real deal? At this point, someone has to make it make sense.