The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a roster that is good enough to compete for a Super Bowl. That has been the case over the last four years since their last title win in 2020.
A big reason for that success is quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Since Tom Brady retired following the 2022 season, Tampa Bay has put their hopes on the arm of the former first overall pick from 2018. Mayfield has more than lived up to those expectations with the Bucs.
There is one area of concern when it comes to their franchise quarterback, though. And it's one mindset change that new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard is looking to instill early in OTAs.
"Protect himself. We know he's tough, we know he'll grind it out, we know he's been really good scrambling, but at the end of the day, we don't want to see him take those hits," said Grizzard on Tuesday. "We want to see him play every game of the regular season and make a playoff run.
"So, that's been the biggest thing. Cause he can be a little bit [of a] knucklehead when it comes to that."
Mayfield is coming off a season in which he threw 41 touchdowns, and led Tampa Bay to a 10-7 finish. While their wild card loss to the Washington Commanders left a sour taste in the mouth of the organization, it's clear the team still believes in Mayfield.
And it's why they want to make sure he stays healthy throughout the entire 2025 season.
A healthy Mayfield can get Tampa Bay to the Super Bowl. Anything less, and it's a coin flip for the Bucs.
