Baker Mayfield, the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, should never be taken lightly. Baker Mayfield’s NFL career appeared to be coming to a sudden and unremarkable end after five seasons, six different offensive coordinators, and playing through injuries. But since, well, he did, the Oklahoma product rebounded from a subpar ten-touchdown, eight-pick 2022 campaign with a 28-touchdown season.
This season, his first with the Bucs, the former college walk-on turned first overall choice put up stats close to his career. For his performance, Mayfield was voted the 2023 Most Improved Player by the Pro Football Writers of America. Although Buffalo Bills safety Darmar Hamlin won the Comeback Player of the Year Award, Mayfield was listed by the NFL as a nominee as well.
Baker Mayfield, quarterback for the Tampa Bay Bucs, wins most improved player
Following a disappointing 2022 campaign with the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers, Baker Mayfield signed a one-year prove-it contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The former first-overall selection helped the Bucs win the AFC South with a 9-8 record. At the end of the season, he passed for 4,044 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Of his passes, he made 64% of them. Mayfield put up a number of well-rounded games while occasionally playing through injuries. Going 22 of 28 for 381 yards and four touchdowns on the road against Green Bay was his greatest performance of the year.
Mayfield had great postseason success as well. Super Wild Card Weekend saw him toss for 337 yards and three touchdowns in a 32-9 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. After his outstanding performance against the Detroit Lions, the Heisman Trophy winner ran for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Nevertheless, in the 31-23 defeat, he threw two interceptions.
PAST MIP CHAMPIONS
When the PFWA Most Improved Player Award was first presented in 2000, quarterback Jeff Garcia of the San Francisco 49ers was the recipient. With his triumph, Mayfield became the first quarterback to win the award in back-to-back seasons. Last season, Geno Smith, a signal-caller for the Seattle Seahawks, won MIP. With a 69.8% completion rate and 30 touchdowns versus 11 interceptions, he led the league in passing efficiency. For the first time since 2014, Smith started on opening day in 2022.
Baker Mayfield became the first player from Tampa Bay to be named Most Improved Player. With three awardees apiece, the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys continue to tie for the most. For the Cowboys, wide receivers Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, and corner Trevon Diggs have all earned MIP. For the 49ers, it has been won by tight end George Kittle, running back Frank Gore, and Jeff Garcia.
