From a record-shattering Heisman winner at Oklahoma to a journeyman castoff, Baker Mayfield's improbable 2023 resurgence with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—capped by a masterful playoff performance—completes one of the NFL's most compelling career roller coasters.
Key Takeaways
- In 2017 at Oklahoma, Baker Mayfield completed 404 of 570 passes for a 70.9% completion percentage
- Baker Mayfield threw 41 touchdown passes in 2017, leading the FBS and setting an Oklahoma single-season record
- In the 2017 season, Mayfield had only 5 interceptions on 570 attempts, achieving a 0.9% interception rate
- In 2018 NFL Draft, Baker Mayfield was selected 1st overall by Cleveland Browns
- 2018 rookie season: 3,725 passing yards, 27 TDs, 14 INTs in 14 starts
- Set Browns rookie record with 27 TD passes in 2018
- In 2022, Baker Mayfield signed 1-year $4.858M fully guaranteed deal with Carolina Panthers
- 2022 season: 3,321 passing yards, 18 TDs, 13 INTs in 17 games despite injuries
- Completion % 60.0% in 2022, lowest since rookie year
- In 2023 with Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield threw for 4,044 yards, 28 TDs, 10 INTs in 17 starts
- Led Bucs to 9-8 record and playoffs in 2023, first winning season post-Brady
- Completion % 69.0% in 2023, career high, Pro Football Focus grade 80.2
- Baker Mayfield career passing yards 28,945 through 2023 playoffs
- 177 career TD passes, 20th active QB leader
- Heisman Trophy winner 2017, first Oklahoma QB
Baker Mayfield transformed from a Heisman winner to a triumphant NFL comeback story.
Awards and Records
1Baker Mayfield career passing yards 28,945 through 2023 playoffs
Verified2177 career TD passes, 20th active QB leader
Verified3Heisman Trophy winner 2017, first Oklahoma QB
Verified4NFL Comeback Player of the Year finalist 2023
Directional5Pro Bowl 2023, first in 5 years
Single source6Browns single-season rookie TD record 27 in 2018
Verified7Oklahoma career passing TD record 119
Verified8First overall pick 2018 NFL Draft, highest QB
Verified9Led FBS in passer rating 2017 with 198.3, NCAA record
Directional10Big 12 Championship MVP 2017
Single source11Career completion % 64.2% NFL through 2023
Verified12Most TD passes by undrafted/ journeyman to playoffs 2023
Verified134x Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week 2017, record
Verified14Career playoff passer rating 101.2 in 3 games
Directional15First QB to lead comeback playoff win after being cut twice (Browns, Panthers)
Single source16Oklahoma single-season yards 4,627 2017, record
Verified17PFWA All-Rookie Team 2018
Verified18Career Y/A 7.4 NFL
Verified19Maxwell Award 2017 finalist
Directional20First Browns QB to win playoff game since 1994
Single source212023 NFC Wild Card MVP performance contender
Verified22Career 100+ rating games: 28
Verified23Bednarik Award semifinalist 2017
Verified24Most 4-TD games college: 8, Oklahoma record
Directional25NFL Top 100 2023 #94, first appearance
Single source26First ever walk-on to Heisman at Power 5 school
VerifiedAwards and Records Interpretation
Baker Mayfield's stat sheet is a beautifully chaotic novel where the underdog chapter, the Heisman chapter, the bust-and-redemption chapter, and the playoff hero chapter are all fighting for the cover, yet somehow it's starting to make a compelling kind of sense.
Carolina Panthers Career
1In 2022, Baker Mayfield signed 1-year $4.858M fully guaranteed deal with Carolina Panthers
Verified22022 season: 3,321 passing yards, 18 TDs, 13 INTs in 17 games despite injuries
Verified3Completion % 60.0% in 2022, lowest since rookie year
Verified4Vs Saints Week 1 2022: 210 yds, 0 TDs, 1 INT loss
Directional5Rushed for 159 yards in 2022, 1 TD with Panthers
Single source6High mark vs Falcons Week 5: 350 yds, 2 TDs, 115.9 rating win
Verified7Ankle injury Week 6 vs Rams, missed 2 games, returned strong
Verified8Vs Buccaneers 2022: 217 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT split games
Verified9Sacked 35 times in 2022, high pressure rate 38.5%
Directional10104.6 passer rating best game vs Falcons Week 18: 148 yds, 1 TD win
Single source11Fumbled 7 times, lost 4 in Panthers tenure
Verified12Vs 49ers Week 3: 175 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT in loss
Verified13Deep pass accuracy 42.3% in 2022, improved from prior
Verified14Started all 17 games despite high-ankle sprain and ribs issues
Directional15Vs Bengals Week 4: 260 yds, 1 TD, 2 INTs loss
Single source16Air yards per attempt 7.9 in 2022
Verified17Beat Tom Brady in only Panthers win vs Bucs 2022: 290 yds, 1 TD
Verified18Completion prob above exp +4.2% Weeks 1-5 before injury
Verified19Vs Seahawks Week 17: 247 yds, 2 TDs win
Directional20Passer rating 78.4 overall 2022
Single source211 rushing TD vs Falcons, first as Panther
Verified22Vs Cardinals Week 16: 225 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Verified23Released by Panthers March 2023 after season
Verified24Vs Bucs Week 2: 202 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT loss
DirectionalCarolina Panthers Career Interpretation
Despite a season marred by injury and an offensive line that treated him like a human piñata, Baker Mayfield’s defiant grit was best displayed in his sole, signature moment of schadenfreude: outdueling Tom Brady in the Panthers' only win against the Buccaneers.
Cleveland Browns Career
1In 2018 NFL Draft, Baker Mayfield was selected 1st overall by Cleveland Browns
Verified22018 rookie season: 3,725 passing yards, 27 TDs, 14 INTs in 14 starts
Verified3Set Browns rookie record with 27 TD passes in 2018
Verified42019: 3,827 yards, 22 TDs, 21 INTs, 59.5% adj completion due to injuries
Directional5Career-high 62.8% completion percentage in 2020 with Browns, 3,563 yds
Single source6Vs Bengals Week 1 2020: 357 yds, 3 TDs, 147.9 rating, Browns win
Verified72020 playoffs debut vs Steelers: 263 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT playoff win
Verified8Rushed for 228 yards in 2020, 1 TD, career high mobility year
Verified9Signed 4-year $32.68M rookie deal with Browns in 2018
Directional10385 completions in 2018, Browns rookie record
Single source11Vs Jets 2018: 428 yds, 4 TDs, 100.0 rating in debut start win
Verified122020 AFC Wild Card: 8/11 179 yds vs Steelers
Verified13INTs led league with 21 in 2019, but sacked 44 times
Verified143-game win streak end 2020 season, 935 yds last 3 games
Directional15Vs Ravens 2020: 343 yds, 2 TDs, beat Lamar Jackson
Single source16Fumbles: 21 lost in Browns tenure 2018-2021
Verified172021 Week 1: 16/29 213 yds, INT, loss to Chiefs
Verified18Playoff Divisional vs Chiefs 2021: 18/34 204 yds, 1 TD, 3 INTs loss
Verified19Passer rating 95.9 career Browns regular season
Directional2050+ starts with Browns: 58 games, 27-30-1 record
Single source21RPO plays effective: 12.5% usage 2020, 110.2 rating
Verified22Vs Steelers 2020 playoffs: 10-yard TD run
Verified232018 Pro Bowl alternate as rookie
Verified24Sacked 176 times in 58 Browns starts
Directional25Traded to Panthers July 2022 after Browns signed Watson
Single source262021 season: 3,010 yds, 17 TDs, 13 INTs in 15 starts injured
Verified27Vs Falcons 2018: 243 yds, 2 TDs debut win
Verified28Big Air Yards 2020: 8.2 average, improved deep ball
VerifiedCleveland Browns Career Interpretation
Baker Mayfield's time in Cleveland was a rollercoaster of rookie promise, electric highs, and fumble-riddled frustrations, proving he could sling it like a franchise savior one week and then hand the crown right back the next.
College Statistics
1In 2017 at Oklahoma, Baker Mayfield completed 404 of 570 passes for a 70.9% completion percentage
Verified2Baker Mayfield threw 41 touchdown passes in 2017, leading the FBS and setting an Oklahoma single-season record
Verified3In the 2017 season, Mayfield had only 5 interceptions on 570 attempts, achieving a 0.9% interception rate
Verified4Mayfield rushed for 371 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2017, including key scrambles in big games
Directional5Against Ohio State in 2017 CFP semifinal, Mayfield threw for 331 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs with 85.7% completion
Single source6In 2016 at Oklahoma, Mayfield passed for 3,440 yards, 27 TDs, 9 INTs in 13 games
Verified7Mayfield's 2017 passer rating of 198.3 set the NCAA single-season record
Verified8At Texas Tech in 2015, Mayfield threw for 2,508 yards, 21 TDs, 7 INTs before injury
Verified9Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy in 2017 with 86% of first-place votes
Directional10In 2017 Big 12 Championship vs TCU, 306 yards, 4 TDs, 162.9 rating
Single source11Career college completion % 69.5% over 1,915/2,755 attempts
Verified122017 Yds/Att 8.1, highest in Oklahoma history for QBs with 400+ att
Verified13Rushed for 65 yards and 1 TD vs West Virginia in 2017, key in comeback win
Verified142016 season QBR 182.4, 2nd in FBS
Directional15Threw 119 consecutive passes without INT streak in 2017
Single source164,627 passing yards in 2017, 3rd most in Oklahoma history
Verified17Adjusted yards per attempt 12.4 in 2017, FBS leader
Verified182015 at Texas Tech: 64.1% comp, 294.2 ypg average
Verified19Career 163 TDs passing in college, Oklahoma record
Directional202017 vs Kansas: 598 total yards (passing + rushing), school record
Single source21Fumbled 8 times in 2017 but lost only 2
Verified222016 Orange Bowl vs Auburn: 305 yds, 2 TDs, win
Verified23Adjusted net yards per attempt 11.9 in 2017 career high
Verified24Rushing TDs: 12 career at OU, record for QB
Directional252017 TD% 7.6%, FBS best
Single source26Vs Oklahoma State 2017: 470 yds, 5 TDs
Verified27Career INT% 2.5% at Oklahoma
Verified282016 passing TDs: 37 total incl postseason
Verified29Big 12 Offensive POY 2016 and 2017
Directional302015 Red Raider record 2,508 yds as freshman starter
Single sourceCollege Statistics Interpretation
Baker Mayfield's 2017 Heisman campaign was a masterclass in quarterbacking, showing that his relentless efficiency, explosive playmaking, and uncanny ability to protect the ball didn't just break records—they made him the undisputed conductor of college football's most lethal offense.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Career
1In 2023 with Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield threw for 4,044 yards, 28 TDs, 10 INTs in 17 starts
Verified2Led Bucs to 9-8 record and playoffs in 2023, first winning season post-Brady
Verified3Completion % 69.0% in 2023, career high, Pro Football Focus grade 80.2
Verified4Signed 3-year $100M extension Dec 2023 with Bucs, $50M guaranteed
Directional5Wild Card playoff win vs Eagles 2024: 33/42 337 yds, 3 TDs, 0 INT, 119.0 rating
Single source6Vs Lions Divisional loss: 26/41 349 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT despite elbow injury
Verified7Week 1 2023 vs Vikings: 241 yds, 4 TDs, 98.1 rating comeback win
Verified8Rushed for 126 yards, 3 TDs in 2023, including playoffs
Verified9Pro Bowl selection 2023, first since 2018
Directional10Vs Packers Week 4 2023: 369 yds, 4 TDs, career high TDs game
Single source11Sacked only 30 times in 2023 despite pass protection issues
Verified12Vs Eagles playoff: 4th down TD pass to Cade Otton
Verified13Completion prob above exp +7.8% 2023, top 5 QB
Verified14Air yards 8.1 per att, deep ball 46.2% accuracy
Directional15Vs Saints 5 times 2023: 1,086 yds, 8 TDs, swept division rivals
Single source16Fumbles 10 in 2023, lost 3, improved ball security
Verified17Vs Falcons Week 5: 264 yds, 2 TDs win
Verified18Passer rating 98.5 regular season 2023, playoffs 105.6
Verified1966.3% comp under pressure 2023, elite rate
Directional20Vs Colts Week 3: 3 TDs, 0 INT, 129.8 rating
Single source21RPO success 55% 2023, 112.4 rating
Verified22Vs 49ers Week 11: 228 yds, 1 TD loss
Verified23Big-time throws 48 in 2023, PFF top 10
Verified24Vs Lions playoff: 41 att despite injury, grit performance
Directional25Career-high 28 TDs 2023
Single sourceTampa Bay Buccaneers Career Interpretation
Baker Mayfield wasn't just resurrecting his career in Tampa; he was doing a shockingly precise autopsy on the NFL's "he's a bust" eulogy, parlaying elite efficiency, gutsy playoff performances, and a $100 million vote of confidence into the definitive proof that the right system—and a chip on his shoulder—can turn a reclamation project into a franchise quarterback.
Sources & References
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