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Buccaneers (Again) Predicted For Regression Under Baker Mayfield

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Feb 15, 2025 11:26 AM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are coming off back-to-back NFC South titles, and Baker Mayfield has played some of the best football of his career.

Keep in mind that this was with a new offensive coordinator each season, too, so Mayfield was working with a new system, but he still got the Buccaneers into the playoffs as division winners.

Now, Mayfield will have another coordinator, Josh Grizzard, who was the passing game coordinator last season, stepping into the main role.

Given that it will now be three consecutive seasons with a new coordinator, ESPN's Eric Moody sees a regression coming for the Bucs.

"Buccaneers," Moody writes. "The NFC South won't be as easy for the Buccaneers in 2025 like it was in 2024. Mayfield will have another new offensive coordinator, and hitting on three straight OC hires is rare."

The Buccaneers, in the second half of the year, were one of the best teams in football, rattling off six wins in their last seven regular-season games to make the postseason.

Grizzard's first-hand knowledge of how the offense was run and its strengths and weaknesses will put him in good stead to make minor adjustments to keep one of the NFL's top offenses rolling.

The NFC South is a big question mark right now.

How will the New Orleans Saints fair with first-time head coach Kellen Moore? How will Bryce Young look in Year 3 and Michael Penix Jr. in what will be his first year as a starting NFL quarterback?

The Buccaneers don't have those question marks hanging over them.

Once again, Tampa Bay is being doubted in the offseason, and time will tell if Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield can work their magic for a third successive season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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