Baker Mayfield
ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions. At quarterback, Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield came in at No.10 on the compilation behind Jalen Hurts, Jared Goff, Justin Herbert, Matthew Stafford, Jayden Daniels, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. Mayfield was praised for his "career resurgence" in Tampa Bay and for his 73 touchdowns over the previous two seasons (only Allen and Jackson produced more).
Mayfield completed 407 of 540 passes (71.4%) for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2024, earning a passer rating of 106.8. For the second consecutive season, he established career highs in completions, completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns, while also setting new career bests in passer rating (106.8) and net yards per pass attempt (7.9). During his prolific 2024 campaign, Mayfield became the fourth passer in NFL history to throw for 4,000-plus yards, 40-plus touchdowns, and record a 70% or higher completion rate, joining Drew Brees (2011), Joe Burrow (2024) and Aaron Rodgers (2020). Mayfield became one of 10 players in NFL history to ever throw for 4,500-plus yards and 40-plus touchdowns in a single season. The former Heisman Trophy winner ranked among league leaders in completions (tied-2nd), passing touchdowns (tied- 2nd), completion percentage (3rd), passing yards (3rd) and passer rating (4th) in 2024. He ignited the offense with his moxie, arm talent, improvisation skills and his ability to thread the needle at all three levels of the field.
Tristan Wirfs
Taking a look at the offensive line category in ESPN’s docket, executives, coaches and scouts ranked the top 10 and Tristan Wirfs took first place. Wirfs was cited for being the first player in league history to earn first-team All-Pro honors at left and right tackle, a notable feat he accomplished in only his second year at both positions respectively. He set the tone up front in 2024 for Tampa Bay and anchored the unit with his athleticism.
Wirfs finished the regular season with the 2nd-lowest pressure rate allowed (4.7%) among left tackles with at least 200 pass block snaps, down from the 8.0% pressure rate he recorded in 2023. He did not allow a single pressure in four games this past season, the only player at his position to do so (min. 25 pass block snaps). Wirfs' lateral quickness on pulls out of counter trap concepts elevated the Bucs' run game in 2024 and many of Bucky Irving's explosive plays came off of Wirfs' paving the way with key blocks.
