Baker Mayfield expects Buccaneers to surprise NFL in 2026

Baker Mayfield anticipates the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to astonish the NFL in 2026. The quarterback expressed this sentiment during a press conference with reporters. "I think we're going to shock a lot of people this year," Mayfield declared. "And so I'm excited to just get on the road and do that." This optimism is rooted in Tampa Bay's 8-9 season last year, which saw them miss the playoffs after a 6-2 start.

Mayfield understands that many outside the organization are anticipating another challenging season. When asked about such predictions, he replied, "Yeah, I mean, listen, embellish it." "There's no embellishing. I think you can't avoid it. There's TVs everywhere." When asked directly if he believes Tampa Bay can improve, Mayfield responded, "Yeah.

Hell yeah, I am." "Everybody's picking us probably to have a losing record. So, we'll see." The Buccaneers have demonstrated depth during the preseason, defeating the New York Jets 24-16 despite resting Mayfield and most starters. However, this performance does not guarantee success in the regular season. Mayfield will need to lead an offense adjusting to a new coordinator, with Zac Robinson taking over.

The bigger challenge lies in replacing veteran production. Mike Evans left for San Francisco, and Tampa Bay lost other key players during the offseason. Nonetheless, the roster now features young talent around Mayfield. Emeka Egbuka adds to the passing game, while defensive additions may help address last year's issues. Tampa Bay's potential depends heavily on Mayfield's health and limiting mistakes.

Last season, his 3,693 passing yards and 26 touchdowns were not sufficient to prevent the team's downfall. Mayfield is likely to get his first preseason action against Kansas City on Saturday, giving Tampa Bay its first glimpse of the new offense with their starting quarterback. Despite his bold prediction, the 2026 Buccaneers have enough changes to make the season worth watching. It is now up to Mayfield to transform his confidence into consistent results.