![]() Smith's quarterback coach with Seattle last season, Dave Canales, is now with Mayfield in Tampa Bay as the Buccaneers offensive coordinator. Mayfield is in a similar situation with the ability to throw to four-time Pro Bowl wideout Mike Evans as well as Pro Bowl receiver Chris Godwin. One key factor in Smith's 2022 resurgence is he landed in an offense with two Pro Bowl receivers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. That performance propelled him to win the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, not for overcoming any injury, but rather eight years of unspectacular play on the field. Smith led the NFL in completion percentage (68.8%), throwing a Seahawks-record 4,282 passing yards and ranked top five in the league in passing touchdowns (30) and passer rating (100.9). Brady's second retirement led to Mayfield's arrival in Tampa Bay via free agency this offseason. Russell Wilson being traded to the Denver Broncos opened the door for Smith to compete with Drew Lock to be the Seahawks' starting quarterback at 32 years old, and he made the most of the opportunity, playing like a top 10 quarterback and earning the first Pro Bowl selection of his 10-year career. Smith struggled right from the start of his career playing on many subpar New York Jets teams (2013-2016) before bouncing around between the New York Giants (2017), Los Angeles Chargers (2018) and the Seattle Seahawks (2019-2021) as a backup. The highwater mark of his career came in 2020 when he helped lead the Browns to their first playoff win since the 1994 season, but Cleveland opted to move on from Mayfield because of an injury-plagued 2021 campaign and the opportunity to acquire Deshaun Watson. Mayfield started out his career well, setting the then record for most passing touchdowns by a rookie with 27 in 2018. Although, it's worth pointing out Mayfield entered the league with much higher hopes after being selected first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft versus Smith being selected 39th overall as a second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. Mayfield enters the upcoming season with many parallels to Smith's career, one of which is being on his fourth team while facing what's likely his final chance to be considered an NFL starter.īoth Smith and Mayfield lit up the Big 12 in college and were selected in the first two rounds of the draft. If there's going to be any quarterback who follows in Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith's 2022 footsteps to go from career castoff to a solid starting quarterback/potential Pro Bowler in 2023, it's Mayfield. ![]() ![]() * Baker Mayfield started Week 1 for the Cleveland Browns in 2021 and the Carolina Panthers in 2022 Mayfield is set to join a unique club following this announcement: he will become the sixth quarterback since at least 1950 to be a Week 1 starter for a different team in three consecutive seasons: Week 1 starter for different team in 3 straight seasons Mayfield sat out last week's preseason loss to the Jets, as Trask played the majority of the game. His primary competition, 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask, then followed up Mayfield in that game and completed six of his 10 throws for 99 yards and an interception. Mayfield was an effective 8 of 9 passing for 63 yards and a touchdown, an 8-yard scoring pass to rookie Trey Palmer. He played the first four possessions, which included a 59-yard touchdown drive. Mayfield started in the Buccaneers' first preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The preseason quarterback competition drama across the NFL officially ended Tuesday with Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles naming 2018 first overall pick Baker Mayfield Tom Brady's successor as their next starting quarterback.
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