When it comes to the battle between the Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield, the fans may be naturally inclined to support the team.
Bucs guard Cody Mauch: Baker Mayfield is "100 percent" a franchise quarterback
Baker Mayfield is described as '100 percent' a franchise quarterback by Cody Mauch of the Bucs.
Scoring Zone's Take
Baker Mayfield's fantasy profile heading into draft season is more about roster construction noise than actual performance risk. Cody Mauch's public vote of confidence — calling him a "100 percent" franchise quarterback — reinforces that the Bucs' locker room and coaching staff still view Mayfield as their guy entering the season, which matters for continuity of the offense, his weapons, and play-calling consistency. That's a mild positive signal for draft stability: no quarterback competition or benching threat is being reported here.
The more interesting thread is Mayfield reportedly feeling disrespected in Tampa Bay, with chatter he could look elsewhere after the 2026 season. This is speculative and long-term — it has zero bearing on his 2024 fantasy value or ADP this summer. Teams don't blow up starting quarterback situations mid-summer over vague discontent, and there's no indication of an imminent trade, holdout, or benching. Treat this strictly as an offseason subplot to monitor, not a reason to downgrade him on your board.
Bottom line for draft prep: keep Mayfield valued as Tampa's entrenched starter with his existing supporting cast intact — draft him as a solid QB2/streaming option or low-end starter depending on your league format, same tier as before this news broke. Don't let the "disrespected" quote spook you into fading his 2024 outlook; it's aimed at his future beyond this season, not his role now. Continue monitoring beat reporting through camp for any shift in tone, but no actionable start/sit or add/drop change is warranted from this cluster alone. Confidence is high on the "no immediate impact" read, low on any long-term trade speculation actually materializing.