Bowles Forces Roster Chaos as Mayfield Crisis Deepens
After ESPN analyst Ryan Clark boldly declared Baker Mayfield a top 10 quarterback, Tuesday’s practice provided a brutal reality check. According to Pewter Report, Mayfield fumbled a scramble with no defenders around him. Just Baker, open field and the ball on the ground.
It wasn’t just a freak mistake. It triggered flashbacks to January’s wild-card collapse against Washington, when Mayfield and rookie Jalen McMillan botched a jet sweep deep in their own territory. Tampa’s defense had just come up with a clutch stop. Instead of capitalizing, Mayfield gave the game away.
And yet, the Bucs doubled down on him in March, restructuring his deal to guarantee $30 million in 2026. With incentives, the deal could reach $115 million. But performances like this raise the question: did Tampa bet on the wrong Baker?
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Mayfield’s Struggles Now Have Ripple Effects Across the Roster
Head coach Todd Bowles is already juggling injuries, but his quarterback’s unreliability adds extra pressure. On Friday, things got worse when rookie pass rusher David Walker tore his ACL. The fourth-round pick from UCF was expected to be a key part of the defensive rotation. Now he’s headed to IR before even taking a snap.
Baker Mayfield broke looks and scrambled on his own for about 20 yards, but then fumbled the ball on his own with nobody around him. #Bucs
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) July 30, 2025
“He was making a big impact early,” Bowles said, clearly frustrated. “It didn’t look like much on film, but it ended up being that.”
Walker’s injury forces a reshuffling at edge rusher. Veterans Haason Reddick and Yaya Diaby will carry the load, while Anthony Nelson and Chris Braswell absorb the rookie’s lost reps. Tampa hoped to develop depth, now they’re scrambling for answers.
Mayfield’s fumbles and Walker’s injury aren’t isolated issues. They represent deeper problems: a volatile quarterback and an increasingly thin defense. Bowles has no choice but to adapt, but how long can Tampa Bay stay afloat with chaos under center?
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