Baker Mayfield has never been shy about his feelings toward the organization that drafted him first overall back in 2018, and his upcoming Week 2 matchup against Cleveland is already generating plenty of buildup. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback sat down with Rich Eisen this week for a wide-ranging interview covering his contract situation, the state of Tampa Bay’s offense without Mike Evans and his general mindset heading into his ninth season in the league. Naturally, the conversation eventually turned to his former team, and Mayfield did not dance around the subject when asked about facing the Browns in Week 2.
Mayfield sent a clear message about what this game means to him.
“Honestly, it’s just about winning against the Browns. I couldn’t care less about what’s going on with the quarterback situation in their building. It’s just about beating them and letting them know that I’ve found a home,” Mayfield said.
After a promising rookie season, injuries and inconsistency clouded his final years with the Browns before the organization moved on and turned the page toward Deshaun Watson. Mayfield bounced around the league afterward before settling in Tampa Bay, where he has rebuilt his career and reputation as a legitimate starting-caliber quarterback. That journey is clearly still on his mind.
Cleveland’s quarterback room has indeed been a major storyline throughout the offseason, with Deshaun Watson winning the starting job over Shedeur Sanders while Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green round out a crowded depth chart.
Beyond the Browns angle, Mayfield also touched on the state of his own team, acknowledging the adjustment of playing without longtime teammate Mike Evans for the first time in his Tampa Bay tenure. Now in his ninth NFL season, Mayfield described feeling like a different player than the one who once wore orange and brown, a comment that reinforces just how much personal significance he continues to attach to his former team. Whether that motivation translates into results once the game kicks off remains to be seen, but Mayfield’s message leaves little doubt about how seriously he is treating the reunion.
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