Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield believes the team is poised to defy expectations and "shock" the league in the upcoming season. Mayfield stated his confidence to reporters Tuesday following a practice session.
"I think we’re going to shock a lot of people this year," Mayfield said. "I’m excited to just get on the road and do that."
The Buccaneers, who finished last season with an 8-9 record and missed the playoffs after losing a tiebreaker with the Carolina Panthers, have undergone changes. Head coach Todd Bowles dismissed five assistant coaches, including offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. Zac Robinson has been hired as the new offensive coordinator.
Despite these adjustments, including the addition of running back Kenneth Gainwell, Mayfield anticipates that external perceptions of the team may remain low. "You can’t avoid it. The TVs everywhere… everyone is probably gonna pick us to have a losing record this year," Mayfield commented. "We’ll see."
The team also saw the departure of wide receiver Mike Evans in free agency. This change is expected to elevate second-year receiver Emeka Egbuka, who recorded 63 receptions for 938 yards in his rookie campaign, to the role of the primary target for Mayfield.
Mayfield's confident outlook is consistent with his previous statements. At the end of July, he expressed feeling "disrespected" by the lack of a new contract and predicted a strong individual performance. "If you’ve waited this long to pay your franchise quarterback, it’s only going to get worse. … I’m going to have a big year,” Mayfield said.