Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield didn’t have to be impressed by his counterpart on Sunday—and that’s because he already believes Bryce Young is capable of anything.
The 2018 No. 1 overall pick, Mayfield, spoke to reporters following his team’s 26-23 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 13. The overtime outing saw yet another stellar performance from the 2023 No. 1 overall pick in Young—who recorded a season-high 298 passing yards, two total touchdowns and no turnovers.
Mayfield was asked how impressed he was of Young.
“I wouldn’t say ‘impressed,’ I’m just proud of him,” he replied. “The ups and downs of the league, the things that you go through—speaking from my own personal experience—proud of him. This guy has the potential to do anything he wants to do, and he’s gotta get that confidence back. And I think you can see it growing each and every day. And obviously, knowing the staff that he’s with, I know that’s a big part of what they do within the building.”
Mayfield’s personal experience, like Young’s, also crossed paths with current Panthers head coach Dave Canales. Canales, of course, was the Buccaneers offensive coordinator in 2023—where he helped guide Mayfield to a career rejuvenation.
While Canales’ results with Young weren’t as instantaneous as they may have been with Mayfield, seeing as though Canales benched Young after two games to start the campaign, things are trending upwards in Carolina.
Young, in his five games since returning as the starter under center, has completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 1,082 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. The Panthers are 2-3 in those games, with a pair of three-point losses to the Bucs and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
