NFL analyst says Bucs win Super Bowl with Justin Herbert over Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield's career has experienced a significant resurgence since joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers two years ago, marked by high-quality play that contrasts sharply with his earlier struggles in Cleveland and Carolina. His remarkable comeback, rare for a quarterback previously written off in the NFL, has revitalized his standing in the league.

Due to Mayfield's stellar performance, the Buccaneers are now considered strong contenders for NFC supremacy, with expectations so high that failing to win a fifth consecutive NFC South championship would be seen as a major disappointment.

Despite widespread belief in Mayfield's abilities, some analysts remain unconvinced. Dan Orlovsky, on ESPN's First Take, praised Mayfield's clutch play and big-time throws, highlighting his success in Tampa Bay.

However, fellow ESPN analyst Kevin Clark presented a contrasting view. Clark controversially stated that if Justin Herbert were swapped for Mayfield as the Buccaneers' quarterback in a "fantasy world," he would immediately pick Tampa Bay to win the Super Bowl. Clark doubled down on this opinion when questioned by Orlovsky, specifically linking the Super Bowl prediction to Herbert being the quarterback.

Clark's comments can be interpreted as a direct critique of Mayfield's perceived ceiling as the Buccaneers' quarterback. Alternatively, they might be seen as an endorsement of the talent surrounding the quarterback position in Tampa Bay, suggesting Herbert's undeniable talent would be a perfect fit for a roster Clark potentially views as superior to Herbert's current team, the Chargers. Regardless of the intent, Clark's statement clearly indicates he does not believe Mayfield is the quarterback who can lead the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory.