Todd Bowles couldn’t help but laugh when asked about Baker Mayfield’s ability to run.
The usually serious coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers chuckled when someone compared Mayfield’s mobility to that of Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Washington’s Jayden Daniels, or Buffalo’s Josh Allen.
He acknowledged that while Mayfield may not be as elusive, he can still make important plays while moving. “He’s fourth, let’s just say, behind those three guys,” Bowles said, still smiling. “He’s mobile enough to get the yards we need.”
“You don’t have to be a fast quarterback to be a mobile quarterback,” he added. “He knows when he needs to run, and he does that well.”
Mayfield, who will play against Jackson and the top Ravens on Monday night, admits he doesn’t think of himself as one of the best runners at his position.
However, he has still moved out of the pocket when necessary, helping the Bucs (4-2) have a strong start that puts them tied for first in the NFC South.
“I would not put myself in that category with those guys by any means. It amazes me when you get to watch some of these guys on tape. Lamar, Jayden, Josh, the things they can do, extending plays, just the vision that they have, that’s a God-given gift that they have,” Mayfield said. “I’ll do what I can, but it’s not to that level.”
Jackson, a two-time MVP, is arguably playing the best football of his career, and the Ravens (4-2) have won four straight games after starting 0-2.
Mayfield has thrown for 1,489 yards and leads the league with 15 touchdowns. Baltimore leads the NFL in rushing and total offense, with Jackson passing for 1,529 yards and 10 touchdowns and running for 403 yards and two more scores.
The quarterbacks have been familiar with each other since they both won the Heisman Trophy in college, with Jackson winning it in 2016 and Mayfield following in 2017.
Mayfield was the first pick in the 2018 draft, while Jackson entered the NFL that same year as the last pick of the first round.
The Ravens star mentioned that he doesn’t feel any extra motivation facing a quarterback from his draft class on Monday night.
“No, I just want to win. I go out there, and I look at every game the same way. (Mayfield) is a tremendous quarterback; he has been since college, ever since I’ve known him — even going back to the Heisman,” Jackson said.
“You can say we have a relationship a little bit from there. But outside of football, I’m not really around other quarterbacks. … I love his game. He’s still the same person from what I see,” Jackson added. “From afar, he’s still the same Baker.”
