MVP: Baker Mayfield

[Pirate Life]

Who was MVP favorite this time last year?

Based on the the odds after week 5 last season, Mahomes and Allen with a slight edge to Mahomes.

[Grahamburn]

5 games. He needs to do it again this week. He needs to do it again next week. If he’s the MVP he’ll take care of it himself.

Part of it is doing it, the other part is being recognized for it. Garnering that recognition this early in the year is a huge leg up.

We’ve done this before though and then hit the skids.

[Lordnlkon]

Part of it is doing it, the other part is being recognized for it. Garnering that recognition this early in the year is a huge leg up.

We’ve done this before though and then hit the skids.

Yeah we have. This team feels a little different though than the last few years. Not saying it can't happen but I feel less worried about it.

[__Chef__]

Part of it is doing it, the other part is being recognized for it. Garnering that recognition this early in the year is a huge leg up.

We’ve done this before though and then hit the skids.

I'm talking about Baker playing at an elite level, and getting MVP talk this early.

[Grahamburn]

We’ve done this before though and then hit the skids.

I'm talking about Baker playing at an elite level, and getting MVP talk this early.

Yes. We’ve seen him play well and then get significant attention only to regress. Moreso in 2023 and only when he lost Evans/Godwin last year.

We’re all hoping it’s different this time. Sunday’s game is huge.

[Doctor]

Only now he's MVPing without Evans and Godwin.

Can't wait for after the bye.

[Jonny]

Who was MVP favorite this time last year?

I believe it was Lamar

[Sdbucs]

Not sure why Jallen is the runaway MVP favorite right now.

Baker and Stafford are both candidates for sure

[__Chef__]

Not sure why Jallen is the runaway MVP favorite right now.

Baker and Stafford are both candidates for sure

Baker #1:

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-qb-ranking ... nfl-season

[Sooner06]

This vid should be re-titled “shit 20 other QBs can’t do”

Well how many QBs can?

Possibly no more than 4-5. Mahomes, Stafford, Burrow, Allen and Rodgers.

[Bootz]

Well how many QBs can?

Possibly no more than 4-5. Mahomes, Stafford, Burrow, Allen and Rodgers.

Question was rhetorical. It's hilarious the lengths this phrase people have taken this out of context. And now you've convinced yourselves that NFL level QBs can't operate at high levels? Kinda sad actually.

[Grahamburn]

Possibly no more than 4-5. Mahomes, Stafford, Burrow, Allen and Rodgers.

Question was rhetorical. It's hilarious the lengths this phrase people have taken this out of context. And now you've convinced yourselves that NFL level QBs can't operate at high levels? Kinda sad actually.

You said it, duder. You’re the one who has to qualify it.

Either come off it or don’t.

[Lordnlkon]

Not sure why Jallen is the runaway MVP favorite right now.

Baker and Stafford are both candidates for sure

Baker #1:

https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-qb-ranking ... nfl-season

Don’t fool yourself, he’s only worth about $25 million a year. /blue

[Bootz]

Question was rhetorical. It's hilarious the lengths this phrase people have taken this out of context. And now you've convinced yourselves that NFL level QBs can't operate at high levels? Kinda sad actually.

You said it, duder. You’re the one who has to qualify it.

Either come off it or don’t.

Again, you've taken it out of context on purpose. I've explained where it came from, people have acknowledged it and still said "I hear you but I choose to believe alternative facts".

[Primeminister]

5 games. He needs to do it again this week. He needs to do it again next week. If he’s the MVP he’ll take care of it himself.

Agreed. The fact he has played well enough to put himself in this conversation speaks volumes. Week to week he has to perform more often than not. Because of the market + Baker not being one of the QB untouchables (Mahomes, Lamar, Allen, Burrow) he will have to go against the “I told you so” whenever he has a bad game.

[Primeminister]

Football is overwhelmingly about situations and rising to the occasion in the highest magnitude situations.

QBing is about a lot of things, but the most important piece is about rising to the occasion in the highest magnitude situations and overcoming adversity, in particular, adversity that is not of your own personal making.

Yes, he has put the ball in danger here and there and gotten away with a few that he won't get away with persistently, but no NFL QB has done the above better than Baker Mayfield in 2025.

Of course he has to be in the conversation (if not at the top of it) for 2025 MVP through week 5. Ton of football left to play though. But through week 5, given all the adversity this team and this offense has endured? I'd cast my 2025 vote for MVP to Mayfield and not given it a second thought.

Nailed it

[__Chef__]

5 games. He needs to do it again this week. He needs to do it again next week. If he’s the MVP he’ll take care of it himself.

Agreed. The fact he has played well enough to put himself in this conversation speaks volumes. Week to week he has to perform more often than not. Because of the market + Baker not being one of the QB untouchables (Mahomes, Lamar, Allen, Burrow) he will have to go against the “I told you so” whenever he has a bad game.

The first hurdle is even getting people to entertain the thought of Baker being an MVP candidate. He played great last year, but nobody was even thinking about MVP for him. It was what a great job Coen did, and wow that rookie RB Bucky was a steal, and OMG Mike Evans just nailed another 1k year, and hey ... Baker played pretty good too.

The fact that this team has rallied to the record they have, while overcoming key injuries and doing it without Coen, AND Baker putting the team on his back and having last minute comeback victories over and over again is what cements the thought into minds that would have never entertained the idea before, and would default back to Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, or Mahomes.

I disagree with the notion that Baker needs to continue to play lights out for the rest of the year. Having his name now associated with the title was the biggest hurdle, and he's now done it. All that needs to happen now is continue to produce. Not necessarily at the same level of excellence (although that would be nice), but continue to win(ish) and perform anywhere within the realm of what he's done since he got here, and the award is his.

[Sooner06]

Possibly no more than 4-5. Mahomes, Stafford, Burrow, Allen and Rodgers.

Question was rhetorical. It's hilarious the lengths this phrase people have taken this out of context. And now you've convinced yourselves that NFL level QBs can't operate at high levels? Kinda sad actually.

you're right; it is kind of sad to see the state of Qb play today vs. a decade ago.

But I didn't convince myself. Tom Brady, Payton Manning, Kurt Warner, Steve Young, Greg Cosell as well as a couple other more than credible sources stated that 'the quality of QB play in the NFL has declined significantly over the past few years,' and some of them even went as far as to post film study to prove their point(s) (1 from Brady, a few from Manning, several from both Warner and Cosell). I went ahead and looked at those film studies as well as a few others (JTS/Chase Daniel principally), watched a few more on my own, checked out their splits, EPAs, CPOEs, etc. and came to the same conclusions they did.


Most NFL QBs don't/can't play beyond the Xs and Os and/or the paper routes. go back and check out Stroud's tape when he played TB. During that last drive (maybe the drive immediately before); Bowles is going to blitz on 2nd or 3rd and long. He's showing cover 0 or 1, with everyone up on the LoS. The blitzers are coming from Stroud's right, and they have numbers. Stroud has to either check out of the play and/or hit the hot; he doesn't have time to make two reads. the ball is snapped, his TE runs a 7-10 yd stick on the right and he's wide open for about 2 seconds. Stroud never looks at him, even though the man is standing less than 15 yds out almost directly in front of him. Instead he turns to his left and starts trying to get through his progressions??? he takes a completely unnecessary sack, which was great for us, but just perfectly illustrated Brady's point about how young QBs keep taking these types of sacks because they don't have the answers to pressure, even when it's obvious.

Or, watch that INT by Hurts the other night. First, whichever PHI receiver that runs that post is WIDE OPEN. That's a TD, and just about ay NFL QB can make that throw. But Hurts never looks that way. Why? Because, per PFR and NextGenStats, he throws to the middle of the field less than 13% of the time over his career. The least by any active NFL QB since he was drafted. according to Cosell, Hurts isn't a rhythm passer and doesn't like to throw to windows inside the numbers, and struggles making reads/throws to the middle third of the field. Which greatly limits what kinds of plays and how many different plays can be in the playbook.

Anyway, Hurts never looks at that post route. Instead, he turns to his left and throws a pick-6. That the DB was just waiting for it. The DB knew that Hurts was going to throw that weak out to the left, because he obviously watched film and took notes and knew that Hurts is a poor passer to the middle third. he even taps the side of his helmet after the play when he jobs back to his sideline, as if telling his teammates "I watched the film and had the cheat code."

again, none of this is "my idea," at all. i noticed years ago that something seemed off about how the QB position was being played, but it took Brady/Manning/Warner/Cosell for me to make the connection as to why.

Go ahead and check it all out for yourself. i watched 90% of those vids on YT. If you have NFL+ you can watch every A-22 and verify all of it for yourself, in case you think Brady/Manning/Warner/Cosell/etc. were somehow lying. Keep the QB's splits handy. it won't take very long to see that those HOF QBs are right. In fact, for most QBs it'll probably be brutally obvious and you won't even have to watch more than a couple 2nd half series to verify.

Lamar might not even require tape study. Just check out his 3rd down stats vs. any other down, and his 'no huddle' stats. those numbers are pretty telling all by themselves.

[Backside]

Not sure why Jallen is the runaway MVP favorite right now.

Baker and Stafford are both candidates for sure

Vegas doesn’t have a vote. They set the odds trying to make the most money possible, and to be on the hook to payout the least amount possible too.

[Sooner06]

Agreed. The fact he has played well enough to put himself in this conversation speaks volumes. Week to week he has to perform more often than not. Because of the market + Baker not being one of the QB untouchables (Mahomes, Lamar, Allen, Burrow) he will have to go against the “I told you so” whenever he has a bad game.

The first hurdle is even getting people to entertain the thought of Baker being an MVP candidate. He played great last year, but nobody was even thinking about MVP for him. It was what a great job Coen did, and wow that rookie RB Bucky was a steal, and OMG Mike Evans just nailed another 1k year, and hey ... Baker played pretty good too.

The fact that this team has rallied to the record they have, while overcoming key injuries and doing it without Coen, AND Baker putting the team on his back and having last minute comeback victories over and over again is what cements the thought into minds that would have never entertained the idea before, and would default back to Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, or Mahomes.

I disagree with the notion that Baker needs to continue to play lights out for the rest of the year. Having his name now associated with the title was the biggest hurdle, and he's now done it. All that needs to happen now is continue to produce. Not necessarily at the same level of excellence (although that would be nice), but continue to win(ish) and perform anywhere within the realm of what he's done since he got here, and the award is his.

let's be brutally honest about Baker's chances of earning the regular season MVP, which are slight at best. unless Baker turns in a season that just blows every other QB away (somewhere in the ballpark of say 5,000 yds/45 TDs/2 INTs/75%comp%/QBR=90/PR=135), AND wins 15-16 games, he's not winning the MVP. too many voters don't like Baker on a personal level, and a large part of the MVP is a popularity contest, which Baker isn't winning this year. maybe if he continues to play well and makes nice with more sports media types, he might win one 2-3 years from now. But, well, I mean, just look at the naysayers on just this board. They can't even believe their lying eyes, and Baker is their QB, fcs.


But I like that Baker is at least in the conversation, and he has changed a few minds anyway, which is progress of a sort.

[Backside]

The first hurdle is even getting people to entertain the thought of Baker being an MVP candidate. He played great last year, but nobody was even thinking about MVP for him. It was what a great job Coen did, and wow that rookie RB Bucky was a steal, and OMG Mike Evans just nailed another 1k year, and hey ... Baker played pretty good too.

The fact that this team has rallied to the record they have, while overcoming key injuries and doing it without Coen, AND Baker putting the team on his back and having last minute comeback victories over and over again is what cements the thought into minds that would have never entertained the idea before, and would default back to Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, or Mahomes.

I disagree with the notion that Baker needs to continue to play lights out for the rest of the year. Having his name now associated with the title was the biggest hurdle, and he's now done it. All that needs to happen now is continue to produce. Not necessarily at the same level of excellence (although that would be nice), but continue to win(ish) and perform anywhere within the realm of what he's done since he got here, and the award is his.

let's be brutally honest about Baker's chances of earning the regular season MVP, which are slight at best. unless Baker turns in a season that just blows every other QB away (somewhere in the ballpark of say 5,000 yds/45 TDs/2 INTs/75%comp%/QBR=90/PR=135), AND wins 15-16 games, he's not winning the MVP. too many voters don't like Baker on a personal level, and a large part of the MVP is a popularity contest, which Baker isn't winning this year. maybe if he continues to play well and makes nice with more sports media types, he might win one 2-3 years from now. But, well, I mean, just look at the naysayers on just this board. They can't even believe their lying eyes, and Baker is their QB, fcs.


But I like that Baker is at least in the conversation, and he has changed a few minds anyway, which is progress of a sort.

I’m not sure what your internet bubble looks like but this doesn’t reflect mine whatsoever. People LOVE Baker from what I see. He’s a near consensus ‘first five weeks’ MVP. If he kept up his level of play, and had the statistical and W-L record to justify an MVP I absolutely think people would vote for him. If anything I think it’s the opposite of what you’re saying and people would love to vote for something new and fun instead of another Allen or Mahomes MVP.

Hopefully his play and the wins continue so we can see which reality is correct.

[Sooner06]

let's be brutally honest about Baker's chances of earning the regular season MVP, which are slight at best. unless Baker turns in a season that just blows every other QB away (somewhere in the ballpark of say 5,000 yds/45 TDs/2 INTs/75%comp%/QBR=90/PR=135), AND wins 15-16 games, he's not winning the MVP. too many voters don't like Baker on a personal level, and a large part of the MVP is a popularity contest, which Baker isn't winning this year. maybe if he continues to play well and makes nice with more sports media types, he might win one 2-3 years from now. But, well, I mean, just look at the naysayers on just this board. They can't even believe their lying eyes, and Baker is their QB, fcs.


But I like that Baker is at least in the conversation, and he has changed a few minds anyway, which is progress of a sort.

I’m not sure what your internet bubble looks like but this doesn’t reflect mine whatsoever. People LOVE Baker from what I see. He’s a near consensus ‘first five weeks’ MVP. If he kept up his level of play, and had the statistical and W-L record to justify an MVP I absolutely think people would vote for him. If anything I think it’s the opposite of what you’re saying and people would love to vote for something new and fun instead of another Allen or Mahomes MVP.

Hopefully his play and the wins continue so we can see which reality is correct.

I sincerely hope you're right on this one. I really do. But I also realize that Baker can be a very polarizing figure, and early in his career he didn't make a lot of friends among the senior sports media types that have a vote. And the MVP race is largely a popularity contest.


Speaking of the MVP, a couple birdies told me (and their entire internet audience, lol) that Mek might be the hunt himself. Acho on Speakeasy and someone on Get Up!, iirc, just yesterday. Now, wouldn't that be something? When's the last time a rookie won the MVP?

[Backside]

I’m not sure what your internet bubble looks like but this doesn’t reflect mine whatsoever. People LOVE Baker from what I see. He’s a near consensus ‘first five weeks’ MVP. If he kept up his level of play, and had the statistical and W-L record to justify an MVP I absolutely think people would vote for him. If anything I think it’s the opposite of what you’re saying and people would love to vote for something new and fun instead of another Allen or Mahomes MVP.

Hopefully his play and the wins continue so we can see which reality is correct.

I sincerely hope you're right on this one. I really do. But I also realize that Baker can be a very polarizing figure, and early in his career he didn't make a lot of friends among the senior sports media types that have a vote. And the MVP race is largely a popularity contest.


Speaking of the MVP, a couple birdies told me (and their entire internet audience, lol) that Mek might be the hunt himself. Acho on Speakeasy and someone on Get Up!, iirc, just yesterday. Now, wouldn't that be something? When's the last time a rookie won the MVP?

I can't speak to the voiceless MVP voters. But I also don't know of any corner of the NFL internet that isn't massively in favor of Baker. Nor have I heard dissent from any prominent voices in the media. He wasn't discussed last year because his play along with a 10-7 record wasn't near enough to seriously break into the Lamar/Allen debate. And one or two fewer game winning drives, or a few ints being caught by defenders and we're not having the convo, even early, this year either. Baker just needs to keep doing his thing. Hopefully he can tune out the noise. The national glazing, while deserved, is getting to an insane level. Historically that has never boded well for this team.

Edit: There is a 0% chance Egbuka wins MVP though lol That was definitely just a talking head wanting a talking point for a segment. Non QBs don't win MVP. And even EE's incredible start is not near good enough for him to be on pace for any kind of MVP discussion, even OPOY would take much better numbers than he's put up so far. Let's keep EE's 'goal' at OROTY where it should be.

[Sooner06]

I sincerely hope you're right on this one. I really do. But I also realize that Baker can be a very polarizing figure, and early in his career he didn't make a lot of friends among the senior sports media types that have a vote. And the MVP race is largely a popularity contest.


Speaking of the MVP, a couple birdies told me (and their entire internet audience, lol) that Mek might be the hunt himself. Acho on Speakeasy and someone on Get Up!, iirc, just yesterday. Now, wouldn't that be something? When's the last time a rookie won the MVP?

I can't speak to the voiceless MVP voters. But I also don't know of any corner of the NFL internet that isn't massively in favor of Baker. Nor have I heard dissent from any prominent voices in the media. He wasn't discussed last year because his play along with a 10-7 record wasn't near enough to seriously break into the Lamar/Allen debate. And one or two fewer game winning drives, or a few ints being caught by defenders and we're not having the convo, even early, this year either. Baker just needs to keep doing his thing. Hopefully he can tune out the noise. The national glazing, while deserved, is getting to an insane level. Historically that has never boded well for this team.

Edit: There is a 0% chance Egbuka wins MVP though lol That was definitely just a talking head wanting a talking point for a segment. Non QBs don't win MVP. And even EE's incredible start is not near good enough for him to be on pace for any kind of MVP discussion, even OPOY would take much better numbers than he's put up so far. Let's keep EE's 'goal' at OROTY where it should be.

Oh, I know EE isn't going to actually win the MVP, just thought it was interesting that he was even mentioned, and by an actual voter (Acho).

[Backside]

I can't speak to the voiceless MVP voters. But I also don't know of any corner of the NFL internet that isn't massively in favor of Baker. Nor have I heard dissent from any prominent voices in the media. He wasn't discussed last year because his play along with a 10-7 record wasn't near enough to seriously break into the Lamar/Allen debate. And one or two fewer game winning drives, or a few ints being caught by defenders and we're not having the convo, even early, this year either. Baker just needs to keep doing his thing. Hopefully he can tune out the noise. The national glazing, while deserved, is getting to an insane level. Historically that has never boded well for this team.

Edit: There is a 0% chance Egbuka wins MVP though lol That was definitely just a talking head wanting a talking point for a segment. Non QBs don't win MVP. And even EE's incredible start is not near good enough for him to be on pace for any kind of MVP discussion, even OPOY would take much better numbers than he's put up so far. Let's keep EE's 'goal' at OROTY where it should be.

Oh, I know EE isn't going to actually win the MVP, just thought it was interesting that he was even mentioned, and by an actual voter (Acho).

Acho is a voter?

[Sooner06]

Oh, I know EE isn't going to actually win the MVP, just thought it was interesting that he was even mentioned, and by an actual voter (Acho).

Acho is a voter?

Loved Gran Torino. Tumbs up for the clip there.

Surprised the heck out of me as well. But unless he's straight lying to his base, he said yesterday on SpeakEasy (on YT) that he was indeed a MVP voter, and that "if he was voting today, he'd vote for Baker over everyone else." Shady wasn't amused; Lesean doesn't like Baker. Then, a little later Acho said that he'd also put EE in the hat as a potential MVP, based on the level of his play so far.

Then, i watched a replay of Get Up! and one of those guys said they'd vote for Baker right now, but he didn't say he was a voter.

[Babeinbucland]

let's be brutally honest about Baker's chances of earning the regular season MVP, which are slight at best. unless Baker turns in a season that just blows every other QB away (somewhere in the ballpark of say 5,000 yds/45 TDs/2 INTs/75%comp%/QBR=90/PR=135), AND wins 15-16 games, he's not winning the MVP. too many voters don't like Baker on a personal level, and a large part of the MVP is a popularity contest, which Baker isn't winning this year. maybe if he continues to play well and makes nice with more sports media types, he might win one 2-3 years from now. But, well, I mean, just look at the naysayers on just this board. They can't even believe their lying eyes, and Baker is their QB, fcs.


But I like that Baker is at least in the conversation, and he has changed a few minds anyway, which is progress of a sort.

I’m not sure what your internet bubble looks like but this doesn’t reflect mine whatsoever. People LOVE Baker from what I see. He’s a near consensus ‘first five weeks’ MVP. If he kept up his level of play, and had the statistical and W-L record to justify an MVP I absolutely think people would vote for him. If anything I think it’s the opposite of what you’re saying and people would love to vote for something new and fun instead of another Allen or Mahomes MVP.

Hopefully his play and the wins continue so we can see which reality is correct.

This/

[Snake]

[Bootz]

What conversation is that exactly?

That's a parody account on twitter. Got called out accordingly.

[Doctor]

MVP fatigue is a real thing. People like something fresh. Baker is fresh. So long as we keep winning and he keeps his numbers close like last year he'll have a shot.

But overall team performance is a massively weighted in these things. Everyone has to keep it up.

[Noles1724]

It will be an avalanche of negativity if the wheels wobble for an extended amount of time.

It's all because of his moxy/dna/vibe.. when he wins it's a +/all love, exact opposite for Ls; he should focus more, stop chirping/ doing commercials, etc.

It's not justified or fair to him really. It suggest that's he's not authentic.

If you're(generally speaking/analysis)a fan and speak about his alpha confidence as one of his strengths.. bringing up his cockie-ness as a detriment, has no merit.

Just an opinion from a pessimist, turned optimist, turned fan

[Phantom]

Any question?

[Buc2]

Part of it is doing it, the other part is being recognized for it. Garnering that recognition this early in the year is a huge leg up.

We’ve done this before though and then hit the skids.

Every team, if they've been around long enough, have been through this and then hit the skids. That's life in sports.

[__Chef__]

M
V
P

[Sooner06]

That 15-yd run by Baker for the 1st to keep that drive alive was definitely MVP-worthy. Just wow.