​The perception of Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback Baker Mayfield has been in focus all offseason.With Mayfield and the Bucs embroiled in a contract standoff, how he is viewed around the NFL world could be a factor in how much money he receives in his next deal. Mayfield is expected to get at least $50 million/year in his next contract, a figure that 12 NFL quarterbacks currently eclipse.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat would be right in line with where he is ranked in ESPN’n new quarterback rankings.ESPN just put out its list of the top 10 QBs in the NFL for 2026. While Mayfield doesn’t crack the top 10, ESPN lists him, among others, in the “honorable mention” category.The quarterbacks in the top five are exactly who you would think. Josh Allen ranks number one, with Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson behind him.All five, except for Burrow, are either Super Bowl champions, former MVPs, or both. Burrow has taken the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl, where he lost to Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe rest of the top 10 is Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, Drake Maye, Jared Goff, and Caleb Williams.Should Mayfield be ranked above any of those quarterbacks? Rankings are always subjective, but Mayfield’s three seasons in Tampa have been, at least, comparable to guys like Prescott, Goff, and Herbert. Meanwhile, guys like Maye and Williams have all the potential in the world, but only have one year of success so far.Mayfield is one of several QBs that ESPN put in its “honorable mention category. He joins Sam Darnold, who is fresh off a Super Bowl victory, Jayden Daniels, Jordan Love, Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence, and Jalen Hurts, who also has won a Super Bowl.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhen ranking Mayfield, an anonymous NFL coordinator points out his fearlessness and being a QB teammates love to play for.”He’s a winner. [He] can make every throw. Fearless. Teammates seem to love to play for him.”Even though Mayfield has proven he can be a franchise quarterback during his time in Tampa, it would be a hard sell to place him inside the top 10 in the league.That doesn’t mean the Bucs would be better off without. Far from it. Mayfield has brought stability at the game’s most important position and has allowed the Bucs to remain a playoff-caliber team after the retirement of Tom Brady.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBeing ranked somewhere in the 11-15 range is a fair placement for Mayfield. He still has plenty of good football left, and Tampa would be wise to ensure his future is in Tampa.Another good season from Mayfield should keep him close to a top 10 ranking heading into 2027Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It’s free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!