Former Buccaneers Quarterback Dishes Compliment to Baker Mayfield

Jameis Winston revealed he grew up an Oklahoma fan and praised Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Jan 7, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) on / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield rebuilt his NFL image this past season. After nearly being run out of the league, the former No. 1 overall pick flipped the narrative. The media is taking notice, too.

Mayfield threw for 4,044 passing yards and 28 passing touchdowns to just ten interceptions while leading the Buccaneers to a 9-8 record. Had they not gone on a mid-season losing streak, Mayfield could have led them to a double-digit win season. Still, the Buccaneers won the NFC South and even won a big playoff game.

One current NFL player took notice. Florida State legend and National Championship-winning quarterback Jameis Winston gave Mayfield his flowers while going on Theo Von's podcast. Winston had a similar college football career to Mayfield — both established themselves as legends in the sport and at their university before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Their similar journey's isn't the only reason the current Cleveland Browns quarterback is a fan of Mayfield, though.

"I was an Oklahoma fan," Winston claimed on the podcast. "Because Oklahoma beat Florida State in 2000. I was a bandwagon, I just jumped on. I was like 'Boomer Sooner' ever since then."

This led to Winston following the program since, despite eventually playing his college football career in Tallahassee.

"So that's why I like Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray," Winston continued. "[Mayfield] is a beast, man. He's doing his thing. It's so many stories like that. It's so many stories of people continuing to push through, like, you're going to come out on the other side."

Both Heisman-winning quarterbacks entered the league as the top pick in the draft with sky-high expectations. Early in both of their careers, they didn't live up to the full expectation placed on them as they entered the league, and they've both had to reconstruct their images around the NFL.

Winston is still waiting for his opportunity to prove he can provide a starter-level impact under center, much like Mayfield did this past season.

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