Levels of Chip in the NFL

“He just plays with a chip on his shoulder!” is one of the most old-school anti-analytic phrases we attribute to athletes that are highly motivated to win just because of a past of being doubted, the need for revenge, pure spite, or what have you.

The numbers can’t account for it, so we just say it.

With Baker Mayfield, it might actually prove the saying true to its core.

Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Baker was the ultimate college success story– the undersized walk-on with legendary moments leading to a Heisman trophy and some of the most memorable college games ever. He then went on to be the Browns’ #1 overall pick, leading them to their first glimpse of success, then getting ousted for Deshaun Watson as the better option because he regressed when playing with an injury. Then, after a failed stop with a losing organization in Carolina and one memorable win in Los Angeles, it was all it took for him to be back to being the superstar in Tampa Bay when they took a chance on him.

People crucified Baker online during his low moments, given how charismatic he was in a plethora of commercials, as college fans hoped he wasn’t going to be another memorable college superstar that was a flash in the pan in the pros. He’s always had the chipiness to his game with his heart over his height, trash-talking defenders, planting flags on logos in college, and saying “he woke up feeling dangerous” among other things, but it’s no longer a gimmick. 

Tampa Bay is a serious contender, and a large part is likely because of the chip on his shoulder he’s played with. This past Sunday, the narrative being that the Bucs were sending in a minor league team with how many injuries they’ve accrued, Baker went 29/33, almost 400 yards, and two touchdowns to lead a game-winning drive in Seattle. They’re 4-1 with only one loss to Philly, in which they almost clawed their way back to win, and for the third year in a row post-Brady, the Bucs are one of the most well-run franchises in the NFL; don’t cheapen their greatness by playing in the NFC South!

It is the spiciest of all chips that Baker Mayfield is playing with; the Paqui One Chip Challenge chip, if you will.

In a league where there are constant “chip on the shoulder” revenge games, let’s take some of the quarterbacks around the league and put them into their own Level of Chip in the NFL.

Flamin’ Hot Takis Tier // Jared Goff, Dak Prescott, Sam Darnold

Jared Goff is now officially a Lions guy. Sean McVay thought he was the weak link in LA, traded him for Stafford, and the guy who we thought was a throwaway piece has played more games as a Lion and has been the leader of one of the best offenses in the league for several seasons, and they’re still humming despite the loss of the two coordinators.

Credit: Seattle Seahawks/Facebook

Dak Prescott is putting this entire Cowboys offense on his back with no Ceedee Lamb and an injured offensive line, AND the post-Micah Parsons trade defense, where everything is doom and gloom in Dallas.

Sam Darnold? The guy who got mono in New York wasn’t successful in Carolina, and then was just a Kevin O’Connell merchant in Minnesota, where he won them 14 games? He’s second overall in QBR and is shredding with JSN in Seattle despite the shootout loss to Baker.

This tier has the right to be angrier than a thousand suns.

Bag of Lays Tier // Daniel Jones, Mac Jones

When you get a bag of Lay’s, there’s about 40% chips and 60% air inside of it. The same can be said about Daniel Jones and Mac Jones, who are both having incredible bounce-back years for careers that we thought could potentially be over in Indianapolis and San Francisco. After flaming out in New York with only one playoff appearance, Danny Dimes was brought in to Indy to just be a quarterback competition for superhuman athlete with no quarterback ability, Anthony Richardson, and Jones just straight up won the job. We continue to question whether this Colts team is for real, given its struggles in New York, but Jones has led Indy to a 4-1 start, with one mistaken loss to the Rams, and currently leads the league in quarterback rating.

Mac Jones, meanwhile, had the pressure of being the heir apparent to Tom Brady in New England, and after a failed stop, he has been able to step in for the games Brock Purdy has been out, with roaring success and admiration by the fans, with 3 wins to his name. That Shanahan guy, who wanted him coming out of the draft, might be pretty good at evaluating quarterbacks!

Baked Chips Tier // Jalen Hurts, Brock Purdy

The health nuts will constantly attempt to convince you that the baked chips are just as good, if not better, than the original, just like Jalen Hurts on the Eagles playing with one of the best supporting casts in history as well as Brock Purdy playing with one of the best quarterback gurus in the sport has to convince you that they are in fact a large part of the team success and just as good as the other elite quarterbacks that are the focal point of their success.

Repurposed Mexican Restaurant Salsa-dipping Chips // Bryce Young, Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa

Unfortunately, this is the recycled chip tier where you have to ask, “Are we really doing this again?”

“Kyler is finally highly motivated to bounce back healthy with a fun offense in Arizona! He’s even stopped playing video games!” as the Cardinals lose one of the most incompetent losses to the Titans on Sunday, and it looks like he has never even heard of Marvin Harrison Jr. before games.

“Tua is finally looking to be the voice in the locker room and step it up with his receivers at the forefront!” as Tyreek Hill praised his hands up when getting carted off to not have him as his quarterback anymore, the Dolphins blow a 17-point lead to Carolina, and Mike McDaniel is the most pre-fired coach in the league.

“Bryce Young, despite his height, strung together some wins after his benching! Look for him to make a leap!” as the only time he can put together some plays on offense is in garbage time when Carolina is down big.

It’s repurposed and stale!