The clock is ticking on a contract extension for Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. Entering the last year of his deal, Mayfield told reporters on Friday that he and the team are “not anywhere close” to an agreement (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). Mayfield added that he has set a negotiating deadline for the start of training camp in late July.
“Would love to be here long term but as of right now that’s not exactly the case,” Mayfield said. “But I’m under contract for 2026. The guys in that locker room, the staff know that I’m still gonna be me. I’m still going to do everything I can to help this team win a Super Bowl. To me that’s the priority. Everything else will take care of itself. “
Mayfield entered the NFL in 2018 with the Browns, who drafted the Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winner first overall in a class that included four other first-round signal-callers: Sam Darnold (No. 3, Jets), Josh Allen (No. 7, Bills), Josh Rosen (No. 10, Cardinals) and Lamar Jackson (No. 32, Ravens). After an up-and-down four years with the Browns, Mayfield’s stock dropped further in a half-season in Carolina in 2022. The Panthers had both Mayfield and Darnold on their roster that year, but neither panned out for them. They waived Mayfield in late December, and he went on to finish the season with the Rams after they claimed him.
Mayfield’s performance improved in Los Angeles, where he made four starts filling in for an injured Matthew Stafford. However, with Stafford entrenched as the Rams’ top QB, it was obvious Mayfield would have to look elsewhere if he wanted a chance to start in 2023. That led him to Tampa Bay on a one-year, $8.5MM pact, which turned out to be a steal for general manager Jason Licht.
Mayfield beat out Kyle Trask for QB1 duties and went on to set career highs in completion percentage (64.3), yards (4,044) and touchdowns (28, against 10 interceptions) over 17 starts. He earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time and led the Buccaneers to a 9-8 record and an NFC South title. They crushed the Eagles in the wild-card round, 32-9, but bowed out the next week in a 31-23 loss to Detroit in the divisional round.
Convinced Mayfield was their answer under center, the Buccaneers prevented him from leaving in free agency with a three-year, $100MM extension in March 2024. Once again, he exceeded expectations in the first season of the accord. Although Mayfield tossed too many picks (16), he made up for it by establishing new career highs in completion rate (71.4), yards (4,500), TDs (41) and passer rating (106.8). Mayfield made his second straight Pro Bowl, and the Buccaneers went 10-7 on their way to another division title. However, they could not get past the Jayden Daniels-led Commanders in a 23-20 wild-card round loss at home.
The Buccaneers were the clear favorites to win the NFC South entering 2025, and it looked as if they would coast to the crown during a 6-2 start. Mayfield was drawing MVP hype then, but a slew of injuries took their toll on the team in the second half of the season. The Buccaneers lost seven of their last nine and finished 8-9, which tied the Panthers and the Falcons for the best record in a bad division. But the Bucs lost the tiebreaker to the Panthers, who represented the NFC South in the playoffs.
After Mayfield completed 63.2% of passes for 3,693 yards, 26 TDs and 11 picks during his third straight 17-start year in 2025, he will work with yet another new O-coordinator this season. The Buccaneers fired Josh Grizzard and replaced him with former Falcons OC Zac Robinson. He will be Mayfield’s fourth play caller in as many years in Tampa Bay, which had Dave Canales in place during the signal-caller’s first season there.
Licht made it known last summer that the Buccaneers wanted to extend Mayfield. While that still hasn’t happened, it remains a top priority for the team. Last July, the Buccaneers guaranteed $30MM of Mayfield’s $40MM salary for 2026. A new deal should come at a higher price, especially with the salary cap continuing to skyrocket. Eleven quarterbacks are averaging over $50MM per year. The leader, the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, is earning a league-high $60MM per annum.
Prescott was 31 years old when he signed his extension, a four-year, $240MM pact with $231MM in guarantees. Mayfield is the same age now as Prescott was when he re-upped with Dallas in September 2024. That doesn’t mean Mayfield will do as well on his next contract, but as someone who ranks just 16th at his position in AAV, a raise is clearly in order. Thanks to Mayfield’s self-imposed deadline, the Buccaneers are running out of time to make it happen.
I don’t know why anyone would think that issuing public ultimatums is a good negotiating strategy.
Him saying he wants to be there but right now that is not the case and that the locker room knows he is still him.
Sounds like he wants to be there, is saying his deal is up and he wants to come back.
Not really an ultimatum.
Well I could be wrong but setting a deadline for the other person to make a deal sounds a lot like issuing an ultimatum.
Sounds like a healthy boundary.
What other true options does Baker have? Jags 2ould need to regress to move from Lawrence. Steelers I guess could be another. I don’t think Bucs are going to break the bank for him.
definite options, Jets, Browns, Steelers, Vikings, Bucs, Cardinals
potential options Dolphins, Colts, Falcons, jaguars, eagles, panthers
personally i would put dolphins colts and falcons in the definite as i dont believe in their current qbs. Willis is too much a wild card, Jones has one good year then disappears, and penix really hasnt done much. I threw eagles there as well as i dont know if its hurts or something else but that offense seems to be sputtering with a ton of talent around him and do they truly believe in bryce young.
so thats about 1/3 of the league off the top of my head. Thats without thinking about who might have free agents qbs coming soon like say the rams. I know they extended stafford a year and drafted simpson but his age and injury history may open the door for baker if they want more a sure thing.
He is not going back to Browns and will not play for Stefanski again because he discarded him so Atl is not happening, Panthers he won’t circle back with even with Caneles. I think dumpster fire teams like Jets and Cards are not possible as he is valuing structure.
Vikings if they flame out again may move off KOC but if they are good probably stay with Kyler. Eagles have a SB with Hurts he tends to play well in playoffs don’t think Baker is more of an upgrade. The rest are possible.
dollars speak louder than words …I remember there was this amazing defensive player that said he would never stay with a team and demanded a trade and what a month later after a massive contract … i am happy to be here i want to see the team grow blah blah blah im here for the rest of my career a receiver also did the same. With 3 1st rounders and 3 1st rounder in a much better draft that could intrigue but jets are jets.
While it is probably words but he has also walked back his “competitive” tweet when stefanski became head coach of falcons. Also again dollars matter and they have better talent too with london robinson and pitts. There is also the stick it to you old team motivation as well that might come into play if they dont give him the money he wants.
kyler IF he stays healthy could be good but if he is why would he stay? He is on a 1 yr minimum deal similar to what darnold had and could easily move to another team which the vikings are willing to do as we have seen and the chances they go back to mccarthy probably would cause a revolt of viking fans
regarding hurts for someone that shows up in the playoffs in the 10 games he played he had 300 yds passing once. If you exclude that game he never had a total of 300 yds in any of the other 10 appearances. Outside of the tush push he doesnt even average 2 tds a game( i believe is 15 tds in 10 games without tush pushes). Last year not even 200 total yards and the 1 td the defender fell on the pass. With the tush push now being done with other players you might even be able to put Goeddert to do it. Also 2 out of the last 4 years he got bounced in the wild card in the playoffs and the superbowl appearance in between was the saquan show. So 3 out of the last 4 years Hurts must have made a wrong turn as he didnt “show up.”
Also if i recall correctly this is the last of his guaranteed money this season and i dont recall of any talks about extending him either. So yes Baker could definitely be in play for them and if anything would be very intrigued to join that amount of talent and the structure they have.
The dumpster fire team in New York wears blue.
Besides, the Jets have one eye on the 2026 Draft for a future QB1.
2027 draft…
It’s basically the Bucs or bust …. he’s really not a fit anywhere else….
Browns will NOT bring Baker back … they moved on for a reason…
Lol your hating on him is just sad. Just admit your team almost ruined his career and messed up by getting rid of him.
I’m not hating on Baker…I still have his jersey. I wasn’t thrilled with the way his time in Cleveland ended but man his attitude after leaving…dude has a serious chip on his shoulder…kinda needs to grow up and move on don’t you think?
Jaguars? Eagles? Panthers? You’re just listing random teams lmao. 0.0% chance Baker goes to any of those teams.
Definitely a funky situation, he’s fit in nicely with Tampa
Have the guts to trade this Mid+ QB for any draft pick and start the tank… Or doom yourself to 9-8 records forever and first round exits every other year
Mid? The dude threw 41 touchdowns in 2024! He’d have had 30+ last year if not for having so many injuries and having such bad play calling. Baker is definitely not mid.
Imo the issue is their run game. Even when healthy, I’m not sure they can really pound a defense to set up the pass.
The Bucs need Baker more than he needs them. Without him they are a 5 win team. Missing the playoffs again might spell the end of the Bowles regime. Baker might want to hold off on that extension and go into 2027 an FA. His making less than Lawrence is criminal
2027 draft is going to be loaded at QB and all those teams needing QB’S will simply draft one. Baker is really only a fit for Tampa and MAYBE Pittsburgh but really after the draft … not many spots will be open to throw money at an aging QB with attitude….
by attitude you mean winning and leadership
It’s a little ridiculous to say 16 picks is too many when you throw 41 touchdowns lol
Anyway, Baker has always seemed to me to be a guy who puts football first and everything else second. He just was in a terrible situation with the Browns. It makes sense for him to not want his contract situation to distract him going into the season and is a common thing for players to do.
I agree with others that the Bucs need him and should pay him what he’s worth on another three or four year contract. He’s earned it.
Baker being Baker …. guess he’s forgotten that the Bucs resurrected his career huh? Maybe sign the contract they offer and be a tad bit grateful hey 🤔
Hmm and why did his career need to be resurrected again? Is it because the team that drafted him almost destroyed it?