Updated details have emerged on how far apart the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield are on a contract extension and what he is looking for in a new deal.
In an era when quarterbacks have more value to teams than ever before, the Buccaneers QB1 enters their Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the final year of his contract. It certainly isn’t because he doesn’t deserve a big raise after bringing stability to the position after Tom Brady and going to the Pro Bowl in two of his three seasons in Tampa.
Yet, it seems like the Buccaneers are wary of making him one of the richest players in the game after having up-and-down seasons over his first five seasons. Is it because Mayfield’s asking price is too high? According to a new report from ESPN, the QB is looking for a deal similar to Green Bay’s Jordan Love (four years, $55 million per year), Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence (five years, $55 million per year), and San Francisco’s Brock Purdy (five years, $53 million per year).
That number would push him into the top 10 among annual compensation for QBs in the NFL. Obviously, the Buccaneers have balked at that price. According to the report, despite the QB’s representatives not looking to reset the market, the Buccaneers responded with an offer that was not only for less money ($50 million annually) but for only two seasons.
Mayfield, understandably, isn’t a fan of the length of the deal, and landing outside of the 10 highest-paid QBs in the NFL in 2026. So what could an eventual deal look like?
What contract number will Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers eventually agree on?
Aug 28, 2026; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) signs a fan’s jersey before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn ImagesCredit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
At this point, it is very possible that Mayfield plays out the entire season without a new deal and hits free agency in the offseason. That would be a very dangerous proposition for the Bucs, but one they seem open to.
Nevertheless, Tampa and the eight-year veteran are right for each other after his stops in Cleveland, Carolina, and Los Angeles didn’t pan out. A case can be made that the top 12 QB earners are better than Mayfield, but it doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be paid close to the same money based on current market values.
That is why a deal similar to Justin Herbert’s contract with the Los Angeles Chargers that pays him a $52.5 million average seems fair. So, a four-year deal worth $210 million, with $140 million guaranteed and a team option in year four, is probably where the Buccaneers and Mayfield end up.
After earning his journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos served as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sucka … More about Jason Burgos