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The possibility of Baker Mayfield not being the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ starting quarterback in 2027 is quite real.
Maybe it didn’t seem that way earlier in the summer, when Mayfield revealed that he and the Bucs were nowhere near a contract extension and that if one were not reached by the start of training camp, Mayfield would cease negotiating.
But now, training camp is here, the Bucs and Mayfield don’t have a deal and, true to his word, Mayfield has stopped negotiating, making it clear that Thursday’s press conference would be the last time he’d discuss the matter.
He gave the media plenty to talk about, saying that, no, he isn’t happy with how Tampa has handled the matter.
"It's so disappointing in that regard to feel disrespected a little bit,” Mayfield said, “And that's really the disappointing part is to feel undervalued after thinking you've earned it."
Mayfield is in the last year of a three-year, $100 million deal that pays him $33.33 million annually.
15 quarterbacks make more, and that’s a situation Mayfield would like to change, whether it be in Tampa or somewhere else.
"I'm at the point in my career and understanding what I've brought this franchise,” he said. “One, I'm very, very thankful for the chance they gave me. I also know, I really know what I brought to this franchise, leadership-wise and even play-wise."
Mayfield came to Tampa at the point where his career needed a revival.
After four up-and-down seasons with the Cleveland Browns, who drafted him first overall in 2018, Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers before the 2022 season, then was benched and requested a release, which the team granted in early December.
He played out the rest of the year with the Los Angeles Rams, where he filled in for the injured Matthew Stafford.
Knowing Stafford would be healthy again in 2023, Mayfield needed a new home and found one in Tampa. The results haven’t been perfect, but haven’t been too shabby, either. Individually, Mayfield is third in team history in passing touchdowns, seventh in yards and second to Tom Brady in completion percentage.
Collectively, the Buccaneers have twice won the NFC South in Mayfield’s three seasons, and won a playoff game in January 2024. Mayfield has also started a family in Tampa, with he and his wife Emily seeing both of their kids born during Mayfield’s time with the Bucs.
"It's been some of the best years of my career, and I think it's only going to trend upwards."
Mayfield isn’t the only Buccaneers player unsatisfied with his contract. Vita Vea is also looking for a new deal, and it's to the point where the veteran nose tackle has requested a trade.
Mayfield expressed his desire for the Bucs to get a deal done with Vea, pointing out that he’s the team’s second-longest tenured player (going into year nine) behind receiver Chris Godwin.
If 2026 is Mayfield’s last hurrah in Tampa, he’s confident he’ll go out with a bang.
"If you've waited this long to pay your franchise quarterback, it's only going to get worse," he said. “I'm going to have a big year."
Continue reading...
Maybe it didn’t seem that way earlier in the summer, when Mayfield revealed that he and the Bucs were nowhere near a contract extension and that if one were not reached by the start of training camp, Mayfield would cease negotiating.
But now, training camp is here, the Bucs and Mayfield don’t have a deal and, true to his word, Mayfield has stopped negotiating, making it clear that Thursday’s press conference would be the last time he’d discuss the matter.
He gave the media plenty to talk about, saying that, no, he isn’t happy with how Tampa has handled the matter.
"It's so disappointing in that regard to feel disrespected a little bit,” Mayfield said, “And that's really the disappointing part is to feel undervalued after thinking you've earned it."
Mayfield is in the last year of a three-year, $100 million deal that pays him $33.33 million annually.
15 quarterbacks make more, and that’s a situation Mayfield would like to change, whether it be in Tampa or somewhere else.
"I'm at the point in my career and understanding what I've brought this franchise,” he said. “One, I'm very, very thankful for the chance they gave me. I also know, I really know what I brought to this franchise, leadership-wise and even play-wise."
Mayfield came to Tampa at the point where his career needed a revival.
After four up-and-down seasons with the Cleveland Browns, who drafted him first overall in 2018, Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers before the 2022 season, then was benched and requested a release, which the team granted in early December.
He played out the rest of the year with the Los Angeles Rams, where he filled in for the injured Matthew Stafford.
Knowing Stafford would be healthy again in 2023, Mayfield needed a new home and found one in Tampa. The results haven’t been perfect, but haven’t been too shabby, either. Individually, Mayfield is third in team history in passing touchdowns, seventh in yards and second to Tom Brady in completion percentage.
Collectively, the Buccaneers have twice won the NFC South in Mayfield’s three seasons, and won a playoff game in January 2024. Mayfield has also started a family in Tampa, with he and his wife Emily seeing both of their kids born during Mayfield’s time with the Bucs.
"It's been some of the best years of my career, and I think it's only going to trend upwards."
Mayfield isn’t the only Buccaneers player unsatisfied with his contract. Vita Vea is also looking for a new deal, and it's to the point where the veteran nose tackle has requested a trade.
Mayfield expressed his desire for the Bucs to get a deal done with Vea, pointing out that he’s the team’s second-longest tenured player (going into year nine) behind receiver Chris Godwin.
If 2026 is Mayfield’s last hurrah in Tampa, he’s confident he’ll go out with a bang.
"If you've waited this long to pay your franchise quarterback, it's only going to get worse," he said. “I'm going to have a big year."
Continue reading...
