As the 2026 NFL Draft fades into the rearview mirror, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves at a critical crossroads with their franchise quarterback. Baker Mayfield is entering the final year of his current deal, and the question of whether Tampa Bay will lock him up with a new contract before training camp is becoming one of the biggest storylines of the NFL offseason. Every indication from the Buccaneers’ front office suggests that an extension is not just likely — it is the organization’s top priority.
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has been as transparent as a front office executive can be about where things stand. Appearing on 95.7 WDAE’s The Drive following the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft, Licht made the team’s intentions crystal clear. “Baker is at the forefront of our mind at all times,” Licht said. “All of our plans revolve around Baker and that’s something that we’ll get to at some point.” He added that nobody within the organization wants Mayfield playing for any other team — a statement that leaves very little room for interpretation.
Mayfield’s Career With the Buccaneers
To understand why Tampa Bay is so eager to keep Mayfield, you need to look at what he has accomplished since arriving in Tampa. Mayfield is heading into his fourth year as the Buccaneers’ starting quarterback, and his numbers in the regular season have been consistently impressive. He has started all 51 games across his three seasons, compiled a 27-24 record, thrown for 12,237 passing yards, and connected on 95 touchdown passes against 37 interceptions. His completion percentage of 66.3 percent reflects a quarterback who has become one of the most efficient players at his position in the league.
In 2024, playing under offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Mayfield had arguably the best season of his career, throwing for over 40 touchdowns. That performance earned him his second Pro Bowl selection and firmly established him as one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL. His current contract, a three-year, $100 million deal signed in 2024 that pays him $33 million per year, now looks like a significant bargain relative to the open market.
What Will a New Deal Cost?
The financial reality of the situation is where things get complicated. Mayfield’s $33 million annual salary currently ranks 16th among NFL quarterbacks — well below his actual level of play. A new deal will almost certainly push him into the upper tier of quarterback salaries, which now routinely exceed $50 million per year for elite players.
Comparable quarterbacks in terms of production — Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers and Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions — both earn $53 million annually. Spotrac’s market value projection has Mayfield’s next deal coming in at approximately $53.6 million per year. That is a substantial jump from his current salary, and it will put significant pressure on the Buccaneers’ salary cap going forward.
Co-owner Joel Glazer has publicly expressed willingness to pay top dollar at the quarterback position, noting that if the quarterback is making top money, the team is probably performing well. That kind of ownership buy-in is essential when it comes to signing a franchise quarterback to a record-setting deal.
Former QB Weighs In
Former Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms has been one of Mayfield’s most vocal supporters, pushing back against any narrative that suggests Tampa Bay should hesitate. “Baker Mayfield’s chippy, Baker Mayfield’s a franchise quarterback,” Simms said on NBC. “If you ask me on Sunday who I’d rather have, I wouldn’t even hesitate.” High praise from a man who knows the Tampa Bay quarterback room well, and his endorsement carries weight for fans still debating whether Mayfield is truly worth franchise money.
Why Both Sides Are Motivated
Both the Buccaneers and Mayfield have strong incentives to get a deal done sooner rather than later. For Tampa Bay, letting Mayfield reach free agency in March 2027 would be an enormous risk. A quarterback of his caliber on the open market would instantly attract multiple suitors, and the bidding war would likely drive the price even higher than a negotiated extension. Locking him up now, before the season, gives the Buccaneers certainty at the most important position in professional sports.
For Mayfield, the security of a long-term deal is appealing, but he also holds significant leverage. He knows what he is worth on the open market. The fact that Tampa Bay keeps publicly stating that nobody wants to see him in another uniform only strengthens his negotiating position. He can afford to be patient.
Timeline
Contract extensions in the NFL typically heat up in July, as teams approach the start of training camp and want to resolve major financial questions before the season begins. Given Licht’s public comments and the clear organizational desire to retain Mayfield, it would not be surprising to see a deal announced sometime in the coming months. The longer it drags on, the more leverage shifts toward Mayfield — and the Buccaneers know it.
Bottom Line
Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear destined to reach a new long-term agreement. The only real questions are when the deal gets done and exactly how much it will cost. One thing is certain: Mayfield has gone from a nomadic quarterback cycling through teams to a bona fide franchise cornerstone — and Tampa Bay has no intention of letting him walk.