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Baker Mayfield can anticipate a new contract with the Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has one year left on his three-year, $100 million contract amid a team in transition.
The Buccaneers recently lost longtime star wide receiver Mike Evans in free agency, but that hasn’t put a damper on Mayfield’s future with the team. Buccaneers owner Joel Glazer has indicated the team’s investment in Mayfield, a two-time Pro Bowler.
“Obviously, the quarterback is the highest paid position on the team, rightfully so,” Glazer told reporters via Pewter Report during the annual NFL owners meetings in early April. “That means that it’s going good, so if the quarterback’s making top money, then your team is probably doing well and the quarterback’s performing well. That’s obviously a key component to success.”
“That doesn’t hurt at all to write that check, it’s something that all the teams do when you have good quarterbacks,” Glazer added.
Mayfield joined the Buccaneers as a free agent in 2023, and he turned around his career while playing on a one-year, $4 million contract. He earned his current contract with a 4,044-yard, 28-touchdown season and an NFC Divisional Round appearance.
“He’s gone above and beyond anything we could’ve asked or hoped for Baker,” Glazer said. “Everybody loves him, performs, gives 250 percent when he’s on that field and that’s all you can ask for.”
Buccaneers GM Jason Licht: ‘Our Plans Revolve Around Baker’
Mayfield kept up the stellar play in 2024 with 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, plus another playoff appearance. He started strong in the 2025 season and finished with 3,693 yards and 26 touchdowns, but the Buccaneers slid to the finish and missed the playoffs.
Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht isn’t putting that on Mayfield, and the former No. 3 pick looks solidified as the team’s starter beyond 2026. The Buccaneers could use more receiver talent with Evans gone, but Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka are viable top targets.
“I don’t have a timeline for that but our plans revolve around Baker in the future, so I don’t think anybody wants to see Baker leave the organization,” Licht told “Pro Football Talk Live” in February. “We know everything we need to know about Baker, being with him for three years, and everything is positive. He’s tough as hell, great leader. No timeline, but all plans revolve around Baker.”
Baker Mayfield Draws 1 Tom Brady Comparison
The Buccaneers franchise turned the corner with former quarterback Tom Brady as a free agent in 2020, and Tampa Bay has enjoyed an unprecedented run of success.
Brady led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl win, two NFC South titles, and two winning seasons. Mayfield has mostly continued that run with another two NFC South crowns, two winning seasons, and two more playoff appearances.
For the Buccaneers’ future, Licht sees Mayfield having a similar effect on the free agency front as Brady did. Licht believes Mayfield is drawing free agents to Tampa Bay, which was the case with Brady.
“It was like when we had Tom,” Licht said. “A lot of players love the thought of playing with Baker, on both sides of the ball.”
Matthew Davis covers the NFL, WNBA and college sports for Heavy.com. As a contributing writer to the StarTribune, he has also covered Minnesota prep sports since 2016. More about Matthew Davis
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