Historic Baker Mayfield Contract Victory
October 6th, 2025
So how underpaid is Baker Mayfield?
This was a topic last night on Football Night in America.
ProFootballTalk.com founder and NBC star analyst Mike Florio is convinced the Bucs are reaping the value of perhaps the most team-friendly, multi-year contract in NFL history.
“Dollar for dollar, I’d say Baker Mayfield’s contract is one of the best values we’ve ever seen on a multi-year deal,” Florio said.
“… This was a three-year deal, low $30 million, the market’s at $60 [million]. It’s funny because I get feedback every once in a while from people with the organization that they’re not thrilled that they’re pointing out that they should pay Baker Mayfield. I think Baker Mayfield knows that he’s due to get a big raise because he’s exactly what you want in a quarterback.”
Mayfield’s got one more season left (2026) on his contract. He’s not going anywhere. If the Bucs have to use the franchise tag for 2027, they will.
Much more likely is Mayfield extending his contract for at least a few years before next season. The only question is whether Mayfield will give the Bucs a discount.
Joe would love to see Mayfield, who enjoys carrying grudges, sign the exact same five-year deal Cleveland gave quarterback Deshaun Watson when they traded for him in 2022 and kicked Mayfield to the curb.
That would be poetic justice — and represent another great value contract for the Bucs.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:08 am
It took Baker playing for 4 teams before finding the right team. It ain’t all him.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:08 am
very impressed with bakers play of late…
i was very critical of him and his league leading INTs and Fumbles from last but baker has put in the work mentally…..he’s playing smarter and thats rubbing off on the entire team imo….
great work baker!!!!
great work bowles!!!
4-1!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 6th, 2025 at 9:13 am
There is something in the water in Tampa that all you from a certain tribe think you should always get a team friendly deal from all of its players. Mayfield has given enough team friendly deals it is time to pay him for what he is worth and what the market is for QB’s. Hopefully he can help deliver a SB despite the sad defense this year and the tribe of people always trying save a nickel will wake up.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:15 am
Hodad, he finally got to a team that lets him be him. It’s all him. He is him.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:17 am
@hodad.. correct! But it is a great mix of #13, and #14 – a great OC and Baker being on helluva a qb. Hopefully both sides appreciate the other.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:20 am
We Rolli’n
October 6th, 2025 at 9:21 am
The Buc’s were given 2 gifts from the football gods. First came TB12. Then came BM6!
October 6th, 2025 at 9:21 am
What do you mean @BakerFan what tribe do you speak ofm
Bucs pay their players
Great QB think Brady know also that a team to win can’t have a QB making 25% of the whole salary. Brady was always underpaid by choice but always guaranteed money. Look at all the teams now whose QB got paid. How many other stars do they have?
We got lucky Baker was unselfish and thankful we resurrected his career. He knew were his last stop and if unsuccessful here would be a career backup or out of the league. He will get his on his next contract no doubt he deserves it.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Let’s not forget the ultimate puppet master… JL!! He’s the one pulling the strings!!
October 6th, 2025 at 9:23 am
he”ll take 50 mill a year for 4 years. he knows the value of a complete team just like brady
October 6th, 2025 at 9:26 am
4-1 is because, of Baker. Let’s be real and honest as fans. Whatever they are paying Baker, he deserves every penny of it. Without Baker a lot of coaches and Licht might be out of a job
October 6th, 2025 at 9:27 am
Baker is absolutely amazing. Can’t remember the last time that I saw a QB more exciting, entertaining and so good all at the same time.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:28 am
Enough about defense. Parish was starting at cornerback having not practiced there since the season started. Two other players were out of position and Seattle is a damn good team and has about the biggest home field advantage in the league. Seahawks had 4 extra days of practice. This was a 5 star win!
October 6th, 2025 at 9:29 am
Hodad,
Baker has always been great even when he played with a serious injury for a full season in Cleveland. The revisionist history is bs. Nothing ever wrong with Mayfield. A lot wrong with the idiots in Cleveland who kicked him to the curb. Doubt it? How are the Browns doing with or without Deshaun Watson? The media did what they always do and plied on. Much like the fools on this website who wet their pants with every interception Baker throws.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:33 am
and…. He will work his contract like Brady did throughout his career to allow the team to keep other key players while he will still get his money on a franchise friendly deal
October 6th, 2025 at 9:35 am
Baker knows he only needs so much money to be happy. And winning makes a QB happy !
October 6th, 2025 at 9:42 am
PAY HIM!!!!!! MVP! MVP! MVP!
October 6th, 2025 at 9:43 am
Canabuc Says:
October 6th, 2025 at 9:21 am
What do you mean @BakerFan what tribe do you speak ofm…
Canabuc you figure it out.
Does Baker Mayfield deserve to be paid 50% less than other QB’s that don’t have skins on the wall? There 14QB’s with higher salaries and those below Mayfield half of them are on Rookie contracts. Mayfield will treat the organization right, but to constantly hear the tribe members cry “team friendly deal” ad nauseam makes me laugh and shake my head.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:45 am
Baker is the MVP of the league at this point in the season. Discount you say? Baker deserves pay in the top 5 QB range because that is where he is consistently. Bucs would be wise to renegotiate and extend for 5 years right about now as I have a gut instinct this will be Bakes’ last year on the cheap.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:51 am
“Discount “
Not in total value
But in the terms of the contract!
He will get top dollar when he signs but with long term guaranteed dollars allowing the FO to surround him with top talent.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:54 am
As John Malcovich would say, “Pay that man his money” in a really heavy fake accent. This is the most fun I’ve had in Bucs history outside of 2002/2003.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:54 am
If he still wants to have talent around him he won’t be asking for the world when his contract is up. Can’t pay everyone.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:55 am
Dude from NFL-com likes Darnold for MVP, didn’t even MENTION Baker
October 6th, 2025 at 9:57 am
We’re talking about $30+ million a year — I don’t think he’s exactly hurting for money already. Lol I’d bet Baker signs a deal that allows him to keep ALL the talent around him.
October 6th, 2025 at 10:08 am
The point is Baker has EARNED what the market says his value is by not being afraid to put himself on the line to get the hard yards when Bucs absolutely would NOT have won without it.
Also the contract you award now for a top 5 QB is paltry compared to how quickly QB salaries go up over the life of the contract , not to mention the hefty yearly salary cap increases make it easy to manage, Greenberg is a GENIUS at managing the cap. If you do NOT PAY Baker you may find out what life is like without him.
October 6th, 2025 at 10:09 am
Don’t forget the 12 Million that bakers’ Dad pilfered-Allegedly.
October 6th, 2025 at 10:26 am
$55 mill per year – 5 or 6 years
DO IT JASON
October 6th, 2025 at 10:27 am
Baker is very smart. A team-friendly deal means more talent around him, more wins and a longer career. The Bucs have seen this work before – there’s more than enough evidence team-wide that they all understand this is a team sport and that applies to sharing the cap-limited wealth. GO BUCS!
October 6th, 2025 at 10:28 am
Extend him NOW! The price only goes up over time! Somewhere in the $250 for 5-year range with most, if not all guaranteed. He’s smart enough not to take us to the bank so we can keep others around him!
October 6th, 2025 at 10:29 am
#14 , #54 and #13 took pay paycuts because they are team players!! Without them Backer wouldnt be starting anywhere. Appreciate what makes you better and thats your teammates!!
October 6th, 2025 at 10:32 am
Baker’s faith won’t have him looking for top dollar . On the other hand the offers can’t be insulting either. Stafford is close to retirement whether he admits or not and the Rams WILL inquire.
what insulting? probably anything lower than 50 mill per year
October 6th, 2025 at 10:33 am
In a few years EE will be getting Tyreek Hill money, gotta start planning for that
October 6th, 2025 at 10:34 am
Hodad Says:
October 6th, 2025 at 9:08 am
It took Baker playing for 4 teams before finding the right team. It ain’t all him.
That sounds just like Baker talking about himself being on the Bucs, and how its a big deal to be on the right team……..
But you still pay if the player warrants it, and as of now, Baker is on track for a (Quarter Billion/ 250 million) Not saying he gets that, but that is basically the going rate now. GO BUCS!!!!
October 6th, 2025 at 10:41 am
Nashville Buc, you are very smart too. Otten and White have been here longer than Baker. It’s their turn next, if we’re smart. Baker will make as much as he ever could have dreamed possible. He’s very smart enough to know that.
October 6th, 2025 at 10:57 am
Dear BakerFan,
I am always confused with the notion of paying a player “what he is worth”. You can say the market determines that number, but how many clubs have won a Super Bowl paying a QB “what he is worth”. The Browns? The Cowboys? The Jaguars? The Bills? Not one of the Top 10 highest paid QBs has won a Super Bowl. Did you see the Bills defense last night? An additional $10-15 million of cap room would have helped. Brady played most of his career being underpaid vs. the market, yet, he more than made up for it with lucrative deals outside of football. His non-NFL income would have been much lower had he not won all those Super Bowls. Yes, Brady would not have won all those Super Bowls had he sucked up more of the Patriots cap space. It’s all funny money once you get into 8 figures. My advice to Baker, get a longer term deal at less annual money and let’s get you some support to keep you challenging for the big game. You will make it up with non-NFL dollars.
October 6th, 2025 at 11:07 am
I’m sure Bake knows his value to the organization and vice versa but why is it that after every win these networks feel they need to bring up Bakers contract???
October 6th, 2025 at 11:23 am
Baker is severely underpaid.
$250 mill for 5 years is the BARE minimum – fully guaranteed(at least for injury).
IMHO, that is low balling him. I can’t believe people wanna cheap out after the QB problems we’ve had here outside of the Brady lottery. Baker is in his prime.
MVP! MVP! Go away cheapskates.
October 6th, 2025 at 11:25 am
Weekendwarriior6,
Good question so here is a good answer. The people at most networks aren’t very smart and specialize in what one American calls “fake news.” They deliberately gin up stories to be provocative or “insightful.” How smart do you need to be to major in journalism? Not very which is why we get the news media and imbecilic news anchors we have. Most of these guys were hired because of their hair not their brains.
October 6th, 2025 at 11:28 am
Skip Bayless not my favorite commentator. But his YouTube this morning was a classic. Baker Mayfield, ” Don’t bet against the prick!” From day one going back to the draft through Baker’s thick and thin, Bayless has been his biggest fan.
October 6th, 2025 at 11:32 am
I think Baker knows all the weapons they have need to be paid as well. I don’t think he’s holding out for a max contract. I think they could get a 3 year $160 mil extension done this summer.
October 6th, 2025 at 11:40 am
The number either goes further up with each win or the new deal keeps getting moved up to sooner rather than later with each win. Happy for Baker and happy for the Bucs who gave him a chance when no one else would! Go Bucs!!!
October 6th, 2025 at 11:54 am
Culverhouse let Doug Williams go for something like $260,000 a year
October 6th, 2025 at 12:00 pm
Yo FIRE the special teams coach ASAP!! Bucs would be 5-0 and not needing fourth quarter comebacks. FIX the special teams ASAP if you want to go to the Superbowl!! Bucs have the worst special teams in the NFL!! WTF? That Riley Dickson guy needs to go and now!! What was wrong with our punter last year that we got rid of him?? The Baker is great I said that he’s going to get 5000 plus yards and 50 plus touchdowns this year guaranteed!! You people haven’t seen the Baker BAKE yet he’s on PRE-HEAT!! FIRE THE SPECIAL TEAMS COACH ASAP BECAUSE IT GETS WORSE EVERY WEEK WHEN IT’S SUPPOSED TO GET BETTER EVERY WEEK!!!
October 6th, 2025 at 12:08 pm
Bake is smart. He knows his supporting cast both on the field and off it are smart and savvy, too. He more than gets that football is a TEAM sport, first and foremost. He will do what he has to do to benefit his team and himself.
October 6th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
Baker currently pitchman for Popeyes and Uber eats. I expect his revenue outside football to skyrocket. Hence, he won’t break the bank with the glazers…
October 6th, 2025 at 12:10 pm
Culverhouse spent more moolah on his mistresses than he did the Bucs. Fact and good riddance!
October 6th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
Baker is getting paid. 5It’s up to Jason to pay Baker and fill out the roster. It’s not on Baker to play for under his value. SMDH. Like any of you are taking paycuts at work….buwahahahahahaha
October 6th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Do a deal today.
October 6th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
James Willie Says:
October 6th, 2025 at 10:57 am
Dear BakerFan,
I am always confused with the notion of paying a player “what he is worth”.
…..
What is he worth? How many games this year would of Bucs won without him, with Kyle Trask as QB?
I am just really sick of all the people saying give Bucs a Team Friendly deal…. What the hell has he done since he has been here? People on here expect a lot for nothing.
Baker’s first year here was what $4Million with Bonuses. Heck Brady was the top player against the salary cap and he didn’t even play, so tired of hearing what Brady gave when he left the team holding a big bag of cap money.
October 6th, 2025 at 12:34 pm
Mayfield is showing how good he is now that he has a system for 2 years in a row. Drafted #1 in 2018 and never has he had the same coordinator for 2 years running, still. But he does have the same system now and he is showing it with 88% completions. Wow, sign this man and do not let Grizzard leave! He will only get better at calling plays
October 6th, 2025 at 12:40 pm
Some people so myopic, they think no other team has receivers so therefore, baker has to stay in tampa and give the glazers a discount so baker can keep playing with the only receivers in the nfl.
there are too many QBs getting over 50m a year for baker not to get 50. there are 10+? qbs getting over 50 so if you think baker is going to sign for under 50 you must think baker isnt a top 10 qb.
cant have your cake and eat it too, cheapo buc fans. team friendly deal. thats what every MVP wants to sign. thats what every player tries for, make sure they play their ass off, risk life and limb to make plays and wins happen so they can at the end, sign a team friendly deal.
talk about maroons. just wait for the pied poster to tell you how to think and away you go….
October 6th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
Oklahoma has a football team Baker played for. That worked out ok for him. Bakers first two NFL teams are collectively 3 and 7. They are junk organizations. They are most successful at ruining good to great players and coaches. LA wanted to keep Baker but could not afford two starters in the line up. Jason knew Baker was the deal of the century and jumped on it. Many players and coaches are permanently damaged from a Browns / Panthers like experience, Baker got up dusted himself off and went back to playing football. Every player that loves to play football wants to be in an organization like the Bucs. Baker did luck out there. I think he knows it appreciates it, and wants to win Superbowls. I love watching him play and hate hearing dumb ass comments about him. “It took 4 teams'”????? Guess what? A team is never about just one person. The contract will tell how important winning is to Baker. I hope he goes the Brady route.
October 6th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL are Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. Neither of those guys could get anything done at Carolina, which says a lot about that organization
October 6th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
Baker has done great so far this season. I’ve had my criticisms but he’s improved by taking care of the ball. He’s earned not giving the Bucs a discount but with a max contract the Bucs will have a harder time adding help. We’ll see what happens
October 6th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
@Buddha
Thanks for the tip.
October 6th, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Brady took less than market value so he could have a cast of impact players around him and he delivered championship after championship. I think that model is what many are referring to and in the realm of possibility!
He’s worth $60M+ a year but with that comes sacrifices…. It comes down to what a player is doing it all for and after 100’s of millions, let’s not split hairs. LOL
October 6th, 2025 at 2:10 pm
“Joe would love to see Mayfield, who enjoys carrying grudges, sign the exact same five-year deal Cleveland gave quarterback Deshaun Watson when they traded for him in 2022 and kicked Mayfield to the curb.”
Adjusted for inflation, yeah.
October 6th, 2025 at 2:21 pm
@jimmy
Brady was mvp 3 times and won 7 super bowls taking team friendly deals.
Wining was everything. I think Baker feels the same
October 6th, 2025 at 3:48 pm
James Willie Says: orlbucfan Says:
It’s nice to see some the posters above get it!! It’s a TEAM sport, but do some of the posters just want Baker to get all he can. However; there is a price to pay for doing it. If for instance he wants 55 million who goes in trades or let go. Do you want to not sign Evans, Mauch, Otten, Godwin, White and Goedeke McCollum contracts kick in next year plus possible future trades, and so on.
What if Backer would take 42 million 1st year of a 5 year contract 2year 47 3rd year 52 4th year 60 5th year and guarantee it all with some sort of injury clause? You just can’t pay a lot of money to one player and not lose some good ones and important others.
October 6th, 2025 at 3:58 pm
“NFL HISTORY” LoL… A little ‘hyperbolic’ much!?
October 6th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
What was BRADY’s in the very beginning, while still on HIS ‘rookie’ deal… Mahomes!?
October 6th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Baker did NOT take a “discount.” PERIOD. He took exactly, EVERY. Single. DIME. That HE COULD GET. I am sick of that narrative, because it is NOT true. And, I’ll be more than happy to ‘explain-it’ to some of you people on here AGAIN, for about the 5th, or 6th-TIME. With that said, I sure do hope that he will cut us at least, somewhat of a break! As of right now though (especially after seeing an interview with his agent earlier today), I’m not holding my breath.
October 6th, 2025 at 4:10 pm
What Tom Brady understood (and so does Patrick Mahomes I’d suspect) is the value of THE RIGHT FIT. And that includes not just the other 52 players, but also the coaches, GM, ownership, fan base, etc.
Baker gets it too, and that’s why he’s doing so well here in Tampa. His biggest supporter IS Todd Bowles (heck, he pushed the hardest to get him here). His OLine has adopted him as one of themselves (that’s probably quite rare I suspect). His WRs, TEs and RBs love him. And his defense seems to have more confidence in him than in themselves (Baker seems to get more accolades from our defense than they give each other).
As long as he stays healthy, he’ll get paid and be here for many more years. How much is anyone’s guess at this point. But it should be obvious to all by now that he understands VERY WELL the value of having great talent around him. And oh ya, knows that talent also has to be paid to stay here.
October 6th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
IF, he was going to take a so-called “DISCOUNT,” then HE would’ve re-signed EARLY, immediately, versus ‘waiting’ around on the Falcons and Curt Cousins, FIRST. There was nowhere else, that was a serious option for him. Denver (after the Russell Wilson fiasco), had already decided that they were DRAFTING one of the ‘superstar’ QB’s in that LOADED class. Hell, they had NO OTHER Choice. They had to have one on a ‘rookie’ deal, AND Sean Payton wanted to ‘develop’ HIS own. Minnesota… SAME. They’d already decided EARLY, that they were going to try to get one in the draft too, as soon as they TRADED-UP in the draft. ATL was really, the only legitimate landing spot for him, and they went with Cousins. The ‘market’ at th time, was NOT what some people may want to ‘think’ it was. AND, Baker was absolutely NO ‘guarantee’ at the time, either. Looking back NOW with 20/20 ‘hindsight,’ it just LOOKS like a discount. HE got ALL he could get. And, it almost turned-out EXACTLY, what I was calling for at the time… I said, 3yr-$105-MIL TOPS (but would prefer 3/$100M) . That anything more than that, just doesn’t make sense. It was right on.
October 6th, 2025 at 4:33 pm
If Baker wants 60 million, imo you should strongly consider letting him walk into free agency and go get it… or at least see what teams are out there offering it to him. Too much talent to retain. There’s a handful of quarterbacks that can come here and revive their careers with the talent that we have. I like Baker. I want him to stay. But 60 million, you gotta let him go chase his money elsewhere imo. We won a superbowl with Brad Johnson at QB.
I’m probably just a dinosaur at this point, but I can’t justify paying 60 million for any single player.
October 6th, 2025 at 4:56 pm
The NFL is obsessed with contract talks. It is week 5. Bucs are 4-1. Baker makes enough to retire comfortably every WEEK. Why are we talking about his salary? Save this article for February.
October 6th, 2025 at 5:26 pm
As far as excitement grit and plain will Baker is neck in neck with Josh Allen both are MVP material… Lets go Bake get you a MVP this year!
October 6th, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Yes, Baker is on a very “team-friendly deal”. But the BUCS gave him a chance and a franchise when nobody else did. He will get paid and will go down as one of if not, the best BUCS QB ever. GO BIG BAKE and GO BUCS!!!
October 6th, 2025 at 5:38 pm
Baker will not ask for $60M. He will be fair and want to be paid what the going market justifies. He will not get greedy. He would rather win a superbowl by leaving money in the system to keep the talent around him.
October 6th, 2025 at 6:30 pm
the bravado he displays on the field is the same bravado that will want him paid fairly…make sense? He’s a fighter and he’ll fight for what he’s worth.
SMDH…gooberville
October 6th, 2025 at 6:36 pm
Baker has been good all year so far and this is the Baker I want to see in the playoffs. As far as contract goes remember he will be on the other side of 30 next year and he plays the quarterback position violint and I’m ok with that but I don’t think could go another 5 years the way he plays. I wouldn’t mind singing him for 3 more years and draft a quarterback in the second round to sit behind him . We do not want to be the Steelers or even the Browns with a good defense and a trash offense. We have a young receiving core that needs a young quarterback to grow with. But I’m glad to see Baker play well and so far he should be leading the MVP race.
October 6th, 2025 at 7:18 pm
OMG Joe that’s a fantastic idea bahahahaha. right up Baker’s alley too.
October 6th, 2025 at 8:07 pm
Oneilbuc,
No need to worry, the Bucs with their current DC are a long way from having a “good defense.” Few care about your Johnny Come Lately endorsement of Mayfield. You were told many times on these pages how terrific Mayfield would be. You refused to accept it, until like Doubting Thomas, you could no longer deny the obvious.
You and Munch take the rest of the season off and go set up a domino league to stay occupied.
October 6th, 2025 at 9:30 pm
Hodad you are full of crap. Carolina was a wasteland, and Mayfield went to the Rams due to injuries to their other quarterbacks. He was never going to be the long-term starter out there. Even your math is wrong. Those were three teams he played for before he landed on the Buccaneers