Baker Mayfield Could Break The Bank If Bucs Extend Him
March 25th, 2026
Big payday coming?
Someone is going to come after Joe for being a Baker Mayfield hater here. That’s as false a charge as there is.
“This Joe” doesn’t believe any NFL quarterback has better intangibles than Mayfield. Last year was proof. How many games did Mayfield win for the Bucs by putting the team on his back and willing them to a win in the first half of the season? Three, four, five?
There was a good reason that by midseason Mayfield was in sober talks with the NFL elite about being the league’s Most Valuable Player.
And then… splat. It was like there was an imposter wearing No. 6. Like there were two different quarterbacks: pre-bye Baker and post-bye Baker.
As good as the pre-bye Baker was, the post-bye Baker was almost as bad.
Yeah, there are reasons. Mayfield was clearly hurt. His guards were so rotten, the county dump wouldn’t accept them. He had a revolving door of running backs and receivers due to injuries.
But, there’s a reason folks say quarterbacks lead (and make bank).
The Bucs went from 6-2 to losing 7 of their final 9 games, including galling losses to the slimy Saints at home, the Stinking Panthers on the road, the tanking Dolphins in Miami Gardens and an appalling choke job of a loss to the Dixie Chicks on national TV on a Thursday night. That really stuck in Joe’s craw.
One win. If Mayfield could have found a way to get one win in those seven losses, the Bucs are in the playoffs, winning another division and who knows, Mike Evans and Lavonte David might still be with the Bucs today?
It seems Jeff Howe of The Athletic may have missed that second half of the Bucs season. He seems to be of the mind the Bucs are going to work hard to extend Mayfield’s contract, typing that Mayfield has earned a raise.
But now that he has more than proven his worth as a franchise quarterback, don’t assume his next pact will remain among the most team-friendly in the NFL.
Did Mayfield prove he was a franchise quarterback? Joe doesn’t know of too many franchise quarterbacks that go from 6-2 with a shot at the No. 1 seed to 8-9 playing in a trash division watching the playoffs from their couch, losing to godawful teams in the process.
Joe is all-in for Mayfield getting a top-10 new contract (he’s currently No. 16 in quarterback salaries, per Howe), provided the pre-bye Baker guides the Bucs back to the playoffs.
If post-bye Baker shows up again and the team goes south, with the 2027 draft expected to be absolutely loaded with top-shelf quarterbacks, Joe doesn’t know how you could throw megamoney to Mayfield for being Jameis II.
Mayfield has to turn those fantastic intangibles into season-long production and a return to the playoffs.
March 25th, 2026 at 7:57 am
I don’t believe for one second the Bucs are going to give Mayfield a new contract before the 2026 season is over. The whole point of bringing back Bowles is, if he fails, to wipe the slate clean with both Bowles and Baker. I love Baker, but I love the Bucs more. The next head coach may not like Baker’s play. I don’t think the Bucs should hamstring a potential future new head coach like that. The Falcons are dealing with that right now. Penix was assumed to be the future with Raheem and now Stefansky wants “competition” for Penix. That’s code for “we don’t believe in you”.
March 25th, 2026 at 7:57 am
Joe doesn’t know of too many franchise quarterbacks that go from 6-2 with a shot at the No. 1 seed to 8-9 playing in a trash division watching the playoffs from their couch, losing to godawful teams in the process.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pat Mahomes? Not as dramatic, but big letdown just the same.
March 25th, 2026 at 7:58 am
Team friendly deal is the smart way to go. He has never proven that he is an elite QB. And with the pending FA’s in 2027 on this team it’s the only way to go. We can always find another short, inconsistent, QB with an attitude next season. Kyler Murray will be available.
March 25th, 2026 at 7:59 am
Protect him, and he will.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:01 am
…and he is absolutely an elite quarterback. Loss of both guards killed this team last year. It was painfully obvious statistically and if you just watched the games the DT’s were all over Baker on virtually every play.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:04 am
If it’s a reasonable deal for three years then I’d be for it. That would give us some protection and the flexibility to get a rookie in ‘27 to build around.
If it’s a market setting deal it would be dumber than extending Bowles.
I like mayfield and think he’s a good tier 2 qb. But you do not extend him with a top of market deal until he shows you he can bounce back and get deep in the playoffs.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:06 am
We don’t even have another QB in the pipeline. What are the odds of a QB selected outside of the top ten is gonna work out? (To say NOTHING of the ones inside) Wed draft some dude like that guy in Miami and sign an FA like Carson Wentz
March 25th, 2026 at 8:11 am
@ Obvious: “…it would be dumber than extending Bowles.” Disagree. NOTHNG is dumber than extending Bowles.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:12 am
Brady would not have played behind jayvee Guards in the Bucs mushy middle. Here is a thought. All successful NFL QB’s play behind lines that hold up on pass plays.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:18 am
Mayfield is a gamer.
He is the quintessential Tier 2 quarterback: talented enough to win you games on a Sunday in October. You can win with him, but the jury is still out on whether you can win because of him when the season is on the line — he clearly had chances the end of last season even with a weaker line.
We actually saw many years that Brady did it in New England — years where either the OL play or skill positions were lacking and Brady still got it done.
Giving Baker a top of market extension right now feels like a reach. You do not hand out “franchise savior” money until a guy proves he can bounce back from that end of the year slump.
Anything else is just paying tier 1 and then hoping for future miracles.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:20 am
Draft a qb and keep 3
March 25th, 2026 at 8:23 am
He had that one won, this Joe. 3rd & 28. Baker was not on the field. If the Defense stops them, game over. They gave up half. 4th & 14. Baker still not on field. The Defense gave up the rest.
Yes. If they won, they are in the playoffs. But so what? That team was filled with losers.
And who wants a player, even a HOF caliber guy, who wants to leave so badly that he’s willing to move to a very bad part of California for lower pay and higher taxes? Where the rookie WR was shot?
And yet the Bucs have not really cleaned house, have they? Still have bored Zyon. Injured Cancey. Paid a bunch of money to a journeyman TE. Kept a HC that has a history of untimely multi game losing streaks, culminating in one so bad last year that the team went from ranked number 1 to being laughed at by everyone.
So, sure. Give Baker a big contract. What’s the worst that could happen? A new coach and GM come in and they end up in Cap Hell to start?
Or do thy let it ride and see what happens at the end of this year?
March 25th, 2026 at 8:28 am
Record would look a lot better if the defense was even close to being decent. That’s the problem. Baker and the offense was the reason they were winning games in the 1st half of the season. O-line is beat to crap, running backs and receivers in and out of the line up, and ultimately baker being injured. That’s when you need the defense to step up enough to help the offense out, not give up a 3rd and 28 and then 4th and 14 to a divisional opponent that would’ve locked up the playoffs. Baker deserves a raise
March 25th, 2026 at 8:30 am
Also if I’m the Bucs, I’m extending baker now, if he goes and has another season like he did with Liam, then his price tag is gonna sky rocket.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:31 am
Mayfield is not a franchise quarterback.
The most important intangible is being clutch and Baker doesn’t have it.
His seat should be every bit as hot as Bowles.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:39 am
We have so many holes this isnt one of them. I wouldn’t put Baker in as one of the elites but hes damn good and has proven it what more do you guys need to see? Plus the way the guy plays it might be the only exciting thing we have to look forward to lol
March 25th, 2026 at 8:40 am
I can see the logic of either path. Maybe lock him up now while there are no other bidders or see if a highly probable new coach would rather go another way. Baker runs a little hot and cold. But yeah…that kike truly stunk to high heaven. Even Wirfs wasn’t really himself. Throw in nobody on the team could tackle. The whole team seemed to just quit.
That brings me to the biggest thing that’s gotta happen: Bowlzo has to somehow reclaim his team. I believe the exodus of White, Dean, and Evans was them giving up on Bowlzo.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:41 am
Tank for Manning.jajaja
March 25th, 2026 at 8:43 am
Baker’s won/loss record with the Bucs, including playoffs, is 28-26. And this is with or without a healthy O Line. I like Baker, but those numbers do not equate to elite status and pay.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:45 am
Mayfield has to turn those fantastic intangibles into season-long production and a return to the playoffs.
-The best thing the Bucs could do is bolster their Offensive Line talent and depth, especially since both starting Guards are coming off knee injuries.
They have talent at WR, RB and have a capable TE although an upgrade is in the mix.
If Mayfield has a great year- Bucs are in the playoffs and an extension is in play
If Mayfield disappoints, a newly drafted QB will have good talent to work with.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:45 am
If Baker Mayfield is your starting QB you better have a top 10 defense and a top 5 running game.
The Bucs have neither…
Either make the necessary improvements to the team or find a better QB (which is easier said than done).
Personally, I would not extend Baker’s contract until this season is over.
I have the Bucs winning @ 6/7 games and when that happens this team will be finally ready to clean house.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:47 am
Glazers will get Baker Cheap or move on
March 25th, 2026 at 8:52 am
Holy crap. That slur word was supposed to be lone, not kike. Sorry.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:59 am
Stpetematt Says:
…and he is absolutely an elite quarterback. Loss of both guards killed this team last year. It was painfully obvious statistically and if you just watched the games the DT’s were all over Baker on virtually every play.
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The loss of both guards and the injuries he was dealing with had a huge impact on his play. It would have been nice if we had a backup QB they could have put in for a few games.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:59 am
Line not lone.
March 25th, 2026 at 9:01 am
sadly I think a lot of JBF folks hope a Mayfield extension would be more like the situations of Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold than Tua and Kyler Murray – actually it would be more like Deshaun Watson with the Bucs trapped in an expensive contract for years while team goes (further) into the toilet – and remember that the Jones and Darnold resurrections required them to switch teams – if Mayfield went to the Rams after next season he very likely could win a SB with them – but not with brain-dead not-ROH-worthy Fred-Flintstone-twin Jameis-Winston-selecting Tom-Brady-hand-puppet GM Jason Licht – and certainly not with Kamala-Harris-succession-emulating nepo-baby-promoting HC Todd Bowles – do Bucs fans really want to replace the Browns as the worst laughingstock sh@@-show in the NFL ?
March 25th, 2026 at 9:03 am
Yeah man! An actual backup QB would have let Baker heal.
March 25th, 2026 at 9:10 am
I like Baker and think he’s a good QB. He plays with heart and played hurt because he was better than a high school coach backup. That being said, he had to prove he can “play smart” to get more money.
March 25th, 2026 at 9:15 am
Joe. After the bye. We were 6-2. Patriots did what no NFL team had done in over 20 years. 4 breakaway TDS over 55 yards-2 over 80 yards. Mayfield threw 3 touchdowns and we had zero turnovers and lost. 6-3. Josh Allen accounted for 6 touchdowns and Baker hung 32 points. Should have been 34, no matter. 6-4. The Rams abused our defense to the extent I’ve never! witnessed in an NFL game. 6-5. We won the next game. Only God knows how. 7-5. Mayfield has stunk up the field for the last 4 games, hasn’t he Joe? Horse crap! Then we have the 28-14 lead in the 4th quarter and our defense ineptitude lost us another game. Then the Panthers we’ve got them right where we want them with under 2 minutes and the ball at our own 8 yard line and losing by 3. Sure. 2 games in rainstorms and the defense still let a couple of crummy teams score enough points to win. Baker didn’t give a rat’s a$$ about making it to the playoffs with one more win. He’d given every dang thing he had to make this team a top seed and Super Bowl contender. The defense and special teams and coaching destroyed his will and he still fought his butt off. But to make this defense sound like world beaters after the bye is the magic that holding suck a$$ teams in monsoon conditions to lower than their average can do. So yes, Mayfield, with a coaching staff that went into full turtle mode the final 3 games, gave the organization the scapegoat they needed. Baker is used to being the scapegoat.
March 25th, 2026 at 9:19 am
I said this before. We saw what happened in Cleveland when he played hurt. They stunk. We saw that after the bye.
The problem is Todd! He should bench Baker when he is hurt. Otherwise it will be
RINSE AND REPEAT
I would not extend his contract if the plan is to keep Todd for the rest of his contract.
March 25th, 2026 at 9:21 am
Compare apples to apples. How many quarterbacks would have played with those injuries. Probably none. Jordan Love was playing with a sprain in his left shoulder but LeFleure took the ball out of his hands until he got better. The Packers survived that because they were a better team with a better defense. Baker had other injuries as well. He should have been sat down.
That being said, Mayfield should be signed to a new contract but not at 50 million per. Tua, Herbert, Love, Prescott, Murray , Hurts, Lawrence, Purdy all got the big bag and none of them have earned it yet. There are only a few that deserve that kind of money and they are Mahomes, Allen, Jackson, Burrow, and Stafford. Even with the salary clap going up, that’s still too much money and there’s not enough left to build a team.
March 25th, 2026 at 9:22 am
HELL NAW!!! He is to inconsistent and can’t win big games. Not sure what you yes guys are watching every Sunday. Too many times I see him take off running for no reason and there are open WR down the field. That is not good QB play. If this team extend him this team will never win a SB!
March 25th, 2026 at 9:24 am
Other teams are paying big salaries to elite Quarterbacks. so it the Bucs want to be in the playoffs, there is no other path to follow.
They can’t allow Mayfield to play injured like past seasons. You have to give him time to heal. So you lose with or without him but when you get him back with rest you have the ability to play meaningful games to win their division.
March 25th, 2026 at 9:25 am
You can include Goff on that list too. He doesn’t deserve what he’s making either.
March 25th, 2026 at 9:25 am
It’s a good business decision because you don’t have to win in Tampa bucs meadi and fans don’t care about winning champships as long as you have a fun season losing is ok .
March 25th, 2026 at 9:26 am
I think baker carr sucks he’s just not a winner he’s proven to melt when it really counts
March 25th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Don’t extend Baker through 2027 and he throws for 4000 plus, 30-40 TDS, 10-12 interceptions and Bucs go 12-5, the price to keep him just hit 50m! The flip side, sign him through his 2027 and a worse repeat of 2026 occurs. Ei
March 25th, 2026 at 9:57 am
Baker is Tier 2 QB.
Jacob Rodriguez is a Tier 2 LB prospect this year.
OK with either on the team — just not sure why the heavy fanboy for either of those guys.
March 25th, 2026 at 9:59 am
The Worst thing that would happen to this Organization! He’s a Loser, how come nobody see this???? Who in the NFL? Wants to play with #6? NOBODY!!!!
March 25th, 2026 at 10:00 am
I think I will hold off on that extension for now. 2-7 in the last 9 games and him and Bowles couldn’t find a way to stop it…..the best he looked after the bye was when he had his Lightning jersey on leading the hockey team out at the stadium series…he needs to grow up and find consistency in his game, had a couple good years here and then he tanked……I will wait on extending him.
March 25th, 2026 at 10:01 am
Shi$$ty HC who’s defense can’t hold a lead that don’t help
March 25th, 2026 at 10:02 am
The money won’t be paying for efficient, consistent, or timely QB play and it’ll just be another ride on the same roller coaster we’ve been on every years he’s run our offense.
Ya’ll make this talking point like he started struggling after the bye, but anybody willing to look at the details know for as good the offense was against SEA & SF, they looked as bad in our last 2 games before the bye.
We lost Mike, and our average depth of target(9.2 adot) in our first 6 games got cut in half to 4.6 adot once Mike went down. Why is that, when the QB was the same guy?
Throwing 50 passes against Detroit for 228 yards was polar opposite to his Seattle performance, but that’s what you get with Mayfield. Add the NOLA game to the Detroit game and in his last 2 games BEFORE the bye:
43-74
58%
380 yards
1TD, 1 INT, 1 Fumble
That’s without mentioning(again), your QB in his last 11 games throws 349 passes with the aDOT in the crapper while only completing 54% of those passes is not “franchise” QB behavior.
Games 2-3 weeks apart from one another, he looks like a totally different QB for better/worse. To think that doesn’t effect the other 10 guys on the field would be absurd.
March 25th, 2026 at 10:05 am
He’s a Loser, just say No!!!
March 25th, 2026 at 10:06 am
I doubt Baker will sign a contract this off-season. He is good as gone. This is a tank year, and he will just focus on padding his stats so he can get picked up by Sean McVay in LA.
March 25th, 2026 at 10:15 am
Munch and the other girls need Shedeur Sanders. The rest of us know that a healthy Mayfield is a winner. Mayfield going to get $50mill/yr somewhere in 2027
March 25th, 2026 at 10:16 am
As fun as it would be to see the aftermath of a potential extension ( including a full-on meltdown by Hot Rod Mulch )…I don’t believe the Bucs should do it at this juncture.
If Licht does extend him…I have to believe Licht has unlimited job security moving forward.
If Baker kills it…which we hope that he does ( most of us at least )…there’s always the pesky franchise tag option if they can’t come to an agreement.
In the end, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Baler back with the Rams as early as next year. CuckolBerry Stafford will likely retire and Baker has “unfinished business” with the Rams.
March 25th, 2026 at 10:37 am
The problem with waiting until the end of the 2026 season to extend Mayfield is that the price tag could get astronomical. Contracts are based on market value – what the market for QBs is worth. Mayfield plays similarly to 2024 = huge contract. Mayfield plays more similar to 2025 = still huge contract, but not quite as expensive maybe.
March 25th, 2026 at 11:03 am
“Yeah, there are reasons. Mayfield was clearly hurt. His guards were so rotten, the county dump wouldn’t accept them. He had a revolving door of running backs and receivers due to injuries.
But, there’s a reason folks say quarterbacks lead (and make bank).” – Joe
Pennies add up.
Remember over the years, when we used cash more and we always ended up with pockets full of pennies?
Think of things that can go wrong as pennies. A few? A little tougher to deal with, but now impossible.
A few more? Takes a lot more to deal with them.
But last year, this team went from being blessed to cursed.
IF Baker had been healthy? Sure, he may have turns things around, even with all the other issues. But first he injured his non-throwing shoulder, then he injured his ribs, then he injured his throwing shoulder.
There was no confidence in Bridgewater, so Baker had no time to heal.
Add to that all the other injuries causing weaknesses at all of the team positions, and boom. Even the goat would not have overcome that.
March 25th, 2026 at 11:11 am
That was a 2-15 team without Baker. Obviously, the O-line injuries were devastating, but without Baker making huge plays before he was injured, they would have never been 6-2. Todd Bowles’ brutal defense and special teams were the reason they sucked.
March 25th, 2026 at 11:16 am
Might as well extend Norm Snead from the great beyond. As long as this coach is running his Camp Regression, you could have Joe Montana or Joe Blow at QB. Same results.
March 25th, 2026 at 11:26 am
Extend him now. The longer you wait the more $$$$ it will cost. Regardless of what any of you say, $50 million per season will be a bargain in 2 years.
You either have a QB and contend for playoffs, or you don’t and contend for high draft picks.
Baker has proven he’s the guy. Pay him now or watch him get paid and win in LA or Minnesota next year while we hope it will only be 2-4 years before we get another good QB.
March 25th, 2026 at 11:34 am
WBL. The narrative that simpletons have always used against Baker is inconsistent. It’s funny how those narratives persist. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more consistent QB in a life of watching football. Anyway, I hope we can sign him and that he wants to stay. If he’s only here one more season I can promise he’ll play the same as he always has and always will. Hard as he can. If that’s not good enough for Tampa then Tampa is going to be an unbelievably good team after he leaves next year. So it’ll be good either way.
March 25th, 2026 at 11:50 am
There are people saying if he balls out this year then he’ll be more expensive. My answer to that is, so? Let him tred water with another franchise. The whole time Baker has been here this team has done a bunch of nothing. One playoff win versus a team on a 9 game losing streak.
He’s too inconsistent, too injured and turnover prone. Only the Bucs would be dumb enough to consider this. Even the Panthers aren’t this dumb. We know who Baker is. He’ll get injured this season (like always), play injured (like always), turn the ball over in the 4th qtr (like always) and go on a 3+ game losing streak (like always). Only a fool wants to see more of that. And I guarantee the “fans” that want to see more Bake don’t buy tickets. No way I’m paying to watch him throw the game away.
1-10 prime time games
1-2 playoffs
2-7 stretch run for playoffs 2025
Pathetic
March 25th, 2026 at 11:58 am
I would wait to extend Mayfield. For 2026, let’s see if we get the 2024 Mayfield (or something close) instead of the 2025 version. You could always franchise him if needed. At this point, Mayfield has been one of the best quarterbacks in Buccaneers history. That doesn’t mean much given our history, but I would hate to let Mayfield go while in his prime if he has a strong 2026 season. Still, his inconsistency is a concern, so it makes sense to wait until after the 2026 season.
March 25th, 2026 at 12:01 pm
“The narrative that simpletons have always used against Baker is inconsistent. It’s funny how those narratives persist”
The narrative is validated by his level of performance over an extended period of time i.e, his entire NFL journey. You can literally watch Bucs games from the last 3 years and see the high-low nature of his game on a situation to situation, drive to drive, & game to game basis.
March 25th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
“But now that he has more than proven his worth as a franchise quarterback, don’t assume his next pact will remain among the most team-friendly in the NFL.”
And, tell me again, WHO are the Bucs bidding against, for a longterm contract on Baker Mayfield!? That’s right… NO ONE. There will NOT be much of a market for BAKER longterm, next offseason. There just won’t be. Just exactly like last time. It what it is. There is ZERO advantage of extending HIM NOW. Period. ONLY every disadvantage that you could possibly think of. Starting with hurting our chances of landing a new ‘top-tier’ level HC in 2027.
March 25th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
No no no. Play out the year. Too many options next year to lock in.
March 25th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Baker singlehandedly cost the Bucs the playoffs, caused 2 HOF players to leave the team, attracted zero top FA’s to Tampa.
So yeah, lets give me the biggest deal in team history.
Makes sense.
March 25th, 2026 at 12:21 pm
I think whether or not the Bucs extend Mayfield during the season or before will say a lot about how the organization feels about the future. If they don’t extend him before the season is over then the front office and the Glazers may be ready to blow this whole thing up at the end of the year and start over depending on whether the Bucs make the playoffs or not. If they extend him before or during the season then they may believe they have a team that is close to getting to the Super Bowl now or in the next year or two. Only time will tell.
March 25th, 2026 at 12:24 pm
Marine Buc … ‘If Baker Mayfield is your starting QB you better have a top 10 defense and a top 5 running game. Personally, I would not extend Baker’s contract until this season is over.’
Lots of interesting comments Marine Buc (on both sides of the coin), but yours comes closest to how I feel about Baker. He’s not a franchise QB in my mind, BUT … surround him with TALENT (OLine, receivers, RBs) & support him with a good defense, and he can win quite a few games. So can a lot of other starting QBs in the NFL with excellent ‘support’.
Baker’s taken us to 2 winning seasons (9-8 & 10-7) plus 1 losing season (8-9). We had relatively few injuries in 2023 (his first year here), plus we also had the #7 ranked defense … and we finished 9-8 (offense ranked #20 that season). Had a lot more injuries in 2024 & our defense slipped to a #16 ranking, while Baker led our offense to a fantastic #4 ranking (scoring a whopping 502 pts), yet we only finished 1 game better (10-7). And this past 2025 season our injuries mounted even higher & our defense fell even lower (#2 ranking), while our offense plummeted to a #18 ranking under Baker’s leadership, scoring well over 100 FEWER pts than in 2024, with us finishing 8-9 and missing the playoffs.
Baker’s fault? Nah, not really. Last year’s team lacked the TALENT & coaching as a TEAM to win any Super Bowl. But Baker did show all of us just how inconsistent he can be, and how much he needs a strong supporting cast. Let him play out 2026 and Bucs can then determine where to go from there.
March 25th, 2026 at 12:34 pm
Go this way with Baker. No,go that way. Regardless of what the Bucs do with Baker they will surely fu@k it up.
March 25th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
Interesting how folks posting use players leaving are doing so because of a particular player on the team but do where can you find where those players leaving have mentioned that player’s name as the reason they are leaving!
March 25th, 2026 at 12:48 pm
120 for 3 years ,, should have already done it , Give him a good OC and a top 15 D and we can move Into the playoffs ,, I’d actually want top 10 D ,,, Darnold needed a really good D,, and won a SB
March 25th, 2026 at 12:59 pm
I think there are legit questions about Mayfield right now,but that should bring his price down for an extension. I’d say lock him in if you can do it at a solid discount. Otherwise, wait and see.
March 25th, 2026 at 1:23 pm
M1K3, said He wanted better QB play……..
March 25th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
The problem is zero quality backups. There was a time in the NFL where backups were starters in-waiting, this would raise the game of the starter, but GMs also wouldn’t be held hostage to pay a QB for mediocre play. And yet we have a league where not every team has a quality QB1 starter. The NFL isn’t in a great state in regard to QBs, great for guys like Baker, poor for GMs that either pay the demand, or roll the dice on under coached college talent.
For those that think Baker is worth it, take note in that it will just be another excuse why Baker under achieves moving forward. I like Baker, he’s scrappy, but as some of you pointed out, this guy doesn’t show up when it really counts. And yet players like Baker disregard any sort of idea that it’s their problem when it comes to why we can’t afford quality free agents. He’s the highest paid guy on the team who was 1 first down from another South division title, and he couldn’t close on it. I’m all for letting him play out his final season. I have zero confidence this dude bolts to another team that he’d make us pay for not throwing heaps of cash at him to stay. Browns get lit over trading Baker for Watson, but they essentially pulled the Band-Aid on the Baker experiment. Sometimes you have it, sometimes you know you don’t, Darnold being the rare exception.
March 25th, 2026 at 1:43 pm
HeavyE. Mike had 2 seasons half a$$ healthy when Baker got here. He caught 24 TD passes in those two years- way, way, way over his career average. He had 3 playoff games those two years with Baker and had 3 great playoff games with multiple TD catches in those 3 games. Maybe he’ll do better in San Francisco. And there’s the chance hell will freeze over.
March 25th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
2024. Career numbers . Displayed his ceiling, which had him as third in qbr that year. He’s going to get paid. The question is where.
March 25th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Keep him but team friendly, Bakers a good QB has experience and a good leader.. Revolving door OCs ,hurt line etc… Get a decent vet backup. I don’t remember the bucs drafting a QB that they developed into a gamer.
March 25th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
The Joes should give Mayfield a big, fat contract; without him, there’d be no JBF. Or maybe they could offer the Glazers a few bucks and buy a share of him.
March 25th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
Will he be able to afford longer arms?
March 25th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
Agree with Chief 100%. Sign Baker ASAP or regret it next to forever. After this season, if the O-line is healthy he is going to cost a FORTUNE. And for the first time in ages I totally disagree with Defense Rules. Baker is an incredibly talented elite franchise quarterback. Even Mahomes couldn’t play well when his offensive line was tore up with injuries. It’s next to impossible to do CONSISTENTLY- especially. He’s the second best qb this team has ever had, almost the first. Some of his passes are borderline magical.
Watch the Seattle game again. Brady wouldn’t have won the Super Bowl here without a top flight offensive line and defense. That’s FOOTBALL.
March 25th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
Defense Rules. Baker needs a great team around him to be a franchise quarterback. Like the biggest joke in the NFL Cleveland Browns? Or maybe the Buccaneers without Brady who’d just finished off a losing season with the GOAT by being nationally embarrassed by the Cowboys and having +330 odds of winning 6 games the year Baker got here? Or you must mean joining the Rams, who without Stafford were sitting at 3-9 and Baker walked in and won a game with a team that had given up and finished off that season hanging 55 points on a top five Broncos defense? That was the last game before he got to this train wreck of a team. Funny how narratives persist, even when they couldn’t be further from the truth.
March 25th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
He’s a QB savant, and he is gonna be the highest paid player in the history of the league by this time next year. Luckily for the Bucs, we’re gonna get to see him one more year. And Rod Munch(alot) is afraid he will be the highest paid player in Bucs history. Rod Munch is going to (learnalot) in the not too distant future.
March 25th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
3 players were playing hurt last year … Baker, Mike, and Lavonte.
Baker will be fine. Extending him is a necessity. He’s only going to get better
March 25th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
They’re going to extend him
March 25th, 2026 at 3:27 pm
He stinks. Mcvay does not want a shirt, inaccurate guy who can’t see over the line of scrimmage. Sorry guys but the rest of his career will resemble Carson Wentz before it resemble Matthew Stafford. Who TF says McVay wants Baker IF Stafford retires? Stafford will be a starter after Mayfield, he’s the reigning MVP. Lol. Baker
March 25th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
If you extend Baker now, you will save money over the course of, say, a three-year contract. No matter what he does this year, the price for a quality quarterback –I assume that is what you’ll be looking for– will be much, much higher than what you’re paying Baker now. The exception would be drafting a rookie on an entry-level contract, but then you wouldn’t be planning to win for a while. The least probable scenario is Baker taking a pay cut to stay in Tampa. No matter what he does this year, unless it’s get a career-threatening injury, there will be suitors who believe that with a better organization Baker will thrive with them. The 49ers, for example.
March 25th, 2026 at 3:35 pm
Baker is done here for all intents and purposes. I literally cannot take another excuse. Copy all my comments. He’s done and I’ve hated this 3 year run. I’ll be the big guy in the convertible Bentley blasting “Beautiful Day” by U2 around the stadium when they move on. See, it’s thing called ” hope”. SF and Philly have proven over the last decade you keep upgrading the QB position until you find a winner….at least. No, Mahomes don’t grow on trees but you can find something in between Mahomes and Baker. Every excuse for Baker i.coubter with deep dive stars and his cult members ignore it. 2023 with a top 7 defense, germy offense and Canales as OC the tema and Baker were mediocre..Offense was 23rd. What was the excuse? 2024 Commanders had a worse defense and went to the title game with a rookie QB. Bears were 29th in defense last year and gave up more points then us and went 11-6 in the NFC north and won a playoff game. Our defense was 19th. The Bears were 29th. Baker is dumpster juice.
March 25th, 2026 at 4:04 pm
If I were Baker, I wouldn’t want an extension. Quite a few teams are going with quarterbacks on rookie contracts, and next year’s draft sounds like it will have some good quarterbacks. That means that these teams will be looking for veteran starters as backups or, more hopefully, as bridges to develop the phenoms. Add in the average number of phenoms that flop, and it’s a pretty good market for a vet. The Bucs, of Kyle Trask fame, understand this situation. I think it would, right now, take a very good offer to extend Mayfield. Of course, if he’s no good, as some here say, you wouldn’t want to extend him. But someone else will surely sign him for lots, and the Bucs will have to break the bank on somebody else.
March 25th, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Thinking he will get an extension
March 25th, 2026 at 4:23 pm
It’s funny people say there is no market for baker and there are no bidders for him, rams and Sean mcvay would love to have baker back, they wanted to sign him before the Bucs did but baker wanted a starting job, Vikings would love to have baker, saints could use baker, there’s teams out there that would take a chance on baker
March 25th, 2026 at 4:30 pm
Baker days as a starter are limited….He will already be the 5th oldest opening day starter- behind Rodgers, Stafford, Dak and Goff. He’s 2 years younger then Dak and 6 months younger then Goff. Rodgers apparently gets a ” legend pass” and Stafford is the reigning MVP. Sorry but Dak and Goff are better with more sustainable play styles. Baker isn’t it. He’s 28-26 here 11-7 in the division, 17-19 outside of it. That’s not coincidence.. Whatever defecencies the team has, the team is good enough for him to win 64% of the division games. While that’s nothing to write home about but it’s certainly better than the 46% outside the division.
March 25th, 2026 at 4:34 pm
Yes, the Baker is done in Tampa! When he lights it up in 2026 and the defense gives up to many 3-28, he will take less to gain more, respect! So, write him off as a flash in a pan and watch him dance away with a pocket full of money while Tampa rebuilds for the next five years!
March 25th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
Chad: Why do you and others link Baker and MCVay.?Justin because McVay took a flyer on him during a lost year 5 seasons ago doesn’t mean he wants to hitch his wagons/reputation/coaching future on Baker. Come on guys!!!!Baker plays the exact opposite of how we likes his QB to play. And then who even said Stafford is going to retire after 2026? I fully believe unless he retires Stafford will be a starter in the NFL longer then Baker. That’s like comparing LeBron James to Ben Simmons. Sorry guys but you need a dose of reality. You do t have to wait for the boat to fully sink before you get off it
March 25th, 2026 at 4:54 pm
Okiejim….lol, stop. Baker is going to leave here and turn into Steve Young or Drew Brees???? Come on man. He’s a poor man’s Jeff Garcia for this generation.
March 25th, 2026 at 5:05 pm
BBBB. For shlts and giggles, I just asked AI how much Baker stands to make the next 5 years. It said, according to contract terms and expert analysis, that he will make 300 million dollars with the chance to be the highest paid Player in history. How could it possibly say such a thing, BBBB? What could artificial intelligence know that you and Munch and many others around here don’t know? Sounds like AI does know its butt from a hole in the ground.
March 25th, 2026 at 5:14 pm
He won’t be back. Talent is leaving the building in Tampa, not arriving.
That noise you hear, is a window closing.
That’s what happens when your GM ignores a critical piece of the team, until it collapses around his ears!
March 25th, 2026 at 5:16 pm
Kenton: AI is paramount to my business, but I’ll tell you this….AI is helpful when. You already know SOMETHING about whatever topic is on the table. Baker not going to be here and the same can be said alot of you ” Baker” fans because clearly your not BUCS fans. I’ve been a fan BEFORE Sapp or even Trent Dilfer. I’m looking forward to the next chapter.
March 25th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
I keep hearing 3rd and 28 what about the pick he threw to lose the Panthers game that would have put us in the playoffs and that’s after the Falcons game. But why none of the Baker Mayfield fan boys never answered the question what if Baker don’t throw a pick and miss Payne Durham wide open in the middle of the field 3rd and 28 don’t happen lol 🤣😆?
March 25th, 2026 at 6:07 pm
Notice these people say crucial and obvious things like “your GM”. They are not Bucs fans. Ignore them.
March 25th, 2026 at 6:20 pm
Baker will get extended for tons of cash and play here another 4-5 years. Over that time, defense heavy drafts will turn this team into a monster again. We will win plenty of playoff games since we easily have the best QB in the NFC South. The visitors here are dying to convince people to get rid of him so they have a chance to beat us. That’s why they say “your GM” and “Tampa will be rebuilding.” They are NOT Bucs fans no matter how much they pretend otherwise.
They WISH.
March 25th, 2026 at 6:23 pm
Don’t buy into the anti-Bowles or anti-Licht nonsense either. Every issue the team has had these past 2 years comes down to injuries. You can track wins and losses by who is out of the game. 2+ offensive linemen out? Loss.
March 25th, 2026 at 6:29 pm
Explain. 2023. With a #7 defense, healthy OL and Baker,White,Mike, Godwin and Otton starting all 17, team started 4-7. Finished 9-8. Offense ranked 23rd. Canales was OC. You guys who days keep Baker knows his chances and days as a starting QB are over. This isn’t 1992 when drafting a Qb#1 meant a 3-4 year rebuild. We are seeing what the 2024 draft class is doing in real time.
March 25th, 2026 at 6:42 pm
Baker played his heart out will injured and with no protection from th OL. Pay the man! Who else would have survived in those circumstances last season? Baker is a franchise QB. Now let’s move on.
March 25th, 2026 at 6:47 pm
If our starting offensive line is fully healthy and plays all season, Baker will have another 2024.
March 25th, 2026 at 6:49 pm
The injury card?;Ok, he can’t use it 2 years in a row. What injury? Where? No surgery???The OL was ranked middle of the pack anywhere you look up rankings. The # of excuses are nasaueating
March 25th, 2026 at 6:51 pm
Stpetematt. BBBB is wanting to have a pi$$ing contest over who the “real” Bucs fans are. Baker would love to sign with Tampa. I’d like to see him play out his career here. He came to Tampa as a 27 year old with a reputation for being a bit immature. He’s really grown out of that and with the right people around him he will surely be more than fair to negotiate a team friendly contract. If he doesn’t get the extension before this season, all bets are off. Baker might have the leverage, but Licht and the Glazers have the decision.
March 25th, 2026 at 6:51 pm
2024 was a fluke, a outlier. Your counting on him to do something he did 1/8 years??And even that year we barely made the playoffs and he didn’t even finish top 10 in MVP voting.His 2024 would get Dak or Goff ran out of town. It was a fluke, outlier, low impact season. Goff gets that in his sleep almost.
March 25th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
Also Dean, Davis, Kancey and Jensen were out and Mauch was still nicked up early that season. We spent most of that season without starting caliber cornerbacks playing. The loss of Jensen was huge. You can chart wins and losses by lack of starters, like I said.
March 25th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
They aren’t Bucs fans at all.
March 25th, 2026 at 7:06 pm
He sucked last year. Why would they extend him?
March 25th, 2026 at 7:07 pm
BBBB. “Explain 2023. With a #7 defense”. Do you mean the defense that let CJ Stroud go 80 yards in 4 passes in 30 seconds for a TD as time ran out after Baker had hit Otten for the go ahead touchdown with under a minute to play? The same defense, that in the second round of the playoffs, at Detroit, and I was there, after Baker tied the game early in the fourth quarter that our defense allowed 200 yards and 2 touchdowns? Baker threw 6 td passes in those 2 playoff games BBBB. That was more td passes than any other QB in the playoffs through that year BBBB. You sure need alot explained to you BBBB.
March 25th, 2026 at 7:08 pm
Threw. Not through.
March 25th, 2026 at 7:11 pm
Baker is under contract. Let him play this season and if he plays poorly, this team will be cleaning house and let the new regime pick their QB.
If he plays solid ball and the team makes the playoffs, then bring him back on a contract that plays him like a top 15 QB.
If he balls out and shows that he can win in primetime games, then the Bucs are happily going to sign him to a big new contract that pays him well.
But paying him before the 2027 season has played out would be totally irresponsible and unnecessary.
Baker has proven to be a tough competitor that can make plays and win games. He’s also shown to have some untimely turnovers and gets overhyped in big games.
Prove it year for lots of players and coaches this year.
March 25th, 2026 at 7:14 pm
I wouldn’t have believed that Detroit offense in the 4th quarter if I hadn’t seen it myself. I think they actually totaled 200 plus yards in that quarter and ran and passed it all over that yard! Holy Crap! Munch says Baker being down 8 points with 2 minutes to play was the culprit in that loss too.
March 25th, 2026 at 7:24 pm
Paying him now will save about 100 million dollars long term. Like I said, if the offense is healthy this year he is going to light it up. Like he did against Seattle but weekly. It would be incredibly smart to pay him now. Baker has absolutely *nothing* to prove.
March 25th, 2026 at 7:25 pm
Kenton: Yes, THAT defense. You can bring that up but not the fact only 6 teams allowed less points. The offense was the better side of the ball and for a season AWJ turned into prime Ed Reed. You bring that up but want to ignore Seattle gave up 500 yards and 27 points in the NFC. title game. Which one is it!? You can blame the defense when you have a productive offense (see Dallas)..And you can continue to ignore the 2024 Commanders and 2025 Bears. Well obviously Tampa front office didn’t ignore it No extension and no future here. I’m waiting on a rebuttal to facts not opinions and sophomoric jokes.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:09 pm
Two predictions and a question.
Prediction One: Over the next five years Mayfield will make much money as an
NFL quarterback.
Prediction Two: Over the next five years the Bucs will spend much money on
an NFL quarterback.
Question: How many people here would like to see the same money in both cases?
March 25th, 2026 at 8:11 pm
Oneilbuc Says:
March 25th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
I keep hearing 3rd and 28 what about the pick he threw to lose the Panthers game that would have put us in the playoffs and that’s after the Falcons game. But why none of the Baker Mayfield fan boys never answered the question what if Baker don’t throw a pick and miss Payne Durham wide open in the middle of the field 3rd and 28 don’t happen lol?
____________________________________
Nobody answered because it is an irrelevant question.
A discussion of “If this”, “If that”…. starts to exponentially expand the possible outcomes.
Mayfield is not perfect. No quarterback is perfect. Hey — Did you watch Josh Allen in the Bill’s playoff loss?
The bet for this season is for the team, warts and all. Baker’s whole career is on the line. Either he performs well, or he does not.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:17 pm
If Baker lights it up in 2026, the odds that those negative Baker posters will either post using other symbols but more likely than not disappear completely as Baker sails of with a boat load of money!
March 25th, 2026 at 8:21 pm
Baker agreed to an under-market team-friendly deal last time. I wouldn’t doubt him doing the same again if it meant continuing to build the team.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:21 pm
Stpetematt. In that Seattle game Baker was like 28-32 with 375 yards plus. Don’t see that QB play much. In fact, NEVER. First time in NFL history a quarterback had over 375 yards with less than 5 incompletions. Kind of like when he went up to Green Bay the year before last and was the only visiting QB at storied Lambeau Field in NFL history to have a perfect passer rating. Dismantled Love and the Packers. If the Glazers and Licht blow this call and fail to get Baker signed there is only one way they could make up for it. That would be by drafting Jacob Rodriguez in the draft.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:21 pm
If we re-sign him now we will save enough money as the salary cap goes up to retain most if not all of our team. That’s why they means a couple years of mostly defensive drafts and getting stronger and stronger over time. We should do it. Waiting will put us in salary cap h3ll.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:22 pm
That means
March 25th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Mayfield can only be a backup at its best. Bucaneers need to draft a qb next year after Todd gone from the Bucs. The Bucs should play for draft picks next year.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:37 pm
You barely even speak English and can’t even spell Buccaneers. What are you even doing here? Mayfield is an elite starting franchise quarterback and will be for many years yet.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:44 pm
Stpetematt: Thanks – tears in my eyes over that! What we do for entertainment, huh?
March 25th, 2026 at 8:49 pm
So what, break the bank once in a while like every other team. Baker is currently underpaid. Has been past 2 years. 2nd lowest paid QB in front of Malik Willis. If you want a good player, you pay for them, esp at Qb. This goes for edge too which they have neglected for years. So IDGAF if they pay Baker. Imo Baker gives them a chance, don’t think door number 2 has as much upside.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:52 pm
Glad you enjoyed that, lol. 🙂
So many trolls here half the time it’s a joke to even try discussing things with them rationally.
March 25th, 2026 at 8:57 pm
What I dont understand is why ppl make a big deal about paying Mayfield when you got guys like AWJ who was the highest paid safety in the league, yet the safety position in the grand scheme of things has minimal impact on the game. They paid him top dollar for 1 season of being elite and what has that got them? Players like AWJ are luxeries, not must have’s. You must have a good QB in this league. Dont be afraid to pay Mayfield a little more than what he may be worth and if needed move on from guys like Godwin, Vea and AWJ next season
March 25th, 2026 at 9:08 pm
And my rant for the day continues. Ppl complaining or chirping Mayfield either are too young to recall 2009-2020 or just didnt watch the mound of $hit for QB we had for years. Before that a mixed bag if Garcia, Sims, Griese, Johnson, King, Dilfer mostly all FAs. Ppl that think its so easy to draft a QB need to be reminded that Tampa has NEVER found success drafting. If you just focus on the Glzaer years, Sims career injury was unfortunate, Josh Johnson, Josh Freeman terrible, Mike Glennon horrible, Jameis Winston fantastic entertainment, bad QB, Kyle Trask who?
Mayfield is arguably the 2nd best QB the Bucs have ever had behind Brady. Dont take it for granted or risk chasing him out of town and begin another decade of trying to find a QB
March 25th, 2026 at 9:18 pm
Kenton how about we do both and get Hill Jr. too while we are at it? I think we can do pretty well with our current edge rushers. Would be great to have 2 terrifying excellent covering and great tackling linebackers.
Also Ben- agreed 100%.
March 25th, 2026 at 9:40 pm
Cmon now
Extend baker for what
2 costly turnovers in back to back playoff losses
Then this last year we don’t make the playoffs
I’d rather spend on CORNERBACK and EDGE
Set this team up the right way
March 25th, 2026 at 9:41 pm
Stpetematt. That dude is a Longhorn to drool over. Love to have him. Young. Room to grow. The intangibles go to Rodriguez though. We need that big Ohio State run stuffer McDonald at DT and Rodriguez and we’re a top tier defense when those dudes get their cleats cinched up on opening day. Bowles and Baker love opening day. Undefeated in 3 tries. With McDonald and Rodriguez they will love opening day even more.
March 25th, 2026 at 10:15 pm
@LT Dan – truer words have never been spoken.
March 25th, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Then draft a swing tackle. Then draft that Jack Strand to compete with Browning for Baker’s backup and we’d have a pretty salty squad. We’re alot closer to fielding a no joke contender than anyone’s giving us credit for. And I know just the QB who is gonna use that for fuel. Jet Fuel, baby! Bring it on! Aah. It’s still March? Guess I should go to bed.
March 25th, 2026 at 10:35 pm
Helloooo Lost Decade (the sequel)
March 25th, 2026 at 10:51 pm
BBBB, Interesting that you use the Bucs defensive ranking as #7 in 2023. But you failed to mention that they were 23rd in yards allowed and 18th in DVOA. On offense you mentioned the great oline that led the Bucs to the 30th ranked rushing attack in the NFL under the leadership of that offensive coordinator guru Dave Canales. Yet they finished 9-8 and won a playoff game against the Eagles. Just for comparison, the defense was better in 2022, the running game a little better and Tom Brady was the QB with a healthy Evans and Godwin I believe and yet they finished 8-9 and were demolished by the Cowboys in the playoffs in the wildcard round of the playoffs.
March 25th, 2026 at 10:55 pm
Oscar – terrific points.
Regarding the ‘23 postseason – we kicked the $hit out of an eagles squad that was self imploding.
That’s Todd’s one post season success.
March 25th, 2026 at 11:06 pm
I am all in too with Joe’s 10 ten scenario.
Baker could decide to hit the open market too and get every penny that the market will bare and I am all in on that too, for Baker
March 25th, 2026 at 11:07 pm
Oscar….more excuses??? And I love how the Baker cult ONLY go off Brady’s last season here. So the 2023 defense allowed yards but STILL was 7th in points allowed m? Baker was mediocre that year and almost got benched..As later as December mock drafts had us taking a Qb#1 in 2024. But since you want to bring up Brady the rush offense was 28,26 and 32 his 3 years there. The defense gave up the same amount of points. Scoreboard wins games , not total yards.
March 25th, 2026 at 11:13 pm
You guys got to get over it. Dude had been in the league forever and everyday we are debating if he is a viable starter. He is a bridge/journeyman/backup. I stand on my proclamation and will be here ALL YEAR. I might get banned but I’ll get a new name. Like take a victory lap and all you Baker fanatics will have to eat crow,humble pie and anything else I can think of..But I know you guys are going to blame EVERYONE but him.Thays why you all can get the hell out with him..No new hc is going to want to be hamstrung with a short, inaccurate, unathletic gun slinger who can’t read a defense. Streaky with no accuracy and melts with the game o. The line. I told you all this mid season.
March 25th, 2026 at 11:34 pm
It’s not about Brady. Unlike you I’ll try to be fair and acknowledge Brady was not at his best in 2022. Another reason for the decline in 2022 was the fact that the team lost a lot of good players plus their very good head coach. All Legitimate reasons or excuses for the decline. The 2020 and 2021 team was no more. Even Brady can’t do it all by himself. Under those circumstances why should 2023 have been any different ? They didn’t magically rebuild the team in 2023. I don’t remember any splash free agent signings other than Mayfield. No Gronkowski’s or Brown’s or Suhs etc. They couldn’t. They were in cap hell by then or didn’t want to dig the hole any deeper.
March 25th, 2026 at 11:52 pm
You need to learn how to manage your expectations and try a little nuance in arriving at your judgements as opposed to just blindly yet cleverly spewing misinformation and flat out lies to support your hateful biases. I think that’s called sophism.
March 26th, 2026 at 12:23 am
The jury isn’t still out. The football ignorant jury might still be out but the jury of those that know football know as long as you protect Baker he will play to the top 5-10 quarterback level. It’s just a fact. He has proven it time and again. Whenever he is protected and coaches get the right people around him we will be in the thick of it. It’s a fact. He beat the superbowl champs with 2nd and 3rd string teammates…please. If you can’t see that you don’t want to see it and most likely never will.
March 26th, 2026 at 12:35 am
Saying Baker is a backup and not even a starter is probably even more clownish than Munch blaming him for Lavonte David retiring.
March 26th, 2026 at 12:36 am
The Baker haters need to touch grass
March 26th, 2026 at 12:37 am
Oh my if Mayfield was under McVay and the Rams he would make us Bucs fans feel like the Cleveland fans do now. If he leaves we will regret it. He WILL win someone a superbowl. It is inevitable.
March 26th, 2026 at 12:51 am
Some of you people are so utterly ignorant about this game. Baker has never been on a team with good coaching. In fact, most if not all of his coaches aren’t even HC anymore, they have been that bad. Stefanski is the only one. I’m sure you Baker haters really think most quarterbacks win with bad coaching. Who even needs coaching, right? It’s over rated isn’t it? Brady and Mahomes were good because they had the best coaches, maybe of all time. As well well well said he will most definitely win a superbowl before he is through. He is just built for it. The HC makes the winning culture not a player. A player can definitely help but it starts with the HC and Baker has never even sniffed of that. Wake up you lame brains, he beat the superbowl champs with a beat up line. Mahomes can’t even do that. Whenever Mahomes has had a line out of the top 10 he falls apart. What a joke.
March 26th, 2026 at 1:15 am
“Baker doesn’t show up when it counts.”
Man you people are so brain dead. Baker has beaten Mahomes twice now, once at Cleveland when KC went to the superbowl, another time in 2024 on Monday night and TB decided to give Mahomes the ball instead of going for 2. He spanked the superbowl champs, Seattle. It’s amazing how you few think a quarterback can win with bad coaching and bad defenses. Yeah, that’s all a team really needs is a great quarterback.
March 26th, 2026 at 10:18 am
Next year is supposed to be the best qb class in decades why would anybody want to extend an average qb when we could finally draft our franchise qb.
March 26th, 2026 at 10:33 am
You know, the “don’t give Baker anything above minimum, because Baker MAY crap the bed” argument is idiotic.
If I were Baker’s agent, I’d be either pushing for an extension, now. His leverage is now. If he’s not, he IS going to be paid.
If it’s not us, there are plenty of decent teams that will drive the prices up.
A QB that can get a good team (AKA, one with a defense) into the playoffs, and CAN win playoff games – is a rare commodity. Baker is “that man”.
A QB that CAN put a team on his back and win games, is a rare commodity, as well.
Lock him up when you can. Waiting will not be less expensive. Winning without him is NOT going to happen.
With the departure of Mike Evans and the retirement of LaVonte David, we’ve lost TWO of the players that were the model of “that man” players that embody the supposed Buccaneer culture. You cannot afford to lose Mayfield, because it would do more damage than extending a mediocre head coach.
March 26th, 2026 at 11:20 am
Mayfield would be “justified” if he asked for either a four-year, $224 million deal or a five-year, $280 million deal, with “at least half fully guaranteed.”
Either deal would pay Mayfield $56 million annually, which would rank second only behind Dak Prescott’s $60 million annual salary from the Dallas Cowboys. There are currently 10 quarterbacks making at least $50 million per season.
heeheehee – AC/DC-brain-scrambled not-ROH-worthy Fred-Flintstone-doppelganger Roberto-Aguayo-selecting Tom-Brady-hand-puppet Jason Licht is about to make a colossal mistake that will have true Bucs fans cursing his name for generations – watching our pea-brained GM at work gives me the same feeling in my gut that I had watching Josh McCown “work” in 2014
March 26th, 2026 at 11:50 am
Mayfield is better than Dak Prescott. Pay him 50 per and guarantee significantly more of it. Helps keep cap manageable and lets Baker focus solely on football for the next 5 years or so. He is about to go on a historic run if we can keep our O-line upright and healthy and improve the defense.
March 26th, 2026 at 12:01 pm
Get-Rid-Of-Get-Rid-Of-Licht.
March 26th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
There have been only 6 QBs in the 50-year history of the Bucs that have won a playoff game : Doug Williams Trent Dilfer and Gibbs grad Shaun King won one each back in the late 20th century – Brad Johnson won 3 and Brady won 5 –
and Baker won one three seasons ago when he first arrived – so is he ahead of the curve ? here’s the number of games started :
Mayfield 51 – Brady 50 – Brad Johnson 49
Brady and Johnson were brought in to win Suoerbowls – Mayfield was not – he’ll end up like Dilfer (76 starts) Freeman (56) Winston (70) Testaverde (72) or if he’s lucky reputationally like Williams (67) – if he starts 17 games in 2026 he’ll have started more Bucs games than any but for Winston Testaverde and Dilfer – if he starts 2027 he’ll be the all-time leader – it makes zero sense for our addled dazed and confused GM and owners to extend Mayfield until he plays another season – anything else risks a Deshaun Watson situation and eternal ignomy
March 26th, 2026 at 12:32 pm
heehee Stpetematt – I know you are a junior at Gibbs HS who is not old enough to drive himself to Bucs games yet (unless you were held back a few years) but you really have no life experience watching the Testaverde years the Dilfer years the Freeman years the Winston years to appreciate the rare fleeting moments of Bucs success amidst the gloom – prior to 1997 it was unremitting – a fan sees the franchise succeed almost in spite of itself and it is maddening – so I predict that the Bucs win fewer than 9 games this year and if I am wrong I will happily put a sock in it – and if Baker is extended and wins a SB I will happily admit error – but the adults are not in charge at One Buc Place and haven’t been for a while – stay tuned
March 26th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
If they don’t.
And he has a good year.
He will be gone.
He will be a Ram.
He will win a Super Bowl with McVeigh.