Ex-Bucs Player & Coach: Pay Baker Mayfield
April 16th, 2026
Gerald McCoy demands the Bucs hand Baker Mayfield a fat contract extension, and another former Buccaneer, a guy who coached on staff with Todd Bowles, also says to pay the QB.
Joe is referring to A.Q. Shipley, a Bucs center/guard in 2020, and an assistant coach in 2021. Nowadays, Shipley is busy as an Arizona Cardinals radio analyst and as a guest on The Pat McAfee Show.
Obviously, Shipley has strong ties to the Bucs. Not only was he departed Robert Hainsey’s private coach for years, Joe saw Shipley on the field of The Licht House last year talking to Bucs power brokers before the Bucs-Cardinals game.
In an interview this week with VegasInsider.com, Shipley said it’s time to pay the man, referring to Mayfield.
“Shipley stridently believes the Buccaneers should give Mayfield a lucrative extension before the season,” wrote reporter Kyle Odegard.
“I love Baker,” Shipley said. “You want to talk about getting the respect of everybody in the locker room: that’s the guy. There’s not a single person in that building that doesn’t love him. Now, his level of play will dictate if he stays there forever. I think injuries played a major part in where he was last year, and I do think he’s a franchise guy.”
Mayfield’s 3-year, $100 million contract expires after the 2026 season.
Joe is intrigued by the line of ex-players barking about Mayfield deserving a lucrative extension. There are more than just McCoy and Shipley.
If the Bucs and Mayfield have a standoff that results in Mayfield marching toward free agency, the Bucs will have a hard time winning that battle in the court of public opinion.
April 16th, 2026 at 2:51 pm
Now this is a triggering post for some…
April 16th, 2026 at 2:52 pm
Serious question – what is the one play you remember most from Gerald’s years here??
“Sorry Ben!”
Anything else?
April 16th, 2026 at 2:57 pm
Players always side with other players. I mean, they’re on the same team so to speak.
April 16th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
I believe the Bucs should pay Baker Mayfield
Bu Gerald McCoy is the guy who milked this franchise for a decade
And not one playoff appearance
April 16th, 2026 at 2:58 pm
I like Baker when he is surrounded by a competent offensive coordinator, a healthy O Line and healthy WR’s. Without those ingredients, I am not a fan. Can’t overpay Baker and not have the pieces he needs to be good
April 16th, 2026 at 3:05 pm
Baker needs a strong run game
Like the run game in Cleveland with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt
And here in 2024 with Bucky, Rachaad, Tucker
A weak run game will force him try to be Superman
And that will lead to unnecessary hits and turnovers
April 16th, 2026 at 3:08 pm
One thing is for sure Mayfield would be an idiot to suit up this year without a multi year extension So all you gurus that say don’t pay him and let’s see how he does this year are in a fantasy world We all agree that be great, but that’s not how the NFL works. He holds all the cards This is his one shot for a large contract with lots of guaranteed money
April 16th, 2026 at 3:16 pm
They should extend Baker before training camp
They should also draft OG Vegas Ioane, if he’s there at 15
I like CJ Allen, but I believe Ioane is the best pick for the Bucs
April 16th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
Lakeland Says:
“Gerald McCoy is the guy who milked this franchise for a decade
And not one playoff appearance.”
To be fair, the only other great player we had on defense during that time was Lavante David. Fans expected McCoy to do it all himself.
April 16th, 2026 at 3:27 pm
Rocket10 Says:
“One thing is for sure Mayfield would be an idiot to suit up this year without a multi year extension…”
He has a year left on his contract. If he refuses to suit up, he won’t get offers from other teams next year.
I’m currently all for paying him…at the end of this season.
April 16th, 2026 at 3:28 pm
Jason the Lichtbrain should be forbidden from extending any contracts-PERIOD.
In all likelihood after next years’ iteration of the Bucs craps the bed Bowles and Licht will be history figures in Tampa. The LAST thing Bucs need to do is spend more money foolishly.
April 16th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
He won’t get top dollar, but we’d be crazy to not extend him, unless we’re tanking for next year’s draft. I’m praying to all the gods that doesn’t happen.
April 16th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
@Rocket10
Here’s the problem with your thought process. If you sign Mayfield to that fat contract that you’re lobbying for you can’t afford to pay the playmakers that he needs surrounding him to be an effective QB.
See @Section 312 and @Lakeland’s posts from above yours.
April 16th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
There will be no standoff, this is done deal. Decided long before Mayfield signed the original contract.
April 16th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Personally, I think we have no choice but to wait until the end of the season.
Scenario 1: The Bucs do great, Baker does great. He gets a new contract next season. All is good. Bowles either retires…or earn another extension.
Scenario 2: Offense and Baker do great, but the defense doesn’t. Bowles gets fired and Robinson gets his job.
Scenario 3: The Bucs do so bad they are in the running for the first pick. That means a whole new coaching staff…and a head coach who will not want Baker because the HC wants to draft a QB.
Too much is in the air to give Mayfield a new contract right now.
April 16th, 2026 at 3:35 pm
“You want to talk about getting the respect of everybody in the locker room: that’s the guy.
so why did we have to bring in JPP late in the season to provide “juice” and “leadership”
players always side with players when it comes to $$$$$
its simple…WIN 2 playoffs games this season and he’ll be a BUC for the next 5years at least….
but we all know how baker performs under pressure lol….if you dont know, look at NOV & DEC lol
GO BUCS!!!!
April 16th, 2026 at 3:37 pm
At least behind the scenes the owners and GM know how bad BM’s injuries were during the great collapse of 2025. We don’t know but they do so I think they’ll make a more informed opinion on whether to extend him with a big contract.
April 16th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
Baker’s OC was Grizzard, he played without Godwin and McMillan and an unhealthy offensive line before the bye and he played at what was talked about as an MVP level. He didn’t continue to do so after the bye because he himself was injured. So it sounds like he meets your criteria section 312.
April 16th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
Baker just HAS to stay healthy. SOME of that responsibility is on him to take smarter risks, but a healthy OL should help make that a bit easier as well. (Not to mention incorporating more quick throw concepts in the offense.)
April 16th, 2026 at 3:51 pm
Well the Glazers are no strangers to losing “the court of public opinion “
April 16th, 2026 at 3:59 pm
They better fix the line before they screw Baker up. We don’t want him to start seeing ghosts in the pocket and running when he doesn’t need to. Plus getting him injured. The really need to address the IOL ASAP
April 16th, 2026 at 3:59 pm
If not Baker, then who? Options:
1. Baker
2. Trask
3. Winston
4. Cousins
5. Tank for Arch Manning
Name your poison guys! I’ll take Baker.
April 16th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
I’d extended, what would we pay him realistically?
April 16th, 2026 at 4:20 pm
I’m not lobbying for anything, I’m just saying Mayfield won’t play without an extension, his age makes this a reality and if he sits out, some team will pay him a crazy amount the year after. If he plays and plays poorly he’s virtually stuck as a backup with a backup contract, so again, no agent worth a crap would let him play this year without an extension
April 16th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
Good Lord. The interior offensive line was out with injuries last year. Mauch was out all year and Bredeson had a season ending injury too. When they come back in OTA’s we’ll see them healthy again and raring to go- just like 2024. Also Mauch looks significantly bigger and stronger this year and his play was already pro bowl caliber in 2024. Our O-line is great when HEALTHY. We need a backup that won’t represent a HUGE drop in talent. That’s not Ioane. He’s starter caliber.
April 16th, 2026 at 4:22 pm
And PAY Baker. He’s awesome.
April 16th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Mauch hasn’t played football in a year. Bredeson was rated near the bottom of the league. He’s not it. They need to upgrade now and get ready for the future. Can’t song everyone on the O line to a big contract.
April 16th, 2026 at 4:28 pm
Then you got Barton who is no better than Hainsey was in my opinion
April 16th, 2026 at 4:38 pm
IT WAS A PERFECT STORM OF INJURIES LAST YEAR FOR THE OLIN. ALL 5 STARTERS MISSED SIGNIFICANT GAMES, AND MAUCH MISSED THE WHOLE SEASON. THEN THE INJURY TO MCMILLAN, AND LATER GODWIN, AND EVENS, AND BUCKY IRVING. OFFENSIVE INJURIES WERE A DISASTER AND IT KILLED THE OFFENSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON.
April 16th, 2026 at 4:40 pm
In 2024, the offensive line that “graded” so badly had an absolutely phenomenal season. Remember? There’s no reason they cannot do that again. Being out gave them more time to gain even more functional strength.
April 16th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
Ioane is a 10 year starter at least
Maybe a future All-Pro mauler, it’s hard to pass on him
April 16th, 2026 at 4:42 pm
I vote against an extension. The defense has not improved so that means (hopefully) Bowles and Licht are fired and a new FO is brought in and the rebuild that should have started 2 years ago can begin.
April 16th, 2026 at 4:51 pm
Fans of other teams just visiting and hoping they can put the Bucs into a death spiral and steak Baker.
April 16th, 2026 at 4:51 pm
*steal
April 16th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
Baker started off top 5 qb. By the time the end of the season rolled around he looked bad. I saw him running for his life, pressured and getting injured. I am blaming it on the O line. It’s not what it used to be. Yes there were injuries and Barton has great versatility and did good at LT but they need reinforcements. I don’t think Licht will skip on O line again atleast I hope not. I’m hoping he is throwing smokescreens and will surprise us.
April 16th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
They will get him extended. They messed up with rookie OC and Baker plus other players paid the price. I fully expect him to have a year like 2024 than 2025 and if they don’t extend him now he will cost more later and probably leave like Mike did. He’s the best option for the team over next 3 years and they should draft a successor next year or year after. He should get top 10-12 QB $ and that’s fair to both sides.
April 16th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
40-60% of the offensive line was out at almost all times last season.
April 16th, 2026 at 5:16 pm
@Todd – I’d guess 50ish million per.
With any luck it’s 45ish.
April 16th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Baker need the 2002 bucs defense with the rules from that year and he need the 1993 Cowboys offensive line. And he need Barry Sanders at runningback with Jerry Rice and Randy Moss and Shannon Sharpe at tight end and Baker Mayfield will get us to a Superbowl!!
April 16th, 2026 at 5:23 pm
You Baker fan boys will give him another excuse this year if he plays bad again lol 🤣🤣 !! Todd Bowles is already set as the scapegoat for Baker Mayfield so if I’m the Glazers I would resign Baker Mayfield because you can lose as long as it’s fun losing is ok in Tampa!!
April 16th, 2026 at 5:25 pm
Bake carr sucks why pay for what you already know will happen he’s just not a winner its not in his blood
April 16th, 2026 at 5:35 pm
Oneilbuc Says:
April 16th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Baker need the 2002 bucs defense with the rules from that year and he need the 1993 Cowboys offensive line.
***************
If we draft Ioane, we WILL have the 1993 Cowboys offensive line… or something pretty damn close to it.
Any defense but last year’s will do.
April 16th, 2026 at 5:46 pm
Pay him
April 16th, 2026 at 5:53 pm
My biggest concern with Baker is not whether he can play or not. It’s the fact he is too fearless with his body. Will be make it through the whole season healthy. Hr will play, but play hurt. I generally think it’s better to resign him now after a down year.. but I worry about his longevity. Needs to be a bit smarter with his body..
April 16th, 2026 at 5:58 pm
“Now his play will dictate if he plays there forever”
Doesn’t sound much like a “demand”, but common sense.
Let Baker play his contract out this year. If he balls out, then he will get his lucrative deal. If he plays inconsistent ball and the Bucs have a losing record, then most likely Baker and this coaching staff will be gone.
Why lock yourself into a longterm contract now??
McCoy is a freaking bozo anyway.
April 16th, 2026 at 6:02 pm
Whether we resign him this year or not he is going to command $50-60M next year unless he falls off the planet. If the team quits on Bowlzo again or Baker gets hurt again trying to play hero ball a new head coach may or may not want to go in a different direction. I don’t want to wind up like the Falcons and have a huge money QB on a multi year contract and a new head coach who will want to draft a QB or sign a different one.
April 16th, 2026 at 6:06 pm
Oneil nobody is making anymore excuses for Baker than you did for every thread on Winston. You know the star of your life with a record of 36-53. But of course that’s because he never had a defense and your other numerous excuses.
April 16th, 2026 at 7:06 pm
Got to extend him and fast ,,, if you don’t ,, he will be a Ram in 2027 , we don’t want to see that ,, we will spend the next 5 years looking for a QB
April 16th, 2026 at 7:12 pm
Baker is intensely talented but he just like any other qb needs a team around him to win. Don’t believe me?
See Mahomes last year’s performance.
April 16th, 2026 at 7:18 pm
You know all this a conspiracy to percolate Rod Munch. (rosebud… rosebud…)
April 16th, 2026 at 7:23 pm
Don’t think Bredeson is good or mattered? Bucs were 7-2 with Bredeson in the game and 1-7 without him… also goes to show you how catastrophic losing both guards was to the offense better than any other stat.
April 16th, 2026 at 7:26 pm
Bonzai … ‘Personally, I think we have no choice but to wait until the end of the season.’
I agree with waiting until the end of the season Bonzai, UNLESS Licht & Mayfield come to a “we just can’t pass this up” meeting of the minds before that (ie, one of those ‘too good to be true’ contracts). For what it’s worth, that’s unlikely IMO.
What IS likely is Scenario 4: Todd Bowles retires after this season and the Bucs hire Mike Tomlin as our HC. I’m convinced that Tomlin’s taking the year off, but that the Bucs kept Todd because they’ve already talked to Tomlin about 2027. And Todd was perfectly fine with that scenario. After all, he will be 63 this Fall; perfectly good age to retire.
April 16th, 2026 at 7:34 pm
$200 million, 5 years.
$50 million signing bonus.
$20 million year 1
$25 million year 2
$30 million year 3
$35 million year 4
$40 million year 5
2 trips to the Superbowl!
April 16th, 2026 at 7:49 pm
they to run it 4 times on the goal line and cant punch it in.. its time for an upgrade
April 16th, 2026 at 7:52 pm
Both sides probably want to get this done. Length of contract might be a sticking point.
April 16th, 2026 at 8:25 pm
We have seen what Bake can do.. 43+ TDS in the 2024 season was amazing.. 26 and 28 tds in the other years. Thats not bad. No other option but to sign him. Hopefully to a fair deal. Id like to see something like 4 year, 3 guaranteed at the going rate.
April 16th, 2026 at 8:30 pm
We’ve also seen his playoff performances in Tampa & the 2nd half of last season.
April 16th, 2026 at 8:44 pm
No doubt I wish his play was a bit more steady. Until the team around him gets more steady, offense/defense/coaching then its hard to really tell. They are not going to be able to pay everybody so Licht needs to not whiff this year and maybe even trade down depending how the draft goes.
April 16th, 2026 at 8:44 pm
If you want to know how Baker plays under pressure 831, all you have to look at is his all time career record of 106.5 playoff passer rating. No one plays better than #6 Baker Mayfield when the real money is on the line. No one plays better. He leads them all!!! Hilarious how that fact gets people.
April 16th, 2026 at 8:54 pm
C is telling it like it is. Haters don’t like the facts but they don’t like any facts that have to do with Baker. They just like to exaggerate and take the facts out of context. But oh well, as we all said Baker will be here another 5 years and make $40-$50 million. They were wrong and the real Bucs fans were right. Baker will be here another 5 years and the reason being, he plays better than all qb’s when it really counts. Did I mention the 106.5 thing? The Glazers know it, Licht knows it and the coaches know it. The only people that don’t know it are the 5-6 haters that hangout here and spew their hate for OUR quarterback.
April 16th, 2026 at 8:59 pm
Baker is perfect for The Twins. Gag when it counts. Perfect fit.
April 16th, 2026 at 9:01 pm
DR I hope you are right. I wouldn’t mind that at all.
April 16th, 2026 at 9:03 pm
Oh the playoffs again. Let’s see. Against Washington he threw a pick allowed them to score. Munchkin loves this one. He then helps lead the offense down the field to scoring range. The center screws up the snap. Bowles goes for the field goal and gets the tie. The defense allows the Commanders to drive down the field. The immortal Kancey catches the QB on 4th down in the backfield only to get a minor stiff arm and left holding a towel in his hand. No more stopping they get a lucky doink off the goal post game over.
Moral is game was back to 0-0 . Defense did exactly what they do when Bowles defense is on the field because he defers the opening kickoffs. The defense allows the teams March right down the field and score.
April 16th, 2026 at 9:03 pm
I’ll take my chances the next 5 years with Baker,,, unless you can guarantee me someone better (I’ll take Josh Allen lol), Baker is the guy. It’s all about the guys around him ,,, Minn probably gets in playoffs this year w Kyler , AZ couldn’t ,, Darnold no good w Jets , now a SB Champ. When Baker isn’t running for his life (which he was all of 2025) he is a real good QB,, Did I say elite (Allen , Mahomes , Stafford, Burrow ) , no but darn good which is a keeper in my book
April 16th, 2026 at 9:11 pm
We always must remember. Every score the defense gives up they’re always on the field to long are tired and worn out Even on the opening drive.
April 16th, 2026 at 9:13 pm
DBS. Every thing I’ve said about Jamies when he was here is a proven fact. Baker is playing in a much weaker division and he’s not asked to do near as much as Jamies was asked. Baker is asked to do less in a trash division. Let’s see Brice Young vs Cam Newton Drew Brees vs Tyler Sought Matt Ryan vs Kirk Cousins lol 🤣 ok . All 5 years our offense was top 5 with no running game with Jamies. And with Baker we’ve been top 10 and that includes the running game. But let me keep going Jamies first 2 years Carolina and Falcons both were in the Superbowl with Cam Newton MVP and Matt Ryan MvP the next year. Baker couldn’t get to a national championship in college with a stack OU roster. He couldn’t do anything with a stack Browns team. He’s choked in every big game and he’s 2-9 in prime time games but yeah give him 50 million dollars lol 🤣🤣 .
April 16th, 2026 at 9:14 pm
DBS. Oh yeah I forgot he was hurt lol !!
April 16th, 2026 at 9:22 pm
Osqueel back again with your stupid excuses. Thanks for proving my point. 36-53 for every excuse in the world. He couldn’t compete with?
April 16th, 2026 at 9:29 pm
DBS. That’s facts with Baker Mayfield you just say he’s injured even though he’s choked in every big game lol 😆😆 .
April 16th, 2026 at 9:31 pm
My goodness , Jamis , really come on! Terrible trash division ? Well Carolina came that close to beating Rams ,,, Atlanta beat Josh Allen, the Bucs beat the SB champs and The Saints held their own ,,, so not sure about trash,,, Give me Baker and a healthy O line
April 16th, 2026 at 9:40 pm
Have you guys heard of opportunity cost? Did KC NEED Mahomes? Too extreme a example??Did Philly NEED Hurts? Did Seattle NEED Darnold? Look at Geno stats from 2022-2024 and Baker’s from 2023-2025….plus Geno had a higher win% in Seattle/NFC west then Baker has in Tampa. You Baker fans ( not Bucs fans) clamor for mediocrity now and it’s sickening. If you don’t have a Brady or Mahomes the QB is absolutely expendable and should be scrutinized MORE then any other position. You can win a SB with a average OT, Cb,Edge or whatever but you cannot get to a title game with a average QB. Purdy better then Baker SB, title game, top 4 MVP finish his second year, Hurts- SB champ,SB appearance, top 2 MVP finish his 3rd year, Darnold back to back 4000 yard/14 win regular seasons, improved his new team win total by 8 and 4 games in monster divisions. Also top 6&top 8 MVP finishes. Baker is 2-5 years older then all 3 and has a weaker resume and never has finished top 10 in MVP voting. I hate the ” if not Baker, who”….So your going to pay this bum 50M to hope you win 9 games in a garbage division?? Because you have zero chance of a SB appearance or title game. It’s unquestionable 18 QBs you would take in front of him with 2nd year guys looking, 2026 guys and the much hyped 2027.
April 16th, 2026 at 9:56 pm
I like these idiots who end every sentence with “lol.” Few are laughing with them.
Hard to see humor in their illiterate ramblings. What will be worth a good laugh is listening to these weasels whine when Baker signs a $50Mil/yr 4 year guaranteed contract.
April 16th, 2026 at 10:27 pm
Like ability should never be the reason to pay any NFL quarterback an exorbitant sum of money! Make Baker earn it! Any consideration should include winning the South and playing in the Conference championship game! Anything below that, give him his walking papers.
April 16th, 2026 at 10:35 pm
Gipper. How much of the money BAKER going to give you? If the bucs resign him it’s cool with me because that means I can watch the games with no expectations all year. I know we ain’t winning or going to a Superbowl and that means you fake bucs Baker Mayfield fan girls all will be gone. Baker got a maybe 2 more years left and he will be a backup like he should be now .
April 16th, 2026 at 10:40 pm
Light. Please and Baker sucked against all those teams but 1 he threw a pick and lost against the Panthers and threw late 4th quarters picks that changed the momentum of the against the rest of them. Lol 😂 we were 8-9 the Falcons was 8-9 the saints were 8-9 and the Panthers was 9-8 what a hard division!!
April 16th, 2026 at 10:57 pm
Whatever. Baker is fun to watch and you certainly are not going to get anyone better. They will pay him.
April 16th, 2026 at 11:07 pm
Oneilbuc, Jameis is a very talented quarterback who happened to play for a very mediocre team in a very competitive division from the time he was drafted. In addition, although he had Evans and later Godwin, it’s true he didn’t have much of a running game or much of a defense or top level coaching like Payton, Rivera and Quinn. He threw a ton of picks probably because he had to do something to try to win. When you’re getting your ass kicked, you can’t just roll over and play conservative, you have to throw the ball even if it means putting it in harm’s way. So criticizing Jameis lack of success as measured by wins and losses is not fair. In a different and better situation with better coaching, perhaps things could have been different. There’s no question he has talent. He’s had some bad luck as well. He goes to the Saints and changes the way he plays by protecting the ball and playing great but then gets hurt. Then in 2022 he comes back as the starter, then gets hurt again and loses the job to Andy Dalton after trying to play injured. Then he goes to the Browns and when he gets on the field, he plays pretty good. But the Browns are the Browns. Nothing good can come out of playing quarterback for that organization. Winston deserves respect because in different circumstances, who knows what could have been. I say this objectively. I think Baker deserves that same objectivity. They are different in most ways but they are both talented and have both been on that rough road.
April 17th, 2026 at 12:21 am
Why? He played terrible from week 7 on. He did nothing to deserve an extension and he’s got a year left on his deal. Play it out and see what happens. The last thing the Bucs should want to do is lock up Baker to a big deal, only to see him continued to get ‘injured’ – and now on a huge deal that tanks the teams chances to get a top coach (since if Baker is ‘injured’ yet again, the team isn’t winning and Bowles is getting fired – no top coach is going to want to take a job with a QB who is killing the cap and just got everyone fired).
April 17th, 2026 at 12:56 am
There was already a post last week on this exact same thing (McCoy), right!?
April 17th, 2026 at 1:05 am
Bottomline… Here’s where we’re at with Baker. Another bad season and he’s going to get the BUST label, and it’ll then be awfully hard to for him to run from or change that narrative. A former Heisman Trophy WINNER, and 1st-Round PICK!? Yeeuuuup. It is absolutely AMAZING how many of these straight up LOONS on here, or most likely Family Members, STILL want to view HIM as if he is some sort of Underdog!? Yeah, he was literally THE #1 fricken PICK. He is in MAJOR “Bust Territory,” All. Day. LONG. 💯 Anyone else would be with HIS RESUME now, 8+YEARS IN.
April 17th, 2026 at 1:13 am
Hey Buc Bonzai: You’re killing me here — your copy top and my original bottom!
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
April 16th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Personally, I think we have no choice but to wait until the end of the season.
Scenario 1: The Bucs do great, Baker does great. He gets a new contract next season. All is good. Bowles either retires…or earn another extension.
Scenario 2: Offense and Baker do great, but the defense doesn’t. Bowles gets fired and Robinson gets his job.
Scenario 3: The Bucs do so bad they are in the running for the first pick. That means a whole new coaching staff…and a head coach who will not want Baker because the HC wants to draft a QB.
……
________________________________
exBrowns02 Says:
March 27th, 2026 at 12:20 am
……..They [the Glazers] also know if they don’t get it done, they’ll be facing one of the following basic scenarios (together with consequences):
1) Baker balls out and the Bucs make a substantial playoff run: Baker earns a top-tier market value price tag that assumes no team-friendly incentives. The Glazers are now in a highly-competitive bidding situation. Choose Baker, or defer to a not-great first round draft pick for a new “franchise” QB?
2) Baker plays well, but the Bucs don’t make a substantial playoff run: Baker earns a top-tier or near-top-tier market value price tag, but needs to look at other team offers due to lack of faith in the future of the Bucs organization. The Glazers are now faced with a rebuild/tank decision that will likely lead to multiple years of declining revenue. Tough choice because they’ll need to pay up for Baker while trying to mix his effect on salary cap with rebuild costs. Choose Baker, or rebuild?
3) Baker under-performs (with the team likely under-performing as well): Baker’s immediate future is that of a backup in the NFL. The Bucs/Glazers capitalize on waiting to extend Baker’s contract, looking forward to a great 2027 QB draft selection
April 17th, 2026 at 1:28 am
Hey Buc Bonzai: Really? — your copy top and my original bottom!
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
April 16th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Personally, I think we have no choice but to wait until the end of the season.
Scenario 1: The Bucs do great, Baker does great. He gets a new contract next season. All is good. Bowles either retires…or earn another extension.
Scenario 2: Offense and Baker do great, but the defense doesn’t. Bowles gets fired and Robinson gets his job.
Scenario 3: The Bucs do so bad they are in the running for the first pick. That means a whole new coaching staff…and a head coach who will not want Baker because the HC wants to draft a QB.
……
________________________________
exBrowns02 Says:
March 27th, 2026 at 12:20 am
……..They [the Glazers] also know if they don’t get it done, they’ll be facing one of the following basic scenarios (together with consequences):
1) Baker balls out and the Bucs make a substantial playoff run: Baker earns a top-tier market value price tag that assumes no team-friendly incentives. The Glazers are now in a highly-competitive bidding situation. Choose Baker, or defer to a not-great first round draft pick for a new “franchise” QB?
2) Baker plays well, but the Bucs don’t make a substantial playoff run: Baker earns a top-tier or near-top-tier market value price tag, but needs to look at other team offers due to lack of faith in the future of the Bucs organization. The Glazers are now faced with a rebuild/tank decision that will likely lead to multiple years of declining revenue. Tough choice because they’ll need to pay up for Baker while trying to mix his effect on salary cap with rebuild costs. Choose Baker, or rebuild?
3) Baker under-performs (with the team likely under-performing as well): Baker’s immediate future is that of a backup in the NFL. The Bucs/Glazers capitalize on waiting to extend Baker’s contract, looking forward to a great 2027 QB draft selection
April 17th, 2026 at 1:30 am
Jameis is just a VERY weird dude PERIOD, who doesn’t know any better and lives inside of his OWN friggin universe. He was SO Uber TALENTED, he was constantly “coddled” by EVERYONE, throughout his entire LIFE. He was never accountable for ANYTHING. He never had to learn how to “act” or to live in the real world. A lot of people forget that he was an absolute STUD Baseball Player, who could throw a 90+mph FASTBALL. And, FloDuh State Baseball is HUGE. It’s their 2nd Best Most Popular SPORT (basketball was prob right there while Leonard Hamilton was still there). I mean, an absolute JUGGERNAUT. So much so, that they were all worried to death about a ‘potential’ move to the BIG10 Conference ( though would never happen for several other reasons – have to at least get their AAU credentials). A lot of people thought it could be a dealbreaker, but the BIG10 was never accepting THEM in the first place. It’s an absolute DAMN SHAME what has happened to the ACC. Horrible, WEAK and PATHETIC (so-called) “Leadership.” Playing patty-cakes with Notre Dame, while allowing them to just USE THEM. Then, absolutely PANIC and invite Stanford and Cal. Passed on West Virginia (and then Cincy), and just allowed them to join the BIG12. Just HORRIBLE Decisions.
April 17th, 2026 at 1:47 am
Nothing pissed me off WORSE than the additions of Stanford and Cal. It just absolutely SCREWED USF (they had a so-called “gentlemen’s” agreement, supposedly). It REALLY HURT. They still think they can get in pretty soon maybe, sometime within the next 5-6 years. At the most, I hope!? If I were the ACC though, I would absolutely NOT allow FloDuh State to dictate or effect ANY freaking thing after what the hell THEY DID and tried to pull (along with Clemson) a few years ago!!!! The thing being, neither one of those schools have a landing spot in either of the POWER-2 Conferences. Like, they just assumed they did Lmao. Not large enough markets, and don’t have the AAU accreditation and academics. So, they bring nothing to the table for the BIG10 and there is no way in HELL, that Florida would EVER allow them admission into THE SEC.
April 17th, 2026 at 7:54 am
Pay Baker. Pay him now. Don’t get stuck in a situation where you have to franchise him and likely make him angry with no long term security. He’s way too good to pass up on.
April 17th, 2026 at 11:24 am
Why do so many Baker critics assume that should he have a great year and (for the sake of argument) win the Super Bowl, all without a new contract, Baker would automatically re-sign with the Bucs? Wouldn’t this man, always ins search of new challenges, be looking around for another team to resurrect? A team with lots of money because the players they already have don’t take up a lot of cap space? I think it noteworthy that in the blame game about the late-season dive of the Bucs, Mayfield has been remarkably silent, despite the slings and arrows flung at him. People who are hiring will find that very attractive.
April 17th, 2026 at 2:23 pm
He’s silent he because there’s nothing he can say. Period. And, it would be absolutely MORONIC to extend BAKER to a LONGTERM top of the market deal. It is totally unnecessary, in every way imaginable. The risks farrrrr outweigh ANY possible reward. There will most likely be SIX (minimum five) QUARTERBACKS drafted in next season’s 2027 DRAFT. So, just HOW MANY Teams do you THINK will even be ‘in the market’ for a new “Starting-QB” (at top TOP dollar), to begin with!? Do you really think the aging Bake will miraculously become healthier and more athletic (bigger/faster/taller lol) going into his age 33 year-old season, and for throughout the next 4-YEARS, when he’s 36+!? I mean, SERIOUSLY. Be REAL. It’s ludicrous. People are not even capable of THINKING. Definitely, not any further than the very tips of their noses. And, HOW does giving ANY QB $50+MIL per year (longterm) benefit a BAD team heading into a rebuild and coaching change. ESPECIALLY, an aging beat up and banged up, inconsistent, middle of the road Quarterback. Unless, he is a “generational” type of talent, HE is NOT.
April 17th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Go away Gerald.
April 17th, 2026 at 2:28 pm
Why ANYONE would want to risk that, if they are a true Bucs Fan, is just beyond me. There is literally NOTHING to gain by it. Only unless, maybe, IF he wins the Super Bowl. That would be the ONLY way. Now, do YOU really think there is ANY chance whatsoever, of that EVER happening!? Seriously!? If so, then YOU are a delusional MORON. There is literally, ZERO CHANCE.
April 17th, 2026 at 2:36 pm
And, you DON’T draft a 1st-Round QB right off the bat in year-1 of a complete rebuild. It’s ignorant because it NEVER WORKS. Again, unless it a no doubt, can’t miss, “generational” TALENT. Period. End of Story. Rebuilding your ROSTER FIRST (and signing a vet bridge on the cheap) is the way!!!! 💯 💯
April 17th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
It is strange, 3.28 Evans, how a “gag” artist has the highest “career playoff passer rating” in the history of the game. The NFL has been around for 106 years and in that 106 years several thousand quarterbacks have played the game but not one has a higher playoff passer rating than the gag artist Baker Mayfield. Nothing else needs to be said. 3.28 is a certified looney tunes character.
April 17th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
As usual Munch misses the obvious and thinks Baker gets injured because he’s just injury prone when in reality it’s due to not being protected. And that’s due to playing the 3rd string OL. His lack of observation skills is expected at this point. Hope springs eternal I guess. Just don’t hold your breath.
April 17th, 2026 at 2:59 pm
Doesn’t matter who’s at QB the Bucs center sucks at pass blocking and every knowledgeable coach, analyst and fan know that good QB’s have good centers The 2 go hand in hand
April 17th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
So Melvin says the Glazers are morons…
Interesting, because the Glazers say it won’t bother them one bit to cut a big check to keep Baker here for a long time because “Baker has done everything expected of him”. Some how I don’t think it’s the Glazers that are morons…
April 17th, 2026 at 3:07 pm
813bucboi continuing to be a Baker hater by saying he does not do well under pressure. Must have short term memory loss because I remember him being clutch in the first half of the season, specifically dueling the SB champs top defense, before injuries hampered him. But hey, despite the offense being hurt more than the defense and still finding a way to win *cough* 38 points against a top seahawks defense *cough*, 813bucboi cant ever seem to blame bowles. I…Wonder…..Why….
April 17th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
Melvin, why are you even on this site? You sound half way intelligent about a third of the time and then you say something so out in left field it erases any hope that you actually can have a rational thought. Why??? You would do much better on a woman’s soccer site, seriously now.
April 17th, 2026 at 3:19 pm
So, let me get this straight (I’m trying my very best to understand lol)… YOU would bet $200+MILLION of YOU (supposed) “favorite” team’s most preciously valuable cap space LONGTERM, on a Quarterback who finished the last 9-games of the regular season at 2-7, and could not even WIN the pathetically lowly NFC SOUTH. With quite possibly, THE ‘weakest’ stretch of games the end a season in NFL HISTORY. And, the schedule during his first year here, was not much better, if at ALL. Okay, gotcha. That makes all the sense in the world. So, do it! And, then absolutely kiss away and DESTROY any shot at hiring a ‘top-tier’ young and agressive, modern day Head Coach and GM, when everything completely falls apart. Which there is much more likely of a chance of exactly that happening, than NOT. So, THAT would be “worth it” to YOU!? For BAKER!? Really!? Then, YOU are not a Bucs Fan. YOU are only a BAKER FAN. Since, YOU are willing to risk ANOTHER Lost Decade. Cause, you extend BAKER longterm now, at $200+MILLION, then that is EXACTLY what you are risking. It would raise the odds astronomically. I mean WHO in what world would DO THAT!? After finishing a season 2-7 like that, and playing the way HE DID!? I mean, SERIOUSLY… WHO!? It’s just absurdity.
April 17th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
@ What it is Says: “the Glazers say it won’t bother them one bit to cut a big check to keep Baker here for a long time.”
So YOU believe everything a billionaire owner SAYS, then!? That’s laughable. So, then WHY hasn’t he!? He’s had every opportunity to do just exactly that, and HE HASN’T. Plus, Baker’s Agent already said months ago, that there will be “NO Discounts,” this next go around. And, I do believe HIM. Baker never took any “discounts” in the first place. He took EVERY single DIME that HE could get. There was NEVER this big “bidding war” for him the last time. That is nothing but a completely made up false narrative. It just so happened to “look-like” a good deal for the Bucs after his season under Coen. It was a fair deal for both sides at the time, and was EXACTLY ‘the numbers and years’ that I had predicted the entire time, right on here.
April 17th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
Blah blah blah BLAH BLAH BLAH. Blah BLAH BLAH BLAH.Blah.
April 17th, 2026 at 5:18 pm
No No and No again! 50mil a year? For what? What has he proven? Nothing! Wait until after the year is finished. If he wants to walk let him….we will be better off! Let’s see if he can get us in the playoffs? Which I know that he won’t!!! Let’s Go Bucs!!!
April 17th, 2026 at 7:11 pm
Attaboy Says:
April 17th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
Melvin, why are you even on this site? You sound half way intelligent about a third of the time and then you say something so out in left field it erases any hope that you actually can have a rational thought. Why??? You would do much better on a woman’s soccer site, seriously now.
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What third are you talking about? MelJr. has never met a comma. What we get is endless run on sentences.
April 17th, 2026 at 7:13 pm
I hope the Bucs man up pay 180- 200 for 3 and be done with this. They cannot afford to go ‘Doug Williams’ here. Hes the best we can get. Sign him sooner than later.
April 17th, 2026 at 8:09 pm
Bucblind II Says:
April 17th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
As usual Munch misses the obvious and thinks Baker gets injured because he’s just injury prone when in reality it’s due to not being protected
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Actually, you see, I’m mocking the idea that he’s always ‘injured’ – it’s just an excuse people say every single time he has a bad game. Heck if he comes out looking good, then throws an INT on the 3rd series, people will literally claim he got ‘injured’ on the previous drive. Every, single, time.
The ‘obvious’ point is that Baker is simply a very inconsistent QB.
With that said, he’s got a year on his deal, the Bucs didn’t bring in any legit competition, so he’s going to have every chance to try to make it through the year without getting ‘injured’. If he does, then the Bucs can give him a new deal, franchise him, whatever. But it makes zero sense to extend someone who is always ‘injured’ and coming off an awful year where he singlehandedly cost the Bucs a spot in the playoffs, and was so bad he made Mike Evans want to leave town.
April 17th, 2026 at 8:29 pm
Rod — Mayfield is on the Bucs weekly injury report, but he’s not really injured? Please explain.
April 18th, 2026 at 7:58 am
because being bad at his job is not an injury
April 18th, 2026 at 12:52 pm
Munch always talks like he has a crystal ball yet he constantly gets it wrong. #1 You don’t have a clue why Evans left, no one really does. #2-Baker didn’t singlehandedly cost us the playoffs. He got hurt because he didn’t have adequate protection from 3rd string line play and had to keep playing because we had a high school coach posing as an nfl qb as a back up. There is no end to your ridiculous takes. It is constant with you and I don’t expect anything to change with the way think.
ExBrown, there is no way the Munchkin can logically explain anything, ever.
April 18th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
I was trying to be nice Gipper. Let him down easy, so to speak.
April 18th, 2026 at 1:17 pm
Melvin says “then why hasn’t the Glazers paid Baker his new contract” ? How in the world do you expect anyone to know why they haven’t? See, this is how you think-you think you know why but in reality you know nothing. The difference is, we all know we don’t know but you really think you do know. Let’s wait and see Mel jr.
April 18th, 2026 at 3:14 pm
Bucblind II Says:
April 18th, 2026 at 12:52 pm
Munch always talks like he has a crystal ball yet he constantly gets it wrong. #1 You don’t have a clue why Evans left, no one really does. #2-Baker didn’t singlehandedly cost us the playoffs.
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1. Mike literally said he wanted to go to a contender that had a ‘good’ QB. How many clues do you need?
2. Humm… early in the year Baker was ‘singlehandedly’ winning games, but he can’t ‘singlehandedly’ lose them? Seems like a double standard.
April 18th, 2026 at 5:14 pm
You people are totally deranged Munchkin. #1 he didn’t say Baker wasn’t a good quarterback, he said that was something he had to have before he would go there. #2 again, no one said Baker “singlehandedly” won those games. He had a big hand but no one singlehandedly wins a football game. Only you Munchkin would claim those 2. So utterly mental. You really can’t communicate normally.
April 18th, 2026 at 8:43 pm
@ What it is – Nope. Ummm, that would be a FACT. The “owners” have NOT written him a check for a single dime. NOT from another year. Again, WHY haven’t they!? Do you really think they’d take a chance on allowing THEIR “Franchise” Quarterback to just ‘WALK’ at the end of this season, IF they truly believe what they were telling YOU. That’s the time with Baker… you people are not living in reality. Only inside of a very weird ‘adult’ fantasy dreamworld. If Baker has ANOTHER bad season, then he will be viewed as a BUST. Just the same way as ANY other former #1-OVERALL Pick and Heisman Trophy WINNER would be with HIS current NFL RESUME. 💯
April 18th, 2026 at 10:55 pm
Just a quick google search again…
“Baker Mayfield Could Be MVP. Has anyone watched Baker Mayfield play recently? Holy mackerel! For a guy whose career prospects once looked one half on the scrap heap and one half future gym teacher, he’s now playing at a MVP level. And he’s doing it virtually without any of his starting receivers or starting running back. This last Sunday, he pretty much singlehandedly beat the 49ers. He’s also got that “it” factor that’s brought up when it comes to the best starting quarterbacks. I’d go so far to say that he has more of that than some guys who already have won MVPs. If the Bucs every get healthy, watch out! I’d take Mayfield at this point in his career over almost every other QB in the league. Not all, but almost.”
Update from the future… the Bucs receivers did get healthy, and Baker stunk up the place, pretty much singlehandedly costing the Bucs the playoffs with his awful performances when it mattered the most. Turns out chanting MVP in week 6, is in fact, moronic. As I pointed out at the time.
April 18th, 2026 at 11:18 pm
Strange Mel jr. But Baker has never had a down year when he didn’t have injurie(s) plaguing him, never. But you act like, oh he’s gonna have another bad year becausethats just what Mayfielddoes…all on his own. Typical from the oh so blind haters.
April 19th, 2026 at 3:39 am
Munch, I guess you are trying to conflate those 2? Again, no one said he singlehandedly won, they said he “pretty much” singlehandedly won-its an expression. There is a difference. A normal person would know that but not the haters. And that wasn’t a fan saying that, that was an announcer if I remember right. You acted like it was a Baker supporter. Like I said you haters can’t communicate or read something and figure out who said it and all the normal ways people communicate. It is impossible with you people. In reality, you like to take comments totally out of context and try to twist it to fit your narrative. I can’t imagine what it would be like having to deal with you on a daily basis. I’m just glad it’s not me.
April 19th, 2026 at 2:39 pm
Bucblind II Says:
April 19th, 2026 at 3:39 am
Munch, I guess you are trying to conflate those 2? Again, no one said he singlehandedly won, they said he “pretty much” singlehandedly won-its an expression. There is a difference.
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That was literally the first response of a google search.
And yes, go back and look on THIS message board early in the season, ALL the Baker Boi(s) were saying he was singlehandedly winning games. ALL of them.