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