Buccaneers Showed Baker Mayfield The Money
June 5th, 2026
Big news today in a way many fans are not thinking.
Yes, Baker Mayfield revealed to local scribes that he and the Bucs “are not anywhere close” when it comes to the terms of a contract extension that would add years to Mayfield’s deal expiring after the 2026 season.
But the focus, Joe believes, should not be on the numbers Mayfield obviously doesn’t like. It should be on that the Bucs are willing to commit to Mayfield long term.
While Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht has said publicly he’s interested in keeping Mayfield for several more years, it’s quite another thing to enter contract negotiations, which Mayfield confirmed have taken place.
Per Joe’s private conversations, It’s very safe to say that the Bucs did not deliver Mayfield an insulting offer. They love the guy and want him — but they’re also interested in a deal that’s in the best interests of both sides, as they should be.
In the Bucs’ back pocket is the franchise tag, projected to be $50 million for quarterbacks in 2027. Negotiations surely have that number in mind.
Mayfield could cry about being tagged, if it came to that. But if he did, there would be a long line of Bucs fans turning on Mayfield for moaning about having to play for $50 freaking million.
No team wants to deal with that kind of salary cap charge, but it still only would represent about 16 or 17 percent of the cap.
As Joe has written, there’s no reason to expect Mayfield to be gone in 2027. However, there was no reason for Mike Evans to want to leave with a fat contract on the table from an organization that worshipped him.
June 5th, 2026 at 5:33 pm
“However, there was no reason for Mike Evans to want to leave with a fat contract on the table from an organization that worshipped him.”
False. There were two glaring reasons. Bowles and Baker.
Stop sugar coating it and start telling the truth. You can’t handle the truth! At some point, a real truth with emerge.–Joe
Mike saw an incapable HC\DC and a mid at best QB.
Now he has a top flight HC and an experienced proven QB in Purdy.
June 5th, 2026 at 5:38 pm
Let’s see how he plays
June 5th, 2026 at 5:38 pm
It’s a gamble, but I say wait. Yes, if we win a Superbowl this year, his price will skyrocket…but if that’s the case, he’d be worth the money.
And if we have a bad year? Time to draft a better option next year.
June 5th, 2026 at 5:39 pm
The pressure will be too much for baker and he’ll choke….just like he did in DEC….
I expect him to be gone in 2027 if we don’t win a playoff game this year
Great job Bucs!!!!!!…hold steady…make him earn it
GO BUCS
June 5th, 2026 at 5:39 pm
I expect the Bucs to slow play this contract. If we miss the playoffs then it’s time to reboot.
June 5th, 2026 at 5:45 pm
I’m willing to bet that it’s about the guaranteed years.
As long as Licht protects the franchise by providing flexibility then this should get done before training camp.
But if he wants a ton of guaranteed years Jason needs to walk away and let the season play out.
June 5th, 2026 at 5:46 pm
If he play lights out this season then give him an extension. But I won’t hold my breath. Baker will never take us or anyone else to the Super bowl.
June 5th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
Let him play out his contract, see how the year goes and then talk with the franchise tag in their back pocket.
I’m not sold on Mayfield and I dont think alot of the league is either.
June 5th, 2026 at 6:03 pm
Wow we’re losing a whole bunch of them. Evans Lavonte White & now who knows about Baker after this & I think Vita is a FA next year, too! Might be wrong.
June 5th, 2026 at 6:06 pm
This article is just spot FN on. Nothing to add. To the Joe that wrote this. Well done and succinct and spot on!
June 5th, 2026 at 6:06 pm
Well if Baker goes WE CAN BRING TOM BACK ALONG WITH GRONKOWSKI!?
June 5th, 2026 at 6:07 pm
His interceptions and fumbles cost us games.
He needs to prove himself again this year.
Plus, his body is beat up.
He needs to have a big year. Ànd stay healthy.
Bowles and Baker could both be gone after this season if we suck again.
June 5th, 2026 at 6:07 pm
I swear this page has the most dedicated trolls
June 5th, 2026 at 6:16 pm
I know he was playing hurt… but Baker did not play well enough at the end of the year to demand a long term deal. He’s streaky, but hes talented. He deserves a two or three year deal at no more than 40m
June 5th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
I love Baker I’m a OU grad and season ticket holder. Getting to watch him play for my Bucs has been really great. Even as his biggest fan I’ll say he is a journeyman type not tall not always accurate but you get guts courage incredible leadership and a will to win.
If you overpay him then you can’t put the team around him you would need to win with him. I think sadly as much as I love Baker it’s probably time to draft a Qb after this year and develop one! (We never have).
If you overpay him you cripple this team. Sad but it’s reality.
June 5th, 2026 at 6:29 pm
Joe Says : But the focus, Joe believes, should not be on the numbers Mayfield obviously doesn’t like. It should be on that the Bucs are willing to commit to Mayfield long term.
^^^^^
Like I said months ago, Baker wants to feel like he “is the man” and a 4 year deal would do that but the Bucs and their coaching situation are out of sync with a 4 year deal and I believe the owners would rather keep their cash and draft a much less expensive option for the near term. A first round pick QB and a renovated RayJay along with a new head coach is an option I am sure is being considered.
I may be wrong but get ready for Aaron Rodgers folks.
June 5th, 2026 at 6:31 pm
I feel like this was click bait ?
June 5th, 2026 at 6:32 pm
You dopes forget what it was like when we had QB s like Winston and the crew that preceded him. Run off Baker and then see again the panic and antics that brought us the likes of Jack Thompson, the throwing Samoan. The days of Brady are over. We were lucky to have him and lucky to have Baker as well. You guys sound like a bunch of trolls. That’s my role!
June 5th, 2026 at 6:33 pm
He’s going to play this season without an extension and move on next season. He might get one more chance to start for another team thats if he has a decent season this year but he won’t. He’ll play the way he always does but worse because he’ll press and try to win every game and make more mistakes. Baker is a bad investment and all 32 teams think so.
June 5th, 2026 at 6:37 pm
Joe Says; They love the guy and want him — but they’re also interested in a deal that’s in the best interests of both sides, as they should be.
^^^^^
As I said weeks ago that is one reason why I believe they would grant a trade request. Jason could spin that in a positive way and throw lots of love toward Baker and his family.
June 5th, 2026 at 6:55 pm
Purdy is not all that much better than baker he is in a right scheme that fits him one seen baker do good things to in the right scheme if purdy played for any other team he would be 13-22 at best
June 5th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Still Coconut Doughnut…I concur.
June 5th, 2026 at 7:02 pm
BucsfaninOregon Says:
You guys sound like a bunch of trolls.
=======================================
Some of them clearly are!
In 2023, Baker was a Top Ten QB, and the following year (2024), he was Top Five. (3rd in the NFL in passing yards, tied for 2nd in TD passes, 3rd in completion percentage, 4th in passer rating, tied for 2nd in completions).
Last season, Baker was great to start the season and was spoken about as an MVP candidate. He didn’t play well after he and most of the o-line were injured. If we had a decent backup QB, the season might have turned out differently. I love Jason Licht as GM, but given the way Baker plays as QB, Licht needed to have a backup QB they could put in if Baker got injured.
June 5th, 2026 at 7:02 pm
People here are so delusional. There aren’t more than five QBs in the league right now that are massive improvements over Baker. But sure, convince yourselves that you’re going to find the super rare diamond in the rough in next years draft. You know, with the 5th or sixth QB taken. The Bucs have such a stellar record drafting QBs.
June 5th, 2026 at 7:02 pm
Baker the best QB we have had besides the GOAT Tom Brady. I have think last year he was hurt and he was pressing and trying to do to much because of all the other injuries. At least with Baker you know he wants to win and will do anything to win. You can’t say that with a lot of these guys that just want to be there to get a check.
June 5th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
You nailed it @Scotty Mack!
Even if the Bucs wanted to upgrade at the QB position, that’s easier said than done.
Of the QB’s who ARE dramatically better than Baker, what team is going to give them up? LOL
If the Bucs crash and burn this season and draft high in 2027, they can grab a QB, but that is no guarantee either.
June 5th, 2026 at 7:26 pm
No obvious reason but as alluded, there’s always a reason. Especially less money in a state with heavy taxes. Someday we might find out. In the meantime, Jason has to be secretly happy for multiple reasons that the Rams drafted a QB in 2026. Not only did it seal the deal for the Bucs to get Bain but it also closed the door on a team that would have almost certainly been interested in Baker as a free agent.
June 5th, 2026 at 7:26 pm
Someone’s talking about his contract value will go up if they win the Super Bowl this year.
Come on. That’s a joke. This team is nowhere near a Super Bowl caliber team.
I say play the year out. If he does great, and he won’t sign an extension, tag him. That’s business.
If the team tanks or he doesn’t play well, the new coach is going to want to have his own quarterback, anyhow.
June 5th, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Per Joe’s private conversations, It’s very safe to say that the Bucs did not deliver Mayfield an insulting offer. They love the guy and want him — but they’re also interested in a deal that’s in the best interests of both sides, as they should be.
^^^^^^^^”
Like Jeff Foxworthy says; There’s your sign.”
June 5th, 2026 at 7:34 pm
That wasn’t Jeff Foxworthy it was Bill Engvall.
June 5th, 2026 at 7:35 pm
45-50 a year ,,,, you guys that complain about baker every day will be the biggest complainers when Gino Smith is our bridge QB for 3 or 4 years in the hopes of developing a young QB,,, Take the guy we know can win our division instead of the unknown next 10 years in obscurity
June 5th, 2026 at 7:38 pm
Tua, Trevor Lawrence and Dak Prescott got max contracts and what have they won? So I understand Baker’s mindset, however, overpaying for potential is what gets teams in trouble.
June 5th, 2026 at 7:40 pm
Jeeze BBB , Mac Jones was just as good in that Offense as Purdy,, A good OLine , and awesome Play caller , one of the best TE and Running backs ,, a winning Defense ,,, Purdy wouldn’t have made it through 8 games on the Bucs last year with our hurt offensive line , our crappy play caller , our TE that seemed to have hands of stone and our hurt running backs
June 5th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Like I have posted several times I don’t believe it will be about the money for Baker. Baker wants and needs to know that he is the man. For him it is all about commitment. Anything less than a 4 year deal doesn’t say to him ” You are our man”.
So the owners were willing to pay him for the short term but not the long term.
Obviously I have no idea how this will play out but all the evidence and information is there for me to reach this conclusion.
I will be somewhat saddened to see Baker go if he does and I will follow him. I banked on Baker heavily when he first arrived and strongly feel that the organization has let him down. I suspect Jason will do whatever he can to make it right for him.
Whatever happens I believe it will be sooner rather than later.
I think that in a strange way Baker is an obstacle to the owners plans. They still have to dig themselves out of the sinkhole that began with the TB12/BA/BL debacle.
June 5th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Buc1987 Says:
June 5th, 2026 at 7:34 pm
That wasn’t Jeff Foxworthy it was Bill Engvall.
^^^^^
I stand corrected. Thank you.
June 5th, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Well, I have been sent to the corner for a time out. I hope my comment doesn’t languish there for long.
June 5th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
First, when he’s on, he is as good as any of the current top 5. Yes, when he’s off, he’s a bit off.
And the REAL QUESTION is WHY is he off? First, he is a gunslinger with the absolute mentality that he believes he can make any throw, into any window… just like Brett Favre. And like Favre, sometimes he’s wrong, but more often than not, he’s right.
Second, if we had a defense that was tougher than a wet paper bag, he’d take less chances… he KNOWS he has to carry this godforsaken defense… and he takes even bigger risks because there is no quit in him. Give him even a decent defense, and some of the risk-taking goes away. IF/When he had just a little bit of confidence in his defense, he plays entirely different. Look at his best seasons in Cleveland and here – you know it’s true.
Finally, last season in the 2nd half, the D-line was getting to the top of the pocket almost as fast as he was – especially in the middle of the pocket. You CANNOT have a pocket passing game like that, and our O/C refused to roll him out or bootleg him to get him time to throw.
ALL QUARTERBACKS need a decent O/C, a decent Defense, and a decent Oline. Even “Mr All World” Patrick Mahomes looked merely human last season – why? Because he only had a decent O/C, but their defense and o-line were suspect.
June 5th, 2026 at 8:11 pm
I read some of these clueless posts about letting Baker go.. There’s no question that Baker is a top 10 QB! I can’t believe some of these fools put the collapse last year on him..
– Defensive HC
– New OC EVERY year
– Lousy OC Last Year
– Entire Skill group and O-Line Injured last year
– Bottom 10 Defense
– Baker Injured, and Bowles allows him to play
I got news for all of you, there wasn’t a QB in the NFL that could have saved that season last year.. And I can’t wait to see who you geniuses think can replace him. But hey, I’m sure some rookie will come in and save the franchise..???
June 5th, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Baker brings an exciting aspect to the Bucs offense. If the defense can show some life the Bucs should be just fine. I have a feeling Baker will be around for 4 or t more years at roughly 40 mil a year.
June 5th, 2026 at 8:23 pm
4 or 5*
June 5th, 2026 at 9:09 pm
Get him signed on a four-year deal!!
What’s funny are people like Lynchmob50 claiming Brock Purdy is better. Imagine watching football and being that clueless? LOL
Baker is the best QB the Buccaneers have had (other than Tom Brady) in decades.
He’s a leader and the team loves him
SIGN HIM!!
June 5th, 2026 at 9:09 pm
It seems that, contrary to reports, Baker is indeed giving interviews to reporters.
I am pleased that so many who do not think Mayfield is worth $50M per year are very happy to offer him exactly that in a franchise contract.
June 5th, 2026 at 9:18 pm
David. Name one big game that Baker put the team on his back on a game winning drive and came threw? You can not give Baker a contract that’s going to hurt the team long term especially a guy that’s never been elite.
June 5th, 2026 at 9:21 pm
They’ll bring Winston back.?
June 5th, 2026 at 9:23 pm
David. And I’m not talking about week 4 I’m talking about playoffs or like last season all we had to do is win one game before week 18 and he choked against the Panthers and the dolphins. We have a young players that need a young quarterback and Baker being 32 next year and never been a elite quarterback is a old quarterback at 32 years old.
June 5th, 2026 at 9:25 pm
Baker beat all the top teams last year,before the wheels fell off! By the way Baltimore hasn’t extended lamar yet
June 5th, 2026 at 9:58 pm
For my part I don’t think Baker is bad. I just think if we have a bad season it will be rebuild time. New coaching staff who will want to pick their QB and it might still be Baker. Another factor is all of this is long term team building and timing contracts with the new tv contract. I think we are going to see teams try to sign players to shorter contracts that expire just before the new tv deal happens in 2030. Once the new deal happens league revenue is expected to skyrocket so player contracts after the new deal will skyrocket too.
If the Bucs were to be in position to draft one of the top rookie QBs next year you would have your most expensive player on a rookie deal that overlaps the new tv rights deal by two years. That means flexibility in the window where the Bucs are likely to be handing out mega contracts before player salaries blow up after the deal.
June 5th, 2026 at 10:02 pm
Bucboi, you punctuate each of your posts with “ Go Bucs.” It’s clear you hate BM for whatever reason and that you look forward to him failing. I’m certain that even if the Bucs win a Superbowl, you would still want him gone.
June 5th, 2026 at 10:09 pm
BBBB, I think you are the Pharaoh that would have all BM supporters beheaded.
June 5th, 2026 at 10:14 pm
Oscar
BBBB used to be one of us. He couldn’t help it and joined his little troll buddies
He blames Baker for his wife’s menstrual cycle
June 5th, 2026 at 10:57 pm
I love Bake, but disappointed he went public. Not a good look. Take the high road, dude. The Bucs have treated you well. You had a tough 2025. Get a nice deal that allows the team to surrounded you with O& D talent so you won’t have another 2025.
June 5th, 2026 at 10:57 pm
I love Bake, but disappointed he went public. Not a good look. Take the high road, dude. The Bucs have treated you well. You had a tough 2025. Get a nice deal that allows the team to surrounded you with O& D talent so you won’t have another 2025.
June 5th, 2026 at 10:57 pm
I love Bake, but disappointed he went public. Not a good look. Take the high road, dude. The Bucs have treated you well. You had a tough 2025. Get a nice deal that allows the team to surrounded you with O& D talent so you won’t have another 2025.
June 6th, 2026 at 1:27 am
Brain dead boys-haters, Evans came out and made it clear that him leaving had nothing to do with Mayfield. Just keep repeating the lies boys, that is one thing you are good at.
June 6th, 2026 at 1:34 am
It’s funny you like reminding everyone that you make a lot of money but can’t figure out when to use an vs a or to vs. too. You my friend are hilarious. ROFLMAO
June 6th, 2026 at 1:37 am
It’s rich hearing BBBB calling someone, anyone (an) idiot. It’s (too) rich LMAO
June 6th, 2026 at 1:50 am
I happen to be a Baker fan. He legitimately won me over and I can be quite harsh until proven OTHERWISE. And the man FOUGHT HARD and completely WON ME OVER.
However… I’m a “Team FIRST” guy! There IS NO one player that changes the love I have for MY TEAM!
With that said…. Baker crashed and burned last year. I ABSOLUTELY KNOW that it WAS because of a chit O line situation. AND as far as I’m concerned, the team was and STILL IS under some VERY POOR management! That didn’t help Bakers situation AT ALL! (just look at that OC that Bozo hand picked to fail so that he could keep his job! ANOTHER patheticly BAD look!) And concerning THAT… As far as I’m concerned that’s on Licht! HE FAILED “AGAIN”! First Brady and now Baker. Licht is SUPPOSED TO BE an “O line guru”. Is he really???
Now, with all said concerning the why’s… BAKER CRASHED AND BURNED! Just because it’s a bad hand, IT DOESN’T MEAN HE SHOULD TURN INTO JAMEIS WINSTON! Because HE DID!
And Now… Baker HAS TO prove himself AGAIN. I’m sorry folks but HE DID THAT TO HIMSELF… The decision making on that grid iron was HIS AND HIS ALONE.
If I were the organization I WOULD make him re establish himself BEFORE I OFFERED ANYTHING GUARANTEED! If he wants to pack his toys up and go home… it’s JUST LIKE ALL THE BAKER BOYS TALKING SMACK ABOUT MIKE! Now it’s BAKERS TURN! What’s he gonna do? Remain Smart and Wise or is he going to fold up and prance around like a child? …..
I STILL BELIEVE in Baker. Does he Still believe in himself? Guess what? Not You or Me can help him. He “HAS TO” Prove It! I’m rooting for him but I’m somewhere in the 90% tile of believing we’re drafting a QB THIS NEXT SEASON! And if he wants to keep the job on the ONLY TEAM the would “Even Consider” taking a chance on a three time loser “at the time”.. he should contemplate that for a QB that NEEDS WEAPONS and NEEDS TO win games….. well for him, GREED IS BAD! BE CAREFUL BAKER!
I want to keep Baker for a good while myself. But HE HAS TO BE, a “team first” kinda guy.
WE WILL SEE!
June 6th, 2026 at 7:22 am
Three more months of this? Wow!
June 6th, 2026 at 9:23 am
This could be as much about guarenteed money and contract length than about amount of money. Some of these massive contracts are not guarenteed.
That $50 million a year is alot better if 100% guarenteed. They have abiut 6-7 weeks to get it worked out before traiing camp.
Won’t know until then. I’m thinking $50 -55 would get it` done with guarentees. With no Mike on the roster they will easily have it.
And I would be careful of thinking the Bucs can just draft another Drake Maye and get a QB cheap. You might just wind up with another JJ McCarthy…
June 6th, 2026 at 9:35 am
Most of the NFL teams will not pay Baker what he wants, too inconsistent, limited upside, but all it takes is 1 team and I bet some team will. It gets down to is Mayfield happy with Tampa’s new O coordinator, if so he’ll try to squeeze as much as he can and sign a team friendly deal.
June 6th, 2026 at 10:34 am
“And I would be careful of thinking the Bucs can just draft another Drake Maye and get a QB cheap. You might just wind up with another JJ McCarthy…“
Could end up with a Caleb Williams or a Bo Nix or Trinidad Chambliss or a Jaiden Maiava or Darian Mensah
We can find bigger, smarter, faster, and more consistent. It’s not like Mayfield is some generational talent or anamoly of an athlete like replacing him would be some 2-3 yr long task or set the franchise back.
In fact, our team is as QB friendly as it were when he got here in ‘23, just different faces and an OL that’s been re-invested in. We’re plug n play at this point
June 6th, 2026 at 11:07 am
Bucs will be pretty good this year. Last year was an injury nightmare. The offense sucked under Gizzards and Mayfield was hurt and tried to play through it – that right there should lower his market value. The defense was also injury riddled and we had crap linebacker corps for the last 3 years and no pass rush. This year it will all improve. Last chances for the current regime, Baker included.
June 6th, 2026 at 11:40 am
Well, Trinidad Chambliss or a Jaiden Maiava or Darian Mensah are still in college so we dont know how they will do as a starting QB in the NFL.
As a lifelong Denver Broncos fan I have watched every game Bo Nix has played. He was better in his second year, but don’t think for one second that Sean Payton hasnt played a huge part of that. Wonder how better the Bucs would have been with Sean?
So if you want to dump what we have for someone you HOPE will be better, then we need to make a coaching change first..
I was living in Denver when Elway started playing. The whole town hated him by the end of year 2. It takes time and the right head coach. Something we just dont have at this time.
June 6th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
The D needs to show Major improvement or he may follow ME13’s path too.
June 6th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
Based on the skyrocketing salary cap, I think $50M is the low-end of any new deal – that’s basically going to be middling money by next season. If it is just $50M (and keep in mind the Bucs are paying $40M this season for Baker), then I really don’t understand why the Bucs would rush to sign Baker to a new deal coming off how bad he was last year when it mattered the most and got the entire offensive staff fired.
Just play out his contract, if Baker bounces back, then give him a huge extension. But if Baker plays like he did from week 7 on of last year, then everyone is getting fired, and the new coach and figure out if they want to bet their future on him.
June 6th, 2026 at 2:13 pm
infomeplease Says:
June 6th, 2026 at 1:38 pm
The D needs to show Major improvement or he may follow ME13’s path too.
————
The defense in the 3 years with Baker here…
7th, 16th, 20th.
So they’re actually a slightly above average defense over that span.
June 7th, 2026 at 11:10 am
I disagree with those criticizing bakers performance last yr
He had a godawful backup was injured and had the worst guards in the nfl with receivers hurt in every game. He beat the super boiwl champs on the road
He had us on every game but the rams and the eagles.The team lost due to hassan, defense and special teams.
That’s worth a long term deal if this was your worst
June 7th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Everybody who criticized Baker, please just stfu. The o-line was decimated, and the running game completely sucked and didn’t exactly help set up the passing game full of receivers that dropped quite their fair share of pasees.
Again, who else we gonna bring in, dumb-dunbs? He’s gives us our best shot at winning right now, and if we can fix our atrocious defense and stay healthy, and Zac Robinson can actually draw up some adequate schemes on offense, and Todd Bowled stays far away from everything, I think this can be a really good team. GO BUCS!!!