Colin Cowherd Says Bucs Must Re-Sign Baker Mayfield Because Of Todd Bowles, But Maybe Not In The Way You Think
June 9th, 2026
Noted Baker Mayfield hater now sings different tune.
In a certain way, Joe thinks notorious windsock Colin Cowherd was imitating former Bucs guard Ian Beckles.
Beckles had a schtick. It was rooted in honest belief but it became schtick. The Bucs always had a defensive player who Beckles hated and the popular local sports talk personality would tee off on the guy relentlessly whenever he got on the mic.
First it was Barrett Ruud and then it was Gaines Adams, and then it was Gerald McCoy and after a two-year break, it was Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
Beckles swears he never said GMC was a bad player, just that GMC was not a difference maker — but his let’s-pick-a-player-to-beat-up-on-until-he-leaves act became schtick. Beckles might be known more for that than his actual playing days with the Bucs.
Joe is confident that’s what Cowherd is doing with Mayfield.
Cowherd, who seems to revel in being wrong and regularly changing his tune about something every couple of weeks because it’s “interesting,” is now defending Mayfield. For years, Cowherd clobbered Mayfield going so far as to holler on the air that Mayfield needs to retire and take up college football broadcasting.
But once Mayfield came to the Bucs, all of a sudden Cowherd changed. How much? Consider the following:
Cowherd said on his national radio show this week that the Bucs need to cough up money and make Mayfield happy. Why?
Because of KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
“Listen, you need to pay Baker,” Cowherd said. “You don’t know if Todd Bowles is going to be around long. You’re shuffling through offensive coordinators, you just lost Mike Evans.
“You need to pay Baker. Oh yeah, you [may] have to pay him a little more than you want. But Baker Mayfield’s good enough to win a division, yeah.”
That’s just it: The fans who holler for the Bucs not to pay Mayfield think winning a landfill of a division like the NFC South is Mayfield’s ceiling.
Joe thought it was interesting — not to use a Cowherd copout — that Bowles’ hot seat (?) status is a reason to pay Mayfield. One might think it would be time to hold back on paying Mayfield, thinking a new coach may not want him.
But perhaps Cowherd is thinking the opposite: having Mayfield will lure in a better offensive coach if Team Glazer decides to make a move come January?
June 9th, 2026 at 4:41 am
If Baker would lure in a better coach then why didnt it happen this past off-season? Baker couldn’t even lure in the top OCs let alone an offensive HC. Baker couldn’t lure Evans back for another season.
Its almost over. 17 more games and the Bucs can move on from Bowles and Baker.
June 9th, 2026 at 4:50 am
Bee: Uh, you know Baker doesn’t own the Bucs, right? The owners chose to keep Todd Bowles, I don’t know, maybe they like lousy defenses, they’ve employed Bill Sheridan, Lovie Smith, Mike Smith, and Todd Bowles. Quite the Mount Rushmore of bad defense.
June 9th, 2026 at 5:01 am
Joe … ‘Perhaps Cowherd is thinking the opposite: That having Mayfield will lure in a better offensive coach if Team Glazer decides to make a move come January?’
And there it is; the bottom line. But that’s one helluva gamble Joe. Let’s say (playing devil’s advocate) that Mayfield has a terrible year this year, and the Bucs finish say 8-9, but win the NFC South yet get eliminated in Rnd 1 of the playoffs. Glazers opt for a new HC, say Mike Tomlin (age 54) or Sean McDermott (age 52). Even if they sign on the dotted line, you’ve just saddled them with exactly the same thing that brought down Todd Bowles, another defensive-minded coach. WHY should Bucs’ fans expect anything to be really different in the future?
I like Baker Mayfield; he’s gutsy & has shown that he can play some excellent ball. He’s also inconsistent though, and that’s the kiss of death if it rears its ugly head in the one-and-done playoffs. Baker IMO is the QB who NEEDS a very solid TEAM … all 3 phases … around him to win consistently. He’s shown me that he’s his own worse enemy, in that if hurt he’ll take the field, to the detriment of the team.
I still say let him play out his current contract, THEN negotiate the next one. If we can’t come to an agreement on price, let him walk. The 2027 draft is supposed to have several high quality QBs coming out. Do what it takes to grab one, then press on. But don’t sacrifice building a great TEAM for ONE player.
June 9th, 2026 at 5:19 am
He’s under contract for this year. Next year you could franchise him. Two years, roughly 90 million. No need to sign him right now to a rediculous long term deal.
June 9th, 2026 at 5:26 am
Colin Cowturd changes his opinion on Baker Mayfield more often than most people change their fantasy football lineup.
For years Baker was supposedly too small, too emotional, too limited, and even needed to retire. Now suddenly he’s worth paying because Todd Bowles might not be around?
The reality is Baker has already proven he’s more than just a quarterback who can win the NFC South. He’s helped keep Tampa Bay competitive despite coordinator changes, injuries, and constant national media doubt. If anything, the Bucs should pay Baker because stability at quarterback is one of the hardest things to find in the NFL not because of Todd Bowles’ job status.
Cowherd’s latest take feels less like analysis and more like another attempt to be on both sides of the argument 🥱 so he can claim he was right no matter what happens.
LFG Bucs ‘26
Ring Me
June 9th, 2026 at 5:34 am
Bucs fans have a win-now mindset. The QB is an essential part of a championship team. Now, enter Baker. His great traits have been listed. No need to repeat. Now, my question… How many QBs are thoroughly consistent in the NFL? Based on that answer, we need to keep him To let him walk and throw a rookie QB into the mix would set the team back 3-5 years. I doubt our illustrious HC would do that. Frankly, if the Bucs hired Tomlinson or McDermott, I think they would love his gutsy play.
June 9th, 2026 at 5:38 am
Joe, can you hire Defense Rules? I look for his comments every day. Great insights DR! Keep commenting.
June 9th, 2026 at 5:45 am
I’m curious where Bakers head is at in all of the negotiations. Does he love Tampa and want to stay or is he having ME13 thoughts. What happens if they don’t extend before camp? Will he start looking elsewhere or hold out?
To many variables to consider.
Nothing wrong with asking for top money and if he gets it more power to him.
A team friendly contract would be ideal. What are the odds a deal gets done before camp? I’m saying 50-50 chance.
June 9th, 2026 at 5:45 am
I’m curious where Bakers head is at in all of the negotiations. Does he love Tampa and want to stay or is he having ME13 thoughts. What happens if they don’t extend before camp? Will he start looking elsewhere or hold out?
To many variables to consider.
Nothing wrong with asking for top money and if he gets it more power to him.
A team friendly contract would be ideal. What are the odds a deal gets done before camp? I’m saying 50-50 chance.
June 9th, 2026 at 6:15 am
@defense rules
This makes no sense to me.
So the plan is to let a proven top-10 NFL quarterback walk away and then hope you’re bad enough, lucky enough, or aggressive enough to land one of the “high-quality” quarterbacks in the 2027 draft? That’s not team building that’s gambling.
Baker has already shown he can win in Tampa. Since arriving, he’s revived his career, led playoff teams, and put up some of the best quarterback production this franchise has seen outside of Tom Brady. Those quarterbacks don’t grow on trees.
And the argument that Baker needs a good team around him isn’t exactly an insult. Show me a quarterback who doesn’t. Even Mahomes, Allen, Burrow, and Lamar need talent, coaching, and defense around them to make deep runs.
If Baker has another strong season, the smart move is to keep the proven commodity and continue building the roster. Letting a franchise quarterback walk because a future draft class “might” have great prospects is how teams end up spending the next decade searching for another quarterback.
The grass isn’t always greener. Bucs fans spent years looking for stability at QB before Brady and Baker arrived. I’m not interested in going back to that carousel.
LFG!
Pay Gus Swayze
Ring me ‘26
June 9th, 2026 at 6:54 am
Can’t hold out this year Bokeh he has no leverage he is under contract.If he were to hold out he would lose money everyday but We could still use franchise tag on him for 50 mil.which is probably where I think a new contract would probably fall.
June 9th, 2026 at 6:57 am
and he already said he would love to keep his family in Tampa.
June 9th, 2026 at 7:34 am
2 more days of vacation. Wife’s birthday today. We’re staying at the same beach we were at 44 years ago on her birthday. We raced in the sand back then. I remember thinking, dang she’s fast. Man, things change with time, and I’m just gonna leave it at that. Anyway, I’ve been reading JBF’s Crack reporting and listening to the Sage’s podcasts. Reading a few comments. Defense Rules, you need to stick to defense. Your comment “don’t sacrifice building a great team for one player”, is absurd. A player deserves to be paid fairly. Full stop. Baker is an average NFL quarterback? College football QB of the century according to SI. Rookie of the year in 2018 accoording to Pro Football Writers of America. Totally unconscionable turnaround in Cleveland. Totally unconscionable follow-up to Brady. Unconscionable stats in Tampa. Won every opener in Tampa and every final game. Three final games all were must win. Playoffs he’s been more than money in the bank. So DR, my question is, because a player has a personality that some may find offensive, do you sacrifice your franchise believing that the QB you have is an average Joe? I don’t think he is DR. I believe he’s the KEY reason we’re rolling the dice at the big boys table. I’ve watched him go to Green Bay and The Chargers and Seattle and beat Love and Herbert and Darnold into the ground like dogs. That’s with Tampa. He’s primed for a Super Bowl run. Whether Baker signs a fair contract or not is up to the franchise. He’ll play the same. Oughta think twice before you give Baker the chance to walk.
June 9th, 2026 at 7:38 am
“He’s under contract for this year. Next year you could franchise him.”
For those of ya’ll that think we saved money not signing Mike, lol
NOT doing this is how you actually save money, franchise tag for a 32 year old QB? pfffffft lol
June 9th, 2026 at 7:52 am
Another wrinkle into all this is how is Baker going to hold up this year. Dude takes a lot of hits. Reminds me of Lamar Jackson. At some point all those hits catch up to you. If he has another Injury prone season Bucs might want to change direction on re signing him.
June 9th, 2026 at 7:56 am
“So the plan is to let a proven top-10 NFL quarterback walk away and then hope you’re bad enough, lucky enough, or aggressive enough to land one of the “high-quality” quarterbacks in the 2027 draft? That’s not team building that’s gambling.”
No sir…its gambling thinking a 30+ oft-injured QB will miraculously become consistently good. Keep in mind Baker will eat up 20% of the cap which will make it even harder to improve the team, the team with holes everywhere. Life is a gamble and continuing with the same failing plan is a losers mentality.
Teams look to the draft every year to get a QB. Except the Bucs of course because theyre scared. They’re scared because the last drafted QB didnt work so they dont want to try again. Losing mentality thinking right there. The Bucs need a fresh start.
June 9th, 2026 at 7:56 am
Ya have to lose enough games to really be assured of getting the player you may want the next draft, you really want to do that or even try that route? And that is no guarantee to the player panning out.
June 9th, 2026 at 8:02 am
Under no circumstance should we keep Todd Bowles after 2026.
In fact, if he was already gone I’d be quite hyped about the upcoming season.
However, the Glazer kids doubled down on Swiss cheese defense and inept Head coaching. Insanity.
Baker will never succeed under Bowles as the HC\DC. No one ever has and no one ever will.
The sooner everyone at OBP realizes that, the sooner we can get back to contending for another title.
June 9th, 2026 at 8:11 am
Kenton Smith … ‘Your comment “don’t sacrifice building a great team for one player”, is absurd. A player deserves to be paid fairly.’
Where in there did I say that Baker DOESN’T DESERVE to be paid fairly Kenton? You know as well as I do that these are NEGOTIATIONS. Remember Kenny Rogers classic ‘The Gambler’? Four awesome lines in there that are the essence of survival in negotiations (and probably life?):
o Know when to hold ’em;
o Know when to fold ’em;
o Know when to walk away;
o Know when to run.
SB champion Seattle’s QB, Sam Darnold, is now in his 2nd year of a 3-year contract making $33.5 mil/year. Runner-up New England’s QB, Drake Maye, is entering his 3rd year of a 4-year contract making $12 mil/year. Both QBs are surrounded by very solid TEAMS (Seahawks went 14-3 behind the #3 offense & #1 defense; Patriots went 14-3 behind the #2 offense & #4 defense).
You may view Baker as a top QB, but I see him as an inconsistent QB. Sometimes he’s as good as they get. Other times he’s middling. Unless you think the QB who played the Rams last year was not Baker; he went 17-for-34 (50%), threw 1 TD but 2 INTs, and we lost 34-7 (and Sean McVay was feeling very merciful that day because it could’ve been FAR worse).
So yes, Kenton, I’ll stand by my statement that you don’t sacrifice building a great team for ONE player. Tom Brady understood that extremely well, and he became the ultimate ‘winner’ because of that. Apparently a lot of Bucs’ fans can’t say the same.
June 9th, 2026 at 8:23 am
Because there wasn’t an opening. Todd Bowles is still the Bucs coach.
June 9th, 2026 at 8:37 am
“Ya have to lose enough games to really be assured of getting the player you may want the next draft, you really want to do that or even try that route?”
Look around the league, or at the most recent draft you’re not handcuffed to picking where your selection is, and movement around the draft board is relatively easy in this modern era of drafting. Eight trades made in the first round of the ’26 draft
That said, what may our projected needs on offense be next spring?
OT? We’re good there. RB? Won’t take a day 1 pick to address. Good at WR, could add one day 2/3. TE room is already crowded. Might need to replace Mauch or he plays well enough to get new deal.
Not saying it will or should, but we can come away with 2 QBs without slighting any of the positions named above. Or just take one and bring in a FA for a 2-3 way competition.
June 9th, 2026 at 8:45 am
The best strategy for Bucs is to let Mayfield play out his contract this year and see how well he produces.
The Bucs will have the option to franchise tag him in 2027.
There’s supposed to be a great QB draft class in 2027.
There’s also the possibility that veteran QB’s may be available in 2027 because of salary cap issues. (a then 35 year old Dak Prescott has a projected $72 million cap hit in 2027).
Mayfield is fun to watch, but he hasn’t shown he can take the team deep in the playoffs. Let’s see NO turnovers, good Decisions and Execution in meaningful games down the stretch and in the playoffs before $200 million + contract gets added to the Bucs’ cap.
June 9th, 2026 at 8:47 am
Trade Baker this year. Get the picks and a player. Let Bowles deal with the aftermath. Don’t leave the decision to our clueless braintrust. The uncertainty about Baker will be gone and we’ll finally get some compensation for an exiting player. Pick up a Mac Jones type by trade…problem solved. No more pearl clutching.
June 9th, 2026 at 8:51 am
Cowherd has a point worth considering.
I never thought about it that way.
June 9th, 2026 at 8:52 am
In “Reality” keeping Baker IS the best move, bet, and idea. ..
Look, he had ONE “bad half” of a season the Entire Time he’s been here. And YES! In “Reality” he STILL has some Growing Up to do! HE MUST FIND ALTERNATE WAYS TO WIN if he ever finds himself as “Cut Off at the Knees” like he was last season. Besides that though…..
Now… when I say “alternative” …. that’s keeping in mind that your O line CAN’T PROTECT YOU! So finding “alternatives” with an OC that Todd Bowles KNEW WOULD FAIL AND FAIL BIG! (Bowles knew EVERYTHING there was to know about the guy! He was “home grown”, and Sneaky their Bozo wanted to GUARANTEE that he wouldn’t have an FAR SUPERIOR CANDIDATE for Head Coach challenging for his job for a second straight (or is that third straight?) year IN A ROW!?)
In otherwords…. THE DECK “WAS” STACKED AGAINST HIM!
And you ALL Know it’s TRUE!
With that said, I’m not sure why Baker didn’t audible out of long developing plays THAT ABSOLUTELY GOT THE CRAP KICKED OUT OF HIM! and find HIS OWN WAY to revert back to what he Was SO SUCCESSFUL WITH, the very season before under Coen’s leadership…
He may have done what “management” wanted HOWEVER he should have realized that IT’S “BETTER TO WIN”
In any case, Baker HAS kept us in MOST GAMES! And what’s also “Realistic” is that IT’S NOT because of Baker that we didn’t win MOST games! You guys HAVE TO look at the reality! Todd Bowles DEFENSE, HAS LOST US “MOST” (92%) OF ALL THE GAMES WE LOST! Don’t you guys remember Baker getting us BACK IN AND THE. TAKING THE LEAD, time and time again, only to have the DEFENSE “BEND OVER AND LOSE IT FOR US QUICK?” How many times did that happen? A LOT!
Keeping him (looking at his full body of work since he’s been here) IS THE RIGHT MOVE… It really is.
There IS a “CONDITION” that MUST BE ADDRESSED before inking a deal with him however. He HAS TO SHOW that last years “back 9” was a “fluke” , BEFORE a new deal is inked…
That really shouldn’t be NEGOTIABLE! PROVE IT WAS A FREAK “ONE OFF” DUE TO ONCE AGAIN…. “POOR MANAGEMENT” / “HORRIBLY BAD LUCK” and not necessarily his own bad ideas (besides taking himself out of games for the greater good, WHEN there IS a decent backup QB..
I for one also WANT TO see him prove he can find NEW WAYS to win. To be a “FRANCHISE QB”, YOU “HAVE TO” BE ABLE TO GET “KNOCK OUTS”, and CLOSE OUT GAMES, so that it CAN’T BE left to the “judges decision”.
Then draft our First Drafted franchise QB in the Very Next draft which gives our new QB time to learn INSTEAD OF being thrown directly into the fire, WHILE keeping one of the best QB’s (in reality) that we’ve ever had to continue to compete. I’m not interested in another Simms or worse until we find a respectable QB… AGAIN!
Keeping Baker as long as “Bad Bakey is 90% under control”… IS THE SMART PLAY HERE! He’s ACTUALLY been pretty good with us. Think it over and Imagine if we had an “accomplished” head coach to go along with a decent QB like Baker, and what it “COULD DO” for us….
Has he had bad games? Yes. Has he had FAR MORE Good to Great games than Bad ones for us? Oh YES HE HAS! Come on guys! If you’re not a new fan…, YOU KNOW BETTER THAN LET A DECENT QB GET AWAY! For a “reasonable price” of course….
June 9th, 2026 at 9:24 am
Obvious One … ‘If you’re not a new fan…, YOU KNOW BETTER THAN LET A DECENT QB GET AWAY! For a “reasonable price” of course…’
Your last sentence ‘bottom line’ gave me a chuckle Obvious. Isn’t ‘What’s a reasonable price’ what NEGOTIATIONS are all about? And the only ones who can answer that question are the Glazers, Jason Licht AND Baker Mayfield. This all makes excellent cannon fodder for Joe Bucs Fan & the rest of the media, but heaven only knows how this is really gonna turn out.
June 9th, 2026 at 10:51 am
It’s silly to do anything now when he’s still got a year left on his current contract and he dropped loads of stank during 2-7.
And the smelly dead elephant is still in the room, pretending to be two coaches, ensuring that everyone will continue to regress and suck.
So, yeah. Whatever.
June 9th, 2026 at 11:02 am
Pay him. Couple other teams would so get er dun.
June 9th, 2026 at 11:23 am
why would a new HC coach want to keep baker as their starting QB after missing the playoffs 2 years in a row?….that makes no sense lol….
if bowles is let go, its because we’ve missed the playoffs, again…a new HC would want to have his own QB…mostly a rookie…
similar to sean payton and the broncos….
if bowles is shown the door, baker will be right behind him
GO BUCS!!!!
June 9th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Baker hasn’t earned it yet. He had one good season with Cohen while the other 2 seasons he wasn’t average at best. Paying him will be the biggest mistake
June 9th, 2026 at 11:28 am
Everyone rags on our defense and rightfully so but the offense is why we lost the lost ball games. We couldn’t score points
June 9th, 2026 at 11:29 am
Everyone rags on our defense and rightfully so but the offense is why we lost the lost ball games. We couldn’t score points at the end
June 9th, 2026 at 11:35 am
BucsFan252 Says:
June 9th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Baker hasn’t earned it yet. He had one good season with Cohen
Think about it!!!!
Bakers best season came in 2024 while leading the NFL in INTs and Fumbles and getting out played by a rookie QB….and folks want to pay 50mil a year for that?….man please!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
June 9th, 2026 at 12:00 pm
The offensive line dropped loads of stank during 2-7. If they cannot protect the QB, they shouldn’t be on the field. If Baker were smart, every game they put Dan Feeney in there he should have left the field and called for Bilgewater. Let him get crushed.
June 9th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
Baker didn’t get outplayed by a rookie. Our defense did. He kept us in the game.
June 9th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
You pay a quarterback for touchdowns, yards, and first downs. Wins are a team thing. Even on pass plays, a receiver still has to catch the ball. It’s a team game, and Baker has easily been pulling his weight for his position. In fact, he’s been pretty darn spectacular.
June 9th, 2026 at 12:29 pm
Defense Rules, you make some great points. You compare Seattle and New England’s situation to the Buc’s. All three QBs were paid similar money last season. Two of the three ended up in the Super Bowl! What was the biggest difference between them and the Bucs????
Your Name Says it All! DEFENSE RULES! The Buc’s had the 20th ranked Defense by points allowed!!! Seattle’s D ranked #1 in points allowed ( fewest)!! New England’s D ranked 4th in points allowed. Give BM6 that sort of Defense then compare results!! IMHO the Buc’s would be playing with all the big boys!
All three team’s QB’s will be paid market value when they renew their contracts. 50+.
June 9th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Colin has been saying for awhile now, that he really likes Baker. He likes a SUB $40-MILLION per year, Baker. But, once you start getting OVER that $40-MIL threshold, he starts ‘liking him’ A LOT less. And, HE IS RIGHT. 💯 It just is what it is. Baker is who HE IS.
June 9th, 2026 at 1:15 pm
Stpetematt Says:
June 9th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
Baker didn’t get outplayed by a rookie. Our defense did. He kept us in the game.
he sure did get outplayed lol…
baker was off vs the commanders and fumbled the game away in the 4th quarter….
stop making excuses for him lol
GO BUCS!!!!
June 9th, 2026 at 1:19 pm
BucsFan252 Says:
June 9th, 2026 at 11:29 am
Everyone rags on our defense and rightfully so but the offense is why we lost the lost ball games. We couldn’t score points at the end
^^^^^^^^
Look up who “helped” the offense at the end of last season…You can’t make this stuff up, pure comedy!
June 9th, 2026 at 1:25 pm
Look up who “helped” the offense at the end of last season…You can’t make this stuff up, pure comedy!
sure wasnt baker lol
5 4th quarter turnovers in 4games!!…lol..yeah baker helped the opposing offense out a ton LOL…
GO BUCS!!!!
June 9th, 2026 at 1:39 pm
Baker got outplayed by every QB down that stretch. We lost games when our raggedy defense kept teams under 20. Baker sucked down the stretch. Our offense couldn’t score 20 after the Atlanta melt down.