Ex-GM Says Baker Mayfield Will Sign At $50+ Million
June 28th, 2026
Team Glazer
So how will the Bucs proceed with Baker Mayfield and his hard (or imagined?) contract extension deadline he set for Day 1 of 2026 training camp?
Former Chargers and Raiders general manager Tom Telesco seems to know. And he said the Bucs’ approach will be about winning — not greed.
“If you’re the club, you, you probably stretch it all the way to right be right before camp. You try and save as much money as you can because you want to use that money in other players,” Telesco told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “It’s not like the money you save on on Baker goes into your pocket and you keep it, you’re gonna spend on another players.
“I’m sure they’d probably figure, look, it’s gonna start with a “5.” That’s just where it is now. I don’t know where their camp is as far as how much above 50 they want to go, but it’s probably gonna be in that 50 range. And you know, that still doesn’t even put [Mayfield] in the top 10 [of quarterback salaries I don’t think at that position. So it sounds like a lot, but he’s a solid starting quarterback for them and he’s played well for them.”
Joe was interested in Telesco because of his experience. He drafted Justin Herbert and later re-signed him to a 5-year, $262.5 million extension in 2023, That made Herbert the highest paid quarterback in history at the time (based on annual salary).
The Joe typing here suspects Telesco is on the money. The Bucs will put a last-minute, pre-training-camp offer in Mayfield’s lap. Would Team Glazer really bless Todd Bowles this winter and then go out and play contract games with his somewhat emotional quarterback?
June 28th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
Yeah no doubt he’s worth in the 50+ range but I think the deal hinges on term length and guaranteed money. And then what are the Bucs going to be able to do with Vea’s contract?
June 28th, 2026 at 5:26 pm
Emotional? … girls are emotional. Firstly is what I think you meant to say, joe😊
June 28th, 2026 at 5:27 pm
Fiesty
June 28th, 2026 at 5:32 pm
I don’t care if he is made the Highest Paid QB Ever!!!
We and so is Baker are stuck with Todd Freaking Bowles and DC!!!!
Now, why is that and why isn’t Baker more concerned about that (DC) than how much Kielbasa he can order for his ‘weekly’ delivery!!????!!?
Money should mean nothing here, it should be
Does Baker think he can win a Super Bowl with this team???!!!??
June 28th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
“It’s not like the money you save on on Baker goes into your pocket and you keep it, you’re gonna spend on another players.”
THIS. This is the sentence. It’s exactly what I was talking about yesterday! I wouldn’t do it. The Bucs FO has to hold their ground. Honestly, I would not say ANOTHER WORD. There’s an offer already on the table! And, I would be PRAYING that he doesn’t take it. You lock yourself ‘in’ WITH HIM, and this season IMPLODES… Then, YOU’VE JUST FLUBBED YOURSELF. Cause, that is A LOT of $$$$$$ that could go a very loooong ways towards A ROSTER REBUILD. You pay HIM and then YOU ARE STUCK. Just a ‘horrible’ position for this franchise to be in moving forward, FOR YEARS. There is absolutely NOTHING to lose by standing pat and just allowing it to play itself OUT. 💯 You shrink your ‘potential’ future Head Coaching (and GM) pool, and EVERYTHING.
June 28th, 2026 at 6:08 pm
So a former 2 time NFL GM says Baker is a solid starter.. probably knows a little more about that than most posters on this site Baker will b signed. Only real negotiation is 3 or 4 years. Some of you are now fainting at that thought
June 28th, 2026 at 6:44 pm
Whatever. Todd will lose with or without Baker. The players make no difference with such coaching.
June 28th, 2026 at 6:47 pm
If the Glazier’s have that much money to waste on a mid QB, how about lowering ticket prices?
June 28th, 2026 at 6:51 pm
Gotta pay Vita too. Or do they?
June 28th, 2026 at 7:04 pm
Teams always find a way
June 28th, 2026 at 8:09 pm
Tampa paid the G.O.A.T. 12% of the cap to come to Tampa to win a Super Bowl. The $64M Mahomes is getting this year is 21% of the $301M 2026 cap is 21%. Is Mahommes worth almost twice what Brady was worth?
I would be looking hard at alternatives like Mac Jones and focusing on sustaining the OL, the WRs, the RBs and the TEs.
But, if I was determined to keep Baker, my top offer to Baker, if signed before camp, would be a five year deal, adding four more years to his current contract, for 15% of the estimated salary cap per year:
2026 – $45M (a $5M raise)
2027 – $50M
2028 – $53M
2029 – $56M
2030 – $60M
That places three positives before Baker:
– an extra $5M in 2026 he cannot get otherwise.
– a $50M number in 2027.
– a $60M number in 2030.
2026 and 2027 guaranteed 100%; 2028, 2029, and 2030 guaranteed 50%.
June 28th, 2026 at 9:21 pm
Easy there Pom Pom waivers. Baker isn’t worth the money he makes now.
I would actually trade him now and tank the season for the 2027 draft.
Build up a team with skill players, hire a HC that can count to ten, and a real DC.
Draft a great QB and grab a veteran to teach him. Let Baker go somewhere else and fail upwards.
This model of financially handicapping a team with the QB salary is a one way trip to irrelevance.
Lucky for us Toad Bowels has already dragged us down to his level. We don’t have to wait for the nightmare.
We’re living it right now.
June 28th, 2026 at 9:38 pm
Joe was interested in Telesco because of his experience. He drafted Justin Herbert and later re-signed him to a 5-year, $262.5 million extension in 2023, That made Herbert the highest paid quarterback in history at the time (based on annual salary).
———-
Yeah, but Herbert is one of the best QBs in the NFL, and was young. Baker is neither.
June 28th, 2026 at 10:32 pm
LynchMob50. “I would actually trade him now and tank the season for the 2027 draft.” That statement, LM50, is an offense to anyone who has ever cheered on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. From every player starting with Lee Roy Selmon and every coach starting with John McCay. Making a statement like that tells all of us that read it that you, LynchMob50, are in a precarious mental state. There is help out there dude, but you have to seek it. Maybe you can walk upstairs, from your loved ones basement, and tell them that you’re not feeling well.
June 28th, 2026 at 10:56 pm
Baker’s going to get paaaaid!
June 28th, 2026 at 11:57 pm
Yes, what has Herbert ever done. 0-1 in playoffs and no division titles.
June 29th, 2026 at 12:13 am
You pretend GM’s are a joke. Do you have any self awareness of how stupid you sound
June 29th, 2026 at 1:51 am
I think there are two issues that are sticking points: the dollar amount and length of the contract. I think he wants 55 million a year and a 5 year contract. I think bucs want 45 to 50 million max a year and only 3 years. Because he is inconsistent I’d offer him 50-53 million and 3 years with 4 year option. I’d draft a new qb next year if we have 2025 baker.
June 29th, 2026 at 3:13 am
They have to know that as SOON as they give him that money… He’ll be running to do EVERY interview, and tv-commercial under the sun, that is POSSIBLE. Hell, he’ll then have his OWN podcast next… Just WATCH.
June 29th, 2026 at 6:58 am
I love watching Baker, but he’s not going to win us a championship with an unsteady captain steering the ship. Plus, he’s just not that durable. Let him play out his contract or except the one on the table. If he’s lights out, great. Maybe we can keep him. If he isn’t, the fiscally correct move was made. Either way, we’ll probably draft a QB next off season.
June 29th, 2026 at 7:23 am
toopanca is on the right track. 1 was thinking :
45 mil in 2027 – 50 mil in 2028 – 55 mil in 2029 – all guaranteed.
salary cap goes up every yr by 20 mil or so. have a 4th yr at 60 mil kick in if certain team & indiv. incentives are met with a 10 mil buyout. averages out at about 53 mil.
June 29th, 2026 at 7:45 am
With Bowles on the hot seat saddling the next HC with a 32 year old mediocre QB for 4 years would not be an attractive destination for a top flight HC candidate, most QBs don’t get better with age, especially guys who run as much as Baker does and he’s not a big dude, I’m hoping the Bucs offered him $40 a year for 3 years and Baker wants $50 a year, that gives the Bucs an excuse for not paying him, Baker put that deadline in place not the Bucs
June 29th, 2026 at 10:23 am
If I was Licht I might dangle the following in front of Baker and his agent. We tear up the remaining 1 year at $33 million and we immediately begin a new 3 year $150 million deal. That means he’s making $50 this year instead of $33 but the Bucs are only tied to him for 3 years. The fact he’s immediately getting a $17 million raise may entice Baker to accept the shorter deal. Make $130 million guaranteed.
June 29th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
32-Year Old Quarterbacks don’t get 4-YEAR DEALS. And, if the Bucs ‘give in’ and do something THAT RECKLESS, then I am DONE. Will have lost ALL respect for this franchise. Especially, combining it with the entire Coen DISASTER. Scared of a rebuild, & etc.
June 29th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
buc4evr Says:
“Yeah no doubt he’s worth in the 50+ range but I think the deal hinges on term length and guaranteed money. And then what are the Bucs going to be able to do with Vea’s contract?”
100%.
On Veal…that’s a tough one because the cap money isn’t there right now. I think they are hoping David Walker will work out, but I also think they want Vea back. They just need to shift some cap money around.
June 29th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
Sounds like Telesco doesn’t agree with the haters!!! It’s funny how anyone that is in the business of the NFL doesn’t agree with the haters. I find that hilarious. The haters are ALWAYS WRONG.
June 29th, 2026 at 8:42 pm
The Tom Brady effect! Once you realize that being a Team Player comes back to you, two, or even three fold! Being loyal is all he needs to do to paid Handsomely! Go Bucs
July 1st, 2026 at 12:29 am
The pearls read otherwise.. the pearl clutching Glazers will pull the clutch like they did with Evans. But it wasnt.the 328… nope. MAYFIELD WITNESSED THE SAME THING EVANS DID! If you think that scenario of 328 isn’t turning in Mayfields brain then you arent reading the pearls correctly.