No “Bridge” Baker Mayfield
June 7th, 2026
This post has nothing to do with the Sunshine Skyway or the Buccaneers defense. Don’t go there.
It’s about Baker Mayfield being a true franchise quarterback. That was the assertion on NFL Network from longtime scribe Judy Battista, and she got no disagreement from fellow NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero.
Mayfield wants a contract extension and he’s not going to be paid like a “bridge” QB, Battista noted. He’s the guy. (For those unaware, Battista wrote a big feature on Todd Bowles when the Bucs made him head coach, even quoting Bill Parcells calling Bowles “one of my homeboys.”)
Joe heard Mayfield being pronounced as a “franchise QB” and started thinking about Team Glazer. If they believe Mayfield is “the guy,” then they’re not going to allow him to walk out the door of One Buc Palace after the 2026 season.
Team Glazer can stop Mayfield with the franchise tag, if it comes to that.
It was three months ago when former Bucs QB Chris Simms, a man who watched the December meltdown against the Falcons in the Team Glazer suite, declared his confidence that Bucs owners and Mayfield would get a contract done.
Now, Joe wonders if Simms’ take included a touch of behind-the-scenes intel.
“I would think they’re going to find the sweet spot [for a contract extension] here,” Simms said. “It’s just about what is that number — what makes sense for where Baker Mayfield is in his career.
“He’s a damn good player. He gives your team an edge. He gives your team an, ‘oooh, the Bucs are on. It’s Baker? Let me watch them.’ Because Baker’s going to go for it. He doesn’t play the politics of the sport. He goes for it. He is trying to win. He’s trying to throw lasers. And he’s one of the more explosive quarterbacks in football in the pocket because of his frame of mind and his big right arm.
“You know me. I love the Bucs and I’m hoping the Glazers and [Bucs GM] Jason Licht reward him.”
As Joe has noted, Joe would be stunned if Mayfield is not the 2027 Bucs quarterback. However, Joe didn’t expect Mike Evans join the 49ers at roughly half the take-home pay he would have received in the comforting and catering confines of One Buc Palace.
Joe wonders how motivated Team Glazer is — or is not — to soothe fans by extending Mayfield’s contract this summer.
After not granting fans’ collective wish to launch Todd Bowles after last season, perhaps ownership is more interested in stability than ever before.
June 7th, 2026 at 3:44 pm
The sweet spot is right. Get mayfield his bump and protect the franchise.
But this “franchise” thing is absurd. If he really thinks that hes as delusional as his head coach.
Hes Carson Palmer later in his career. Perfectly capable of winning a SB if the team is right around him but Allen he is not.
Baker should do everything he can to get his money and the glazers should do everything they can to mitigate the risk.
June 7th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
If the Bucs go 7-10 or 8-9 this season the Glazer Family won’t have a choice but to fire Bowles. How would the Glazer Family be able to justify keeping Bowles if they’re wanting season ticket holders to stick around? Bowles should’ve been fired after 3rd and 28.
Sean McDermott has to be at the top of the list for a replacement because at the very least he’s had gotten deep into the playoffs unlike Bowles, along with an outstanding regular season record (98-50). McDermott and Licht were both in Philadelphia back in the 2000s, and Marcus West coached under McDermott as well. In other words, McDermott would raise the floor for the franchise. Go Bucs!
June 7th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
I fully expect Bowles to crap the bed yet again and be fired after this year. The question then becomes…does the new HC want to be saddled with Baker and his 20% salary cap contract for the next 4 years?
It’d be nice for the new HC to have Baker as an option (franchise tag) but not a requirement.
June 7th, 2026 at 4:39 pm
I like Baker, but I think we should let him walk unless he looks like a HOF player this year.
We have a great offense. Any half decent QB could come here and pull a Darnold/Baker with the pieces we have available.
June 7th, 2026 at 4:47 pm
I say it over and over again, I don’t believe it is about the money but the duration. The various situations, possibilities and options affecting the Bucs timeline don’t coincide with Baker’s career needs and future timeline. No one here in the digital world even knows how he feels about the organization. He faces instability in every direction with regard to the coaching situation. Even if Baker signs a 4 year deal he could find himself being traded in 2 years anyway. If he does nothing he likely gets tagged for next year and faces an uncertain situation not to mention the lack of a home field advantage and hostile visiting team fans.
A search revealed the following;
Additionally, the context notes that eleven NFL legends have demanded trades, including quarterbacks John Elway, Eli Manning, Brett Favre, and Joe Montana. Recent high-profile trade requests or moves involved Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, and Carson Wentz in the 2021 offseason.
June 7th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
When my comment returns from time out it will show that high profile QB trade demands are not unprecedented.
June 7th, 2026 at 5:05 pm
Both of Tampa’s SuperBowl wins were driven by dominant, chaos-causing defenses. You do not need a top 5 QB to win the chip…. I could name a number of teams that did so, starting with Seattle last season. We gotta stop pretending Tampa’s had a rich QB history and lock up the guy who can do something like have the only perfect passer rating as an away QB in Lambeau in its entire history (Brady never did it, Peyton didn’t, Brees didn’t…. Baker did). If the defense was halfway decent last season, we win 10 games and make the playoffs again. THAT needs to be the focus of our very-blame-heavy fanbase. Baker can cause problems (name a player who doesn’t) but he isn’t THE problem. Not even a top 5 problem. He’s earned his contract, just put language in the contract that allows Tampa to bow out of it in 2 or 3 years if he suddenly flames out (like so many fans holding onto college sports grudges believe). It is just amazing how people can be so blind to the myriad of injuries to receivers, Oline and RB but just blame Baker lol. Gimme a break.
June 7th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
Would you be stunned if he had another repeat of last year? Because, if no contract is forthcoming in 2026, that’s the like scenario in which he does not return in 2027. And if that’s the case, would you rather be saddled to Baker for the next 3 years with a cap crippling contract (how you like that alliteration) or would you rather say bye bye to Baker’s backside? Imo, it’s dumb money to chase on the heals of last year’s performance.
June 7th, 2026 at 5:35 pm
So many people who call themselves fans are head over heels in love with mediocrity. Call him a bridge QB or a franchise QB, it doesn’t matter. Winning is all that matters. No one ever calls Baker a winner. And Simms says Baker makes the Bucs more watchable which is funny since the Bucs lose the majority of primetime games Baker plays in. Remember the Rams and Falcons primetime debacles.
The only sweet spot for Baker is for him to find another team. The Bucs know they have the leverage and they wait for this media cycle to move on to something else. Baker killed his chances at a big contract losing that 2024 home WC game and the 2025 2-7 finish was the icing on top.
Get ready for the tank. It wont be pretty but its necessary. The Bucs need a reset from GM to LS. A complete and total identity shift to rid this franchise of mediocrity and complacency.
June 7th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
As I waste time scrolling through the comments I have noticed a commonality. In almost all of them the commenters are speaking from THEIR point of view.
I suggest folks should try to view the situation through the eyes of the parties involved not their own eyes.
What I suspect based on the positions of Baker and the owners is that we can expect an impasse.
June 7th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
It is in Baker’s best interest to get a deal done before the season. If he offers any kind of break in the money, I think the Bucs will do it.
Baker will not want to wait until after the season…he doesn’t want to leave and if Bowles is fired, the new coach might want to draft or sign a different QB. If he gets a contract done before the season, he’s a lock.
I think the hangup is not the amount of money, but is the number of guaranteed years. I cannot blame him for that.
June 7th, 2026 at 5:49 pm
On a very serious note, what exactly is a “franchise” quarterback?
June 7th, 2026 at 6:06 pm
Il pass on McDermott, hes had the all-world Josh allen and couldn’t get over the hump! Mike tomlin on the other hand has had junk qbs and made the playoffs ,plus just the Pittsburgh feel is second to none!
June 7th, 2026 at 6:09 pm
Time for a “should the Glazers give Baker the contract he want’s” poll.
June 7th, 2026 at 6:09 pm
Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season as a head coach. He’s the only guy I would take as a Defensive Head Coach. Plus…he got his start in Tampa with Dungy. It’s a great story.
Otherwise…Offensive HC for our next guy please.
Still…the way things are looking, Bowles will still be HC in 2027. That would mean his defense is improved and the offense is great again.
But…we’d probably lose Robinson in 2027.
June 7th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
Buc bonsai, agreed! Mayfield will probably save his job,if they make a nice run itll be interesting
June 7th, 2026 at 6:27 pm
I don’t care about baker as much as I do his contract. Look across the league and see what happens to the roster of these teams that give out massive QB contracts only to end up restructuring after losing to help the team get more players after losing key guys to free agency
June 7th, 2026 at 6:39 pm
Over the years, the respective teams of Allen, Jackson, Goff, Purdy, and Prescott have been good enough to win a Super Bowl, yet none of those QB’s have been able to get them over the hump. At least Purdy and Goff got into the Superbowl. Aren’t they the ones that have the talent level to carry their team to the promised land without everything around them being perfect and yet none of these has been able to. Hurts has been heavily criticized and he’s been to the promised land. Same for Darnold. This narrative that certain quarterbacks can carry a less than great team to a Superbowl win is pure bull! I’m not taking anything away from any of those guys. The Super Bowl winning teams have to be well coached, complete teams. A little luck on the injury front and with the bounce of the ball doesn’t hurt either. Herbert and Lawrence are immensely talented prototypes. Herbert is 0-3 in the playoffs and Lawrence I think has one win.
June 7th, 2026 at 6:53 pm
2-7
Interceptions to lose games. Missing wide open guys.
2-7
He was proven his suck is stronger than his good.
June 7th, 2026 at 6:56 pm
Bakers go for it mentality is completely at odds with the mentality/philosophy of our HC.
If Baker is resigned long term… it’s one more reason to get rid of Bowles and get a guy in here who can match Bakers jam and put the pedal down.
June 7th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Cause I don’t care if Baker throws 3 picks in a game. As long as he throws 4 TDs and Bucs win.
Darnold and Stafford did it last year on their way to a championship game.
June 7th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Baker is signed to play this year, correct? CHECK
The Bucs could use the franchise tag if needed after the season only Baker, correct? Check
If the Buvs have a terrible season, Bowles is a goner and the new staff my want their “guy” at QB.
Seems the Bucs hold all the chips.
Regardless of what Baker says, this is his first real “home” he’s found in the NFL. They had their kids here and the Bucs rewarded him with 100 million dollars. Not to shabby. He doesn’t want to leave.
My guess is they get a deal done and it’s all rainbows and lollipops..
Time to focus on THIS upcoming season.
June 7th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Baker can win a Super Bowl if Hurts and Darnold can so pay the man. I would be shocked to hear that Baker expects to be paid 60 million for 5 years guaranteed. I bet the Bucs are willing to pay the 50 million but they probably are asking for a quick out if things don’t go well right away. Sal V. knows what’s up!
June 7th, 2026 at 7:11 pm
@Bonzai @ChiBuc @Bee
WTF are you talking about? The way WHAT is set for BOZO? BOZO is SET for an exit!!! WTH man you USED TO make sense once upon a time….
@ChiBuc
I find you right ON the mark concerning where the franchise is. For the owners and Licht, they must be having Nightmares about the potential of “bad Baker” taking over the “REAL Baker Boys”! Meaning Good Baker/ and the “well documented” Bad Baker…
Bad Bake “was supposed to be dead” … He JUST popped his head through the chopped door and proclaimed “HERE’S BAD BAKEY”… HE’S BACK!
You can be GUARANTEED THAT, THAT GOT ALL THEIR ATTENTION! And the brakes HAVE BEEN applied on an early extension.. NO WAY they rush into ANYTHING after….. BARELY 2 and 7 finish. Not even the INCREDIBLY FOOLISH GLAZERS ARE THAT STUPID! Glazers have offered 3yrs / 45 mil / low guarantees ~ Baker WAS thinking he was still walking on water BUTTTTT….. He’s thinking 4yrs / 58 mil / huge guarantees.. And thinking that’s a deal Conveniently FORGETTING the NIGHTMARE PUKE FEST OF WHICH HE PLAYED A HUGE PART!
Now…. I’m NOT saying that it was on fair and even terms. OBVIOUSLY IT WAS NOT. He lost his protection AND I’M SORRY BUT “REALITY” MUST APPLY HERE! He didn’t have a chance to BREATH! HE WAS PLAYING HURT! THIS! This IS ALL TRUE. However….
It was HIS DECISION. AND HIS ALONE, TO THROW STRATEGY, REASON, AND LOGIC OUT OF THE DOOR! HE “HAS TO” LEARN! YOU CAN’T DO THAT! MOXIE IS OUT IN THAT.. THAT situation! BRAINS, BRAINS ARE IN! Tough guy? NO YOUR NOT! YOU’RE BARELY 6FT TALL DUMMY! NOBODY IS THAT BAD ASS! So… Bad Bakey…
Baker hasn’t found another way to win and THAT IS a CONCERN!
June 7th, 2026 at 7:12 pm
Sorry Bee, left you out but I agreed with a lot of what you were saying. But NOT all. If you were a bit more fair…
June 7th, 2026 at 7:14 pm
Crap! And the first comment / small paragraph was for Bonzai alone.
June 7th, 2026 at 7:17 pm
Regardless of how Baker does this year there will not be any teams lined up to throw a ton of money at him long term. He has had too many ups and downs and carries around too much baggage for any GM’s to take that risk. Just like last time he was a free agent… cricket chirps. Too much dead money has been eaten by giving 2nd and 3rd deals to QB’s over the past few years to watch them fizzle out(Tua, Smith, Wilson, etc). Much cheaper to get the latest retread on a mid-tier deal. The guy to keep an eye on is Mac Jones. The 49ers are hanging on to him this year but he will be the latest free agent retread to make good next year after working with Shanahan. He looked better than Purdy filling in last year.
June 7th, 2026 at 7:23 pm
He’s “the guy” huh? No, Brady was. This guy is Jeff Garcia.
June 7th, 2026 at 7:28 pm
Obvious One Says
“@Bonzai @ChiBuc @Bee
WTF are you talking about? The way WHAT is set for BOZO? BOZO is SET for an exit!!! ”
You mean the way he was this year? Clearly, you have not learned…we don’t have a say in it.
June 7th, 2026 at 7:35 pm
@Obvious One,
Do you seriously believe that if the Bucs make it 2 games into the playoffs, the Glazers will fire him? They didn’t fire him this year and he DIDN’T make the playoffs.
Use your head instead of your heart, man.
I wanted Bowles gone this year too, but they Glazers proved what the fans want does not matter.
There’s only two ways Bowles leaves:
– The Bucs have another losing season (barring injuries again, that won’t happen)
– The Bucs do extremely well and Bowles decides to retire because he reached the top.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to hope for a bad season.
June 7th, 2026 at 7:41 pm
In my humble opinion, the entire team cost us the season last year. Baker managed to keep playing but that was because of his backup option. The man had injuries to both shoulders and his ribs. Of course his throws were not accurate.
But he couldn’t let Teddy replace him, could he?
We saw the real Baker before the bye, and we’ll see him again this year.
June 7th, 2026 at 7:42 pm
The real concern is our total lack of a good backup.
June 7th, 2026 at 10:29 pm
Bonsai
My recollection, Baker was not throwing great from the first game of last season. Balls were behind and high. That seemed to carry on for a while. I wondered then if he was just rusty via little off season practice or was injured. Our receivers helped his stats by making awkward catches. Bake did look like his 2024 self from the beginning.
June 8th, 2026 at 7:26 am
No Bonzai we’re likely not going to make the play offs At All.
You’re forgetting a “Life TRUTH”. Zebras DON’T change their stripes. And to tell you a little something else… I’m a trend kinda guy. A LOT of stock market tends to give a person SOME REAL EXPENSIVE LUMPS when “going with your gut versus THE TREND”
A SERIOUSLY BAD AND EXPENSIVE GAMBLE! “Usually”. Let’s just say “your gut feelings” tend to change with lots of experience.
Take a look at Bowles trends all 4 years with the jets…
Year 1 “inherited SOMEONE ELSES TEAM” (10 wins)
Year 2 (5 wins) receives EXCELLENT DRAFT POSITION THOUGH
Year 3 (4 wins)
Year 4 (4 wins) and thrown out of the door in 2018
In 2019 his buddy (who bowles stabbs in the back) SAVES HIM and offers him a job..
Tampa Bay 2021 (inherents a 13 win team the very year before)
Year 1 (8 wins barely in the worst or easiest division in ALL of football) HUGE DROP OFF! Defense “worst in division”
Year 2 (9 wins once again “barely”. Once again “non dominate” but accidentally won one extra game. Again, defense “worst in the division”
Year 3 ( finally an Actual positive and trending up year, however once again brandishing the “worst defense” in the division YET ALSO brandishing the BEST OC in at least two divisions. The “offense” saving Bowles bacon. None of the wins were on “account of” Todd Bowles, though that’s Irrelevant to our little example board and HE IS accredited as the “head coach” (he DID find Coen after all and SHOULD receive the credit)
Year 4 (8 wins) dropping back down to reality and his “realistic” trend line. Once again one of THE WORST DEFENSES IN ALL OF FOOTBALL. He belligerently chose a COMPLETELY GREEN AND POOR CHOICES of an OC as possible because he CERTAINLY DIDN’T want to be challenged for his job again. BLATANTLY hurting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and it’s ENTIRE fan base! THIS! THIS WAS NO ACCIDENT! HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED IMMEDIATELY FOR THAT SCAM ALONE!
Of Course his defense was one of the worst in football again and CERTAINLY NOT going to save the season… Add his standard “deer lost in the headlights”, ignoring the advice of the SPECIALIST that the organization hired to TRY TO save face for him. However, his dirty, yet ridiculously POOR decision MAKING “ONCE AGAIN” RAN VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT OUT THE DOOR “THOUGH” BOZO “DID RECEIVE” A “PAISLEY RIBBON” for HAVING THE MOST waisted time outs STILL unused and in his “typically unaware pocket” at the end of EVERY GAME!
O wait…. I forgot I’m not quite done yet. How could anybody POSSIBLY FORGET THAT HE LOST THE TRUST OF THE ENTIRE TEAM! AND RAN ALL LEADERS OUT THE DOOR OR THEY COULDN’T FIND A REASON TO HAVE PASSION FOR ONE MORE GAME UNDER THE “ABUSE” OF BOZO BOWLES…..!
And THOSE ARE HIS LOSER TRENDS…
However, the OTHER TRENDS that you’ve pointed out Bonzai “SHOULD BE ADDRESSED”! The Glazers……
The only thing I can say to this strangeness from them is that their AFTER SOMETHING… because their trend IS to fire for MUCH LESS! With that said, keeping the failing bowles in place is PERFECT for finding a Brand New “Drafted” QB.
There would not be a reason to keep a guy who lost the teams trust JUST a few months back.. Any Idiot would THROW THAT GUY OUT OF THE DOOR BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR MEN WHEN THEY EITHER CANT STAND HIM OR THEY 100% ARE DONE WITH HIS FOOLERY AND FOOLY REALIZE HE IS A ROAD TO… “NO WHERE”
So a new QB is the answer. And paying Mayfield when they are OBVIOUSLY TANKING is UNLIKELY to be hurried along. The SMART PLAY IS TO MAKE HIM PROVE “WITHOUT A DOUBT” THAT BAD BAKEY ISN’T TAKING BACK OVER..
You’re looking and picking the wrong trend… That ridiculousness WONT HOLD!
June 8th, 2026 at 11:24 am
Get a contract done by his deadline. Dont want Mayfield and the team distracted this season.
June 8th, 2026 at 12:42 pm
Baker is a top 10-15 QB in this league, which is enough for a team to win a SB. Give the guy his contract and do not anchor it to Bowles performance this season. There are plenty of coaches that would love to have BM as their QB and our next HC will, too.