Baker Mayfield No. 78 Most Important
July 1st, 2026
Important.
Look out Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. Your question to re-up Baker Mayfield just got more important.
Over at CBS, Zachary Pereles (any relation to George Pereles?) decided to put together a list of his 100 Most Important Players. Not the 100 best, but 100 most important. There is a difference.
For example, Jeffery Simmons of Tennessee might be the best nose tackle in the NFL. But Tennessee can lose just as easily without him.
So why does Licht now have more pressure to extend Mayfield? Per Pereles, Mayfield is the No. 78 Most Important Player in the NFL.
Quietly, Mayfield is a pending free agent next offseason. He was off to a tremendous start in 2025 before a couple of injuries set him back. Though he started all 17 games, he clearly wasn’t the same. Now, without Mike Evans and with Zac Robinson entering as offensive coordinator, Mayfield has a pivotal season ahead, both for him and for Tampa Bay.
Joe doesn’t believe there is any chance Mayfield invokes Operation Shutdown and walks out of training camp or threatens to sit out the season.
Not only has Mayfield said that won’t happen, that is just not in his DNA. Mayfield is a team-guy first and his best friends off the field block for him on the field. Joe just cannot see Mayfield doing a No. 1 on his best friends.
But yeah, getting Mayfield to sign on the dotted line sure is important to accomplish before the free agency dinner bell rings in March.
July 1st, 2026 at 12:03 am
😆🤣😂
🤡
July 1st, 2026 at 12:29 am
We can get Mason Rudolph for cheap!
July 1st, 2026 at 1:02 am
Licht and the Glazers (so far) are doing the right thing. After last years collapse. It’s Far More than just a little wise to Make Sure that Baker isn’t regressing to the mean.
Then again, looking Purely at his time with us, approximately 82% of the time he’s been White Hot! It’s just smart to confirm that he’s not going to get stuck “mind dealing” about how bad it got last year, and he’s going to pick right back up where he left off with chants of “MVP”
I for one am pulling for Baker to put his money where his mouth is, “pun intended”..
And feel like , (ESPECIALLY without better alternatives) we would miss the boat, BIG TIME if we somehow didn’t secure his services going forward, Even If we end up drafting one of the ELITE QB’s in this very next draft. Simply because he (the draftee) would need time to catch on to the ebb and flows of Pro Football, and the True flavors of playing with and against the best in the World…. It’s a luxury that we SURE COULD use.
At the right price of course because there won’t be quality team mates without money from somewhere to pay them to stay. “Greed” (concerning money) is BAD for anything that includes the word “team” in it..
July 1st, 2026 at 1:56 am
I really hope that Baker plays smart, protects his body and has a great season. If he does, we will go far with Robinsson calling plays. There were several factors in our downfall last year. Baker’s injuries were not one of them but, his not being replaced in the lineup until he could heal was the problem. Signs of a desperate head coach.
July 1st, 2026 at 5:20 am
“Mayfield is a team first guy”
What has he done specifically that shows hes a team first guy? Drinking beers with co-workers after work? Is he taking less money so the Bucs can build the best team around him? Didn’t he throw his defense under the bus a few weeks ago?
If Mayfield is team first then why did he run to the media to complain about the contract offer? Loser.
July 1st, 2026 at 5:57 am
We’re constantly being told that QB is the most important position in football. Baker should at least be #32 on the list. The fact that he’s not is very telling.
July 1st, 2026 at 6:32 am
Just one man’s opinion and another stat.
July 1st, 2026 at 6:48 am
Everyone loves to reference Mayfield’s injuries, except Mayfield. Has there ever been a legit diagnosis? This vague assumption of injury just reads as an excuse.
…me on July 6th wanting to recuperate from a long 4th weekend: cough, cough. He boss, im not feeling well, think i gotta take a sick day.
Time to stfu and earn your $40 million, much less $55 million
July 1st, 2026 at 8:16 am
Beeej: we can get mason rudolf cheap….
Yes because he is horrendous.
They’d be better off with me at QB, but I m not cheap 😂
Hopefully u come back to reality soon
July 1st, 2026 at 9:08 am
There is no argument that supports signing Mayfield to a franchise crippling long term contract.
He’s already signed for 2026 and the franchise tag is an option for 2027.
A real leader wouldn’t demand the most money. He would want a team around him capable of more than a first round exit and winning a putrid division.
And honestly after 2025, I’m doubtful winning the division is even possible.
TB12 wanted titles. Baker just wants a bigger bag. Trade him now.
July 1st, 2026 at 10:17 am
Evans #11 on that list.
Makes me question the list.
July 1st, 2026 at 2:02 pm
“There is no argument that supports signing Mayfield to a franchise crippling long term contract.”
True – but there’s no evidence he’s asking for that…
“He’s already signed for 2026 and the franchise tag is an option for 2027.”
ONLY if you want to pay him $80 Million for 2027… The tag will be around $50M, and they have $30M in ‘deferred money’ that becomes due the instant they tag him. The tag is not really an option.
“A real leader wouldn’t demand the most money. He would want a team around him capable of more than a first round exit and winning a putrid division.”
Again, you have no clue what he’s asked for. Baker is definitely in the top 15 QBs in the league, and those guys are all making $50M or so. He did say clearly that he wanted to find ‘middle ground’ and have enough cash to keep the team together. He could have (and probably should have) asked for more last time around, and someone would have paid it. IF you let him go now, Pittsburgh and Minnesota will be fighting to pay him…
“And honestly after 2025, I’m doubtful winning the division is even possible.”
IF we get a decent DEFENSE, the SB is possible. IF not, we won’t get out of division.
“TB12 wanted titles. Baker just wants a bigger bag. Trade him now.”
Absolute BS.
July 2nd, 2026 at 1:03 pm
I’m at least the 2nd most important person in my household (er, when my kids aren’t home from college). Talk about one man’s stupid metric