NFL Analyst Believes Todd Bowles Is The Speedbump To Baker Mayfield Getting A New Contract
August 11th, 2026
Key to Baker Mayfield’s future?
Want to look at why the Bucs haven’t lured Baker Mayfield to agree to a contract extension? Well, an analyst for a prominent national publication seems to point the finger at someone.
And no, it’s not Team Glazer or Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht or even Mayfield’s agent. And maybe not even Mayfield himself.
Robert Mays of The Athletic thinks the Bucs are on the fence about bringing back KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles in 2027, or beyond. So Mays is of the mind the Bucs are not aggressive trying to get Mayfield to put pen to paper because they may be bracing for coaching turnover.
“My gut feeling with the Bucs is this is probably the last year for this [coaching] staff,” Mays said. “And if that’s the case, and you are turning the page as an organization next year, you have a choice about whether you want Baker Mayfield at $47 million dollars to be the starting point of the next version of your organization.
“If this was a situation where it’s like, ‘We’re putting all of our chips in, it’s the one-year thing, we have to see what we can get out of this version of the offense.’ Then you do it.”
The implication here is if the Bucs have a losing season and turn loose Bowles, would the top head coach candidates want Mayfield or would they instead prefer to draft and develop someone like C.J. Carr or Julian Sayin or Trinidad Chambliss?
You know, would candidates be turned off to the job because they would inherit Mayfield?
Or would Team Glazer reach the Colin Cowherd conclusion — that while Mayfield is a good quarterback, he’s not elite enough to overcome him potentially eating up too much of the salary cap, leaving Licht with not enough Team Glazer loot to stock the roster?
The best way for the Bucs to determine the future of the team? Mayfield balls out and the Bucs win 10 games and just about everyone at One Buc Palace will be safe, except for possibly Zac Robinson, who then would likely be a head coach and leave Bowles looking for his sixth different offensive coordinator in six seasons.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:06 am
The Bucs biggest problem over the last 3 or 4 seasons is the inconsistent and porous defense. Seattle won the Super Bowl because the defense was great. Tampa has reloaded on offense, but has been as good reloading the defense.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:16 am
TB is a speed bump to winning
My gawd the river in Egypt is strong in Tampa town
August 11th, 2026 at 9:18 am
Bowles Derangement Syndrome on full display. 😏
Robert Mays offered a gut feeling that this could be Bowles’ final season. From that speculation, we somehow arrive at Bowles being the speed bump holding up Baker’s extension.
That’s quite a journey, to say the least.
We know Bowles doesn’t negotiate contracts. He doesn’t set Baker’s price. He doesn’t control Baker’s willingness to sign. And nobody from the Bucs has said a possible coaching change is delaying anything.
Could the organization simply be preserving flexibility? Absolutely. Baker’s age, asking price, future cap hit—and whether a new coach would want to inherit a $47 million quarterback—are all legitimate considerations.
But notice the trap:
If Tampa extends Baker now, Bowles is tying the next coach to an expensive quarterback.
If Tampa waits, Bowles is preventing Baker from getting paid.
Either way, Bowles gets charged with a crime committed entirely inside somebody else’s hypothetical. 😂
August 11th, 2026 at 9:20 am
Agree 💯
August 11th, 2026 at 9:21 am
Hadn’t looked at it that way–BOTH sides have a plausible reason for not signing (if at ALL) until the season concludes
August 11th, 2026 at 9:21 am
Water is wet……
August 11th, 2026 at 9:23 am
Todd is definitely a speed bump. I can’t wait to see all these new linemen drop into coverage
August 11th, 2026 at 9:27 am
Licht is the reason Bowles is still here.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:28 am
The Buckeye QB would be a good choice to draft.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:29 am
Test
August 11th, 2026 at 9:32 am
It will be interesting that Baker plays the coach who canned him twice this year. Looking at the jets last year that could be two wins.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:34 am
So let’s follow the logic:
-The Glazers keep Bowles.
-Licht negotiates with Baker’s agent.
-Baker decides what he’ll accept.
-Yet somehow, Bowles is the speed bump. 🤔
That isn’t what Mays actually said. It’s what the headline needed him to mean.
And judging by the comments, it worked beautifully. 😂
August 11th, 2026 at 9:38 am
This has been mentioned by a dozen posters here a dozen times. Now it will get the here comes Tomlin gang started .
August 11th, 2026 at 9:43 am
They offered baker a contract extension. He did not accept it. It has nothing to do with Todd Bowles.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Its everyone’s fault but Baker huh? If Baker signed the extention, would that have been Bowles fault as well?
August 11th, 2026 at 9:47 am
No, no buckeyes qb would be a good choice
August 11th, 2026 at 9:49 am
combination of a few things mentioned above….
if bowles doesnt make a deep/solid run in the playoffs he’s gone….
baker hasnt won a playoff game in 3years and if he fails to make the playoffs and/or performs like he did the 2nd half of the season, he’s gone…
glazers are in prove it mode…
GO BUCS!!!!
August 11th, 2026 at 9:50 am
This is a stupid statement. “him potentially eating up too much of the salary cap, leaving Licht with not enough Team Glazer loot to stock the roster?” Licht does more than enough stupid moves of his own that don’t leave enough loot to stock the roster. Along with his drafting oft-injured db’s, trying to hit again on his Ali Marpet success by drafting small school lineman, going for high RAS score guys with little college production.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:52 am
Bee the answer is Yes. You would blame it on both Bowles and Licht. You will be totally pissed if he had or does sign a contract.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:59 am
This is exactly what I’ve been saying. I believe that is why Mayfield will do his best to have a deal in place before the start of the season.
August 11th, 2026 at 10:00 am
I buy it. The Incredibly Average Todd Bowles loyalists refuse to admit is, but Incredibly Average Todd Bowles is incredibly average, and incredibly average coaches like Incredibly Average Todd Bowles tend to get fired.
…eventually…
So I can buy an argument that the Glazers offered a short term contract with a lowball offer to Baker while at the same time holding off on a longer term, more expensive offer because they’re in wait-and-see mode to decide if Incredibly Average Todd Bowles is going to be incredibly average yet again (he will).
August 11th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Repeating “incredibly average” six times doesn’t turn speculation into evidence. It just gives the speculation a catchy rhythm. 😂
Could the Glazers be in wait-and-see mode? Absolutely.
But now we’ve invented a lowball offer nobody has reported, assigned the Glazers a motive they haven’t stated and predetermined the season before it begins—all to prove a conclusion already reached.
That isn’t analysis.
That’s writing the verdict first, then creating the evidence needed to support it. 😏
August 11th, 2026 at 10:02 am
^^ bad edit…
That last line should have read “…because they’re in wait-and-see mode to decide if Incredibly Average Todd Bowles is still incredibly average (he is), and whether it means he should get fired (he will be).
August 11th, 2026 at 10:06 am
The edit fixed the sentence.
It didn’t fix the logic. 😏
The Glazers’ offer is still imaginary. Their motive is still assumed. The season’s outcome is still predetermined. And Bowles’ firing is still being presented as fact before a game has been played.
That’s not “wait and see.”
That’s “I’ve already decided—now wait and agree.” 😂
August 11th, 2026 at 10:16 am
Bucs brass doesn’t want to win. It was obvious when Mr mediocrity was retained. Never deserved an extension. Had the luxury of a terrible division for years and still was only average. Until there is new blood brought in, the atmosphere will remain toxic.
August 11th, 2026 at 10:17 am
Bee Says:
August 11th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Its everyone’s fault but Baker huh? If Baker signed the extention, would that have been Bowles fault as well?
Since you are an expert on “fair” contracts how much of the two year offer to Baker was guaranteed? The actual contract offered has not been made public so we are just guessing on the number of years, actual amount offered and no clue on the guaranteed money.
August 11th, 2026 at 10:25 am
I’m glad I don’t subscribe to The Athletic.
August 11th, 2026 at 10:29 am
Come on…..
August 11th, 2026 at 10:44 am
Im in opposition to this nonsense. And I think the defense plays much better and Bowles keeps his job. Eventually Licht will work out a deal with Baker- maybe even before the season starts. We aren’t going to be in a position to draft a qb next year because we are going to the PLAYOFFS.
You heard it here first.
August 11th, 2026 at 10:46 am
Licht is as big a problem as Bowles.
August 11th, 2026 at 10:56 am
A picture is worth a thousand words. The key people want to abandon the “Pirate Ship” ( Mike Evans, Vita Vea, Baker Mayfield). Why? Because they have NO FAITH in the Coach leading the Team to success. Their only option is to leave or get paid. The Coaching issue should’ve been dealt with and we could’ve had the key players moving forward. Instead, we are facing a year of mediocrity! Good luck Glazers on maintaining and selling season tickets !
August 11th, 2026 at 11:13 am
I don’t think this situation is really that big of a mystery. Glazers and Licht will not offer Baker more than 2 years, based off the way he played last year – which is also tied to the HC’s job. Both baker and Bowles are playing for their jobs this year, why the **** would we offer either one a long term contract? Is that what you all really want in this transition period? Seriously??!!
Cut and dry business decision, and the correct one.
There was no “low ball” offer if baker was indeed offered 50mil and 2 years. Absolutely fair for what baker has shown the past 3 years. Hes the definition of a mid QB – who in my opinion hasn’t hit his ceiling yet so that is good.
But let’s drop this thought that Licht and the Glazers are cheap. Not buying that, they just aren’t push overs.
August 11th, 2026 at 11:16 am
I don’t think it’s that new coach wouldn’t want to be saddled with Mayfield, it’s that they wouldn’t want to be saddled with Mayfield’s contract.
August 11th, 2026 at 11:18 am
I couldn’t agree with talking head any more! That’s the problem the JL has to navigate.
August 11th, 2026 at 11:53 am
Let’s go ask Mike Tomlin who he wants his QB to be next year. We all know he is going to be the coach when Bowles gets fired. Some of Tomlin previous staff is already on the Bucs current staff. On top of that he is friends with Ronde and other people in the organization.
August 11th, 2026 at 11:58 am
Given Tomlin’s choice in quarterbacks and offensive coordinators since Big Ben retired, pretty sure you can start ordering your Geno Smith Bucs jerseys if Tomlin is the next Bucs coach. Or maybe if we’re lucky, Jimmy GQ. 🙁
August 11th, 2026 at 12:01 pm
The quoted words “my gut feeling” is the only important passage in this article.
He might as well have written, “I don’t know and you don’t either.”
August 11th, 2026 at 12:17 pm
That is EXACTLY what Sal has been saying since late last winter !
August 11th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
Forget a losing season. Let’s say he goes 9-8 and doesn’t win the division. Ot goes 10-6 and loses in the first round again. Neither one of those scenarios are “balling out”. Both results should end in him being dismissed. Continuing on with this mediocrity loop and changing offensive play callers every year is insanity.
I do agree that’s one reason why they’re only providing an extra 2 years on the mayfield. A new coach wouldn’t want to be tied down too long. A year or two would be perfectly fine.
August 11th, 2026 at 1:32 pm
Good God please don’t let Tomlin become our coach. I’d rather have Bowles a million times over. Tomlin is the most boring coach ever. Want to be bored? Watch any Pitt game in the last 20 years… please no.
I thought we wanted an offensive coach? He’s the opposite of that.
August 11th, 2026 at 1:34 pm
Both Jimmy GQ and Geno Smith suck compared to Mayfield. And we are saying we want a better team out of that mess?
August 11th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
And Licht is not losing his job regardless. That draft was a masterpiece and a master class. It’s going to very positively affect this team for the next 10 years. David Walker maybe turns into the ultimate genius move. Who knows?
August 11th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
This is just stupid. A team can’t possibly plan for all the variables that can happen during an NFL season. There are just too many “whit if’s.”
August 11th, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Robert Mays? Who is this writer, a ChatGPT bot? A seven year old could write better stuff than this!
August 11th, 2026 at 2:14 pm
Soooooo, it’s Bowles’ fault that Baker didn’t sign his $50M+ contract. Okie….
August 11th, 2026 at 3:05 pm
Yeah who would want Tomlin and his winning record and SB appearances???
We have Bowles and a losing record with zero SB appearances. That’s the secret sauce.
Hooray Todd!!!! Yay!!!!!
August 11th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Mays has a legitimate argument.
Joe, you’ve essentially said the same thing in a number of recent posts.
Of course the Glazers are going to start with a low offer; they’re running a business.
And Baker is no different than any other employee.
Whether you’re making $40 thousand or $40 million, if someone else is making $50 thousand or $50 million for the same job, and they’re not any better than you, of course you’re going to want to be bumped up pay-wise.
I thought we’d confirmed an offer totaling $50 million per year for two years. Isn’t that what Adam Schefter reported?
Is Todd Bowles a speedbump in this, in the sense he may not be here next year and a new HC may not want to be saddled with Baker for 3 or 4 years?
Sure. But HC changes happen all the time with QBs under contract for a few more years.
To characterize him as anything more than that would he overstating it.
August 11th, 2026 at 3:51 pm
I agree. It’s because the Glazers don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t think they blow the team up, but why tie the next head coach to a… Fiery quarterback who can be abrasive. He’s not uncoachable that’s for sure, but if you’re starting fresh, why not let the HC make the most important decision.
August 11th, 2026 at 4:26 pm
Funny, I said the same thing a couple of weeks ago.
August 11th, 2026 at 4:32 pm
so we have to get through this losing season with todd to get to next losing season without todd. i get it. WHY NOT FIRE HIM LAST YEAR GLAZER DOOFS
LD II here we come…
August 11th, 2026 at 4:36 pm
Vea and Mayfield are both are asking for an extra 10 million for pain and suffering from a he Head Coach. I don’t blame them. Nor do I blame Mike.
August 11th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Sean McDermott won’t want baker next year
August 11th, 2026 at 10:36 pm
Bowles is the reason brady retired, evans left, why vita wants out, and why this team wins 6 games this season. Does everyone forget he went 2-7 finishing last year? He socks fire him already. We should have fired Bowles and made cohen the head coach. This whole thing stinks and I’m here to watch it implode so we can get rid of this coach.
Let Mike Tomlin decide who he wants next season
August 12th, 2026 at 6:23 am
Did anybody listen to what Baker said? He was pretty clear in his comments that JASON LICHT either made promises, or alluded to promises about his future with the team that he apparently did not uphold. I have no reason not to believe Baker. He is an open book. He puts everything on the line. It’s who he is as a person. Todd Bowles doesn’t pay the players, Jason does. Baker does not seem to have a beef with Bowles about the situation. Jason was unable to negotiate with the Hall of Fame receiver HE drafted to stay with the team despite offering him more money then he was offered to leave. He has now lost the respect of the leader of his team and one of the best DT’s in the league. Todd Bowles should have been fired but JASON CHOSE him over both Liam Coen and Dave Canales. Jason Licht is the problem. He hired Baker for his warrior mentality and his physical toughness and then used it as an excuse not to pay him just like Cleveland did, but Jason ignoring positions of need for too long is what cost us our last season and what got baker hurt to begin with. And by the way, we likely still would not have a pass rusher for the fifth year in a row if the young pass rushing stud Bain did not fortunately fall in our lap because Jason did not do a damn thing to make him a BUC. Todd admitted he spent the second half of last season focused on his bad playcaller and not his bad defense. Lavonte said defensive players were loafing and taking plays off. Baker was badly injured was going above and beyond during that time to try and help us win and Jason and Todd have both criticized baker instead of admitting their own coaching inadequacies. Baker is within reach of being statistically the greatest QB in BUCS history. Jason should pay him like he appreciates that.