Report: Baker Mayfield Counteroffered With Two-Year Contract Extension
August 21st, 2026
Baker Mayfield said 22 days ago that he was unhappy and slightly insulted by the contract extension offer tossed his way by the Buccaneers.
Nothing was enough, he told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. No part of the trifecta was hit by Team Glazer and Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
“It was all three — between years, average [salary] and guarantees,” Mayfield said. “Probably the most disappointing is years. Didn’t get offered anything over two [years].
So Mayfield felt disrespected by the Bucs wanting to give him a contract for only 2027 and 2028 — before he even plays a down in 2026?
That’s interesting because, per Mike Garafolo reporter/insider of NFL Network, the Mayfield camp was ready to accept a two-year deal.
“They did go back and forth. Like Baker Mayfield and his camp did respond to the Buccaneers’ two-year offer with their own two-year proposal as well,” Garafolo told The Rich Eisen Show yesterday.
“So it’s not like they said, ‘We are adamantly opposed to a two-year extension.’ It’s just once those numbers started to go back and forth, they couldn’t get to an agreement on total money and guarantees.”
Garafolo is reputable, and sounded exceptionally confident in his words. Garafolo also was around Bucs camp last week in New Jersey.
So did Mayfield really come back to the Bucs with what he deemed an acceptable two-year conract extension and the Bucs punted?
If so, Joe would understand the Bucs’ position. If in that scenario Mayfield was seeking $55 million for 2028, then keeping him on the franchise tag in 2029 would cost at least $66 million. There’s no way the Bucs want to be in that position.
August 21st, 2026 at 7:52 am
Let’s get this done and over with. This guy is our Franchise QB. No one wants this lingering all year especially if/when we have a good year this year. SIGN the MAN!!
August 21st, 2026 at 7:53 am
Interesting. I actually believe this report. It sounds like Baker wants three years with two guaranteed and $50+/year.
And if he can’t get three, he’ll settle for two fully guaranteed.
As I’ve been saying all along, I believe he just wants to be sure a new head coach will give him time to prove himself worth keeping. He’s been thru a lot.
I don’t think he’s being unreasonable.
August 21st, 2026 at 7:57 am
He’s not a franchise quarterback he haven’t won anything he’s never played in a conference championship game. If get to a conference championship then yes snig him
August 21st, 2026 at 7:59 am
I thought this was behind us till the off season? All about ball remember? They didn’t agree on a deal, old news.
August 21st, 2026 at 8:07 am
So, you are only a Franchise B if you have won something? Really?
Please don’t tell Josh Allen or Joe Burrow or Justin Herbert….
August 21st, 2026 at 8:08 am
The problem, as I understand it, is 1) the salary cap to a lesser degree (between proration and reworking other contracts, this can likely be overcome), and 2) the NFL’s requirement that the guaranteed portion of future salaries be held in escrow. That requires setting aside today’s dollars for tomorrow’s performance interest free. I haven’t seen where a franchise has been able to do a workaround for this. I don’t know if anybody has explored posting a surety bond for the guaranteed money or if the NFL would accept that. The work around might be something along the lines of “if the team should terminate the player’s employment contract for any reason other than _______, the player shall receive ________ percent of the remaining balance of his unpaid salary over the balance of the remaining contract term; which the team shall insure by way of surety bond with ________”. I don’t know if something like this would work, but similar clauses are typical for senior executives in the corporate world.
August 21st, 2026 at 8:12 am
“Oneilbuc Says:
August 21st, 2026 at 7:57 am
He’s not a franchise quarterback he haven’t won anything he’s never played in a conference championship game. If get to a conference championship then yes snig him”
You wouldn’t know a franchise QB if one jumped up and bit you in the rear.
You called JayMiss a franchise QB after his 30/30 pick 6 filled season and moaned when the Bucs opted for door #2.
You adamantly thought Brady was washed and passing on JayMiss for Brady was a huge mistake. Oopsy.
Sit this one out. You have zero credibility.
August 21st, 2026 at 8:14 am
I was pretty tough concerning Baker when he was first brought to Tampa… wasn’t his fault. I just don’t like being lied to by the head coach.
But Baker has me invested these days. I believe he deservesa good extension with guarantees. I believe he deserves $50-54 million per year. I also believe that will seem cheap in the near future.
On the Bucs side of things, it’s a matter of cap and future plans. They don’t have enough cash right now, but they also could shift some money around to free up a portion for this year, then offload some guys next year by replacing them in the draft.
The Bucs could convert some base salaries into signing bonuses. Off the top of my head Wirfs and Winfield could be converted. So could Godwin…or Godwin could be given an entirety new deal that frees up money.
August 21st, 2026 at 8:15 am
Joe the issue is looking you right in the face and why I see with Baker. Since all sources agree guarantees were an issue its likely the second year of the extension was not guaranteed. In which case it was likely not much better than being franchise tagged
If you don’t think he’s a franchise QB thats fine. Just don’t keep harping that he is and then make an offer that says otherwise.
August 21st, 2026 at 8:21 am
@StormyInFl
“You called JayMiss a franchise QB after his 30/30 pick 6 filled season and moaned when the Bucs opted for door #2.
You adamantly thought Brady was washed and passing on JayMiss for Brady was a huge mistake. Oopsy.
Sit this one out. You have zero credibility.”
LOL….one of the most masterful take downs of the kiddie brigade I have seen. Well done.
August 21st, 2026 at 8:28 am
Hodad Says:
August 21st, 2026 at 7:59 am
I thought this was behind us till the off season? All about ball remember? They didn’t agree on a deal, old news.
BINGO!!!!!!!
again, baker and his agent have overvalued themselves!!!!…he’s not a franchise QB and his last won a playoff game 3years ago….thats not worth 55+mil per year….
gotta prove it baker…make the NFC Championship game and you’ll get the years and guaranteed cash you want
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 21st, 2026 at 8:30 am
So I don’t need to screen your posts manually
August 21st, 2026 at 8:31 am
If I were advising Baker I wouldn’t accept anything with less guaranteed money than what Jordan Love got on his contract. After that it’s just semantics
August 21st, 2026 at 8:33 am
Bucaneer Bonzai: I read this the same way. Baker wanted three years, but offered to settle for two at a reasonable markup. Hopefully, the Bucs won’t have reason to regret turning him down.
August 21st, 2026 at 8:34 am
Bonzai says: I believe he deserves $50-54 million per year.
please explain how he deserves that kind of money?…
2023-won a playoff game
2024-led the NFL in INTs & Fumbles..one & done in playoffs
2025-missed the playoffs
he’s been trending down hill since 2023 lol…that deserves a raise!?!
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 21st, 2026 at 8:41 am
Drunk Bucs Fan Says:
August 21st, 2026 at 8:31 am
If I were advising Baker I wouldn’t accept anything with less guaranteed money than what Jordan Love got on his contract. After that it’s just semantics
I’ll use the same argument that was used against Vita when comparing contracts to Jordan Davis/Jeffery Simmons lol….Jordan Love is YOUNGER than baker…Baker wont get that kind of cash because he’s already 31 on his 4th team
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 21st, 2026 at 8:44 am
the bucs shouldnt have gotten baker in the first place if they werent willing to pay if he performed. this is getting childish with the front office dilly dallying. the nickel and diming on the core players of this team should stop.
has he not done enough to be treated as the franchise QB you were seeking when you signed him?
August 21st, 2026 at 8:54 am
He’s 28-26 in Tampa. 1-2 in the playoffs. Choke job down the stretch in 2025.
All of that in the worst division in football. Nothing about that screams franchise QB.
If $55 million is the average for top tier QB’s, Baker deserves $28 million.
Just above the halfway mark. Which is how he plays football.
Results actually matter. Doing the bare minimum shouldn’t yield riches.
August 21st, 2026 at 8:55 am
Lol…they locked the majority of the money behind milestones. A certain win total, a playoff appearance and stats probably. All this talk equals one fact, this is his last year here. If he wanted to be a Buc, he would’ve signed and thank God he didn’t. Now let’s get this season over with. If hes as good as he thinks he is he’ll get a big payday from some team next off-season.
August 21st, 2026 at 9:02 am
Maybe someone who’s more clear on how the cap works can clear this up for me.
If we extended mayfield by adding two years at 110 million, meaning that he’s signed thru ‘28 and we let him walk, why do we automatically have to tag him for ‘29?
It would seem to me, if we can get a solid B+ qb under contract thru ‘28 with flexibility for the new coach to find his guy that would be a good option.
We offered two years originally so we were willing to be in that boat.
August 21st, 2026 at 9:03 am
Bee: and the Bucs will get, what, the fifth-best QB in that year’s draft? Doesn’t sound great to me, but ok.
August 21st, 2026 at 9:04 am
I’ve always thought if they had offered him a 3-year with only the first two guaranteed, he might have signed for it. It’s a given he’s going to be in quarterback in 27, likely 28 also. The only way the bucs get burned is if he blows his Achilles this year
August 21st, 2026 at 9:05 am
31 is not remotely old for a QB. Baker is absolutely, positively a franchise qb. Properly measured he’s one of the best qbs in the league. That’s TDs and yardage. If he’s top 2 in both, some other aspect of the team is stopping us from going far in the playoffs. Those 2 things have been injuries and defensive personnel. We’ve greatly improved the latter, and it’s about time we have more luck with the former. Like 2/3 of our high draft picks and high salary players were out long term last year. You can’t hold that against Baker when judging his performance. This year if everyone stays healthy we will terrorize the NFL. For the most part anyway.
August 21st, 2026 at 9:06 am
Let BM play this season and re-evaluate in Feb/March…
BM has already stated he would like to stay in TB and I am somewhat confident that a deal could be reached even if it happens after this season.
My only question is – Who do we replace him with?
The free agent QB list is pretty bleak – rolling the dice on a high 1st round pick hasn’t really gone well for this franchise.
We won 2 SBs – both with retread FA QBs.
This should be the crux of our current debate.
Only master debaters are allowed to comment…
Go Bucs!
August 21st, 2026 at 9:08 am
It’s been reported that he was offered 2 years 100+ or slightly over 50 per year. It was vague but we know it was over 50m per year and his camp turned it down. Not sure what the guarantee percentage. His camp probably countered with 58m per year 80+ guaranteed. That’s not too far off. I always thought it would end up around 54-56m p/y with 75 guaranteed. All bets are off if he plays out this year and does well. It’s gonna cost them an extra 10m a year.
August 21st, 2026 at 9:12 am
The Mayfield contract conflict looked just as bad as Vita Vea’s contract dispute but Vita got a signed contract this week. And he’s as happy as a dog getting his favorite dog treat.
The Bucs need Mayfield and Mayfield want to remain a Buc. Finding a quarterback through the draft can be difficult unless you picking in the top 5 of the draft, a place the Bucs don’t want to be.
August 21st, 2026 at 9:13 am
Baker is no franchise qb don’t be stupid bucs he is not worth that type of money yes he plays with heart but he’s just not a winner couldn’t even win this sorry ass division last year chokes in the playoffs what else do you need to see
August 21st, 2026 at 9:16 am
How the heck has Baker been trending down since 2023 bucboi???? That would mean there was a decline in play in 2024!!! If you said he’s been trending down since week 7 or 8 of 2025, at least that would be a logical statement.
August 21st, 2026 at 9:19 am
If Baker had more consistent “franchise” level years then he would be getting paid but his 11 OCs over 8 years with injuries and his own errors have made it difficult to be consistent. If baker does well and a more “desperate” team makes a good offer then Baker will be right and it will “hurt” Bucs more. If he does poorly it will “hurt” more for him as Bucs will offer 2 years for less and I doubt anyone will work hard to beat their offer. I hope he does well as I want the Bucs to win but if he does poorly then him and Bowles are gone which would help the team in the long run. We will know as the season progresses.