How The Baker Mayfield Deal Got Done
September 9th, 2026
Getting paid.
A few days ago, other than Jason Licht saying during the broadcast of the final worthless preseason game of the summer on WFLA-TV Channel 8 that he was “very confident” a deal with Baker Mayfield could be worked out, it was mostly crickets about the two parties working behind the scenes.
But apparently, per Jenna Laine of ESPN, things over the holiday weekend picked up rapidly. It seems with Licht’s offer to Mayfield just before training camp started, there wasn’t a big gap from what Mayfield was seeking.
It was the length of the contract Mayfield didn’t like.
The Bucs had felt their final offer of two years and $50 million was competitive and not far off, sources had told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. But Mayfield and his agent Tom Wills still felt the deal was light, as it would have placed him 13th among NFL quarterbacks at present. The new deal averages $55 million per season, tied for third most in the league.
It should be noted that Mayfield said he never intended to reset the market but that he wanted to be compensated for what he accomplished with two straight NFC South division titles and a 2023 playoff victory. Statistically, he also put together one of the best seasons of any quarterback in the league in 2024.
According to sources familiar with the thinking of the QB and his representative, Mayfield’s refusal of the previous final offer was done with an eye on the future, as several top signal-callers are in line for new deals, including C.J. Stroud, Lamar Jackson, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Bo Nix. Plus, the NFL salary cap is expected to rise in the coming year.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht may have benignly tipped off folks a week ago when he spoke before the local pen and mic club when he sort of was asked about how much Team Glazer loot he was expecting to shovel out to land Mayfield.
“You’re always comfortable with a great player and you make things work,” Licht said.
And he did.
So now Mayfield is here for four more seasons (at least). Is it too much to ask that one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league win a playoff game or two? You know, maybe lead your team to an NFC conference title game?
From our Breaking News segment on Baker Mayfield’s extension with the #Buccaneers on how the sides weren’t far apart before camp and just needed a long breath before resuming talks on a contract that takes Mayfield through a Baker’s dozen (as opposed to a baker’s dozen) seasons. pic.twitter.com/EgdFpn96f1
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 8, 2026
September 9th, 2026 at 7:01 am
Guess they got ahead because the new deals are going to be 60 just hope he performs
September 9th, 2026 at 7:10 am
In 3-4 years with the cap always going up and new contracts are written, this will seem like a steal! 70 million per is coming people, embrace the fact we got our guy locked and loaded..Lets Go!!
September 9th, 2026 at 7:14 am
Obviously after last season and compared to the top quarterbacks in the game, Baker even mentioning “I’m not trying to reset the market” is comical and an inflated thought in itself
Agent’s use of the word “light” is super rich 😂
That line of thinking should never have even been involved in the convo (albeit he came decently close)
Glad a deal got done, but just hoping his contract/cap percentage doesn’t hurt supplementing the team around him in the coming years is all. Otherwise, let’s go play some ball.
And seconded on the “is it too much to ask to win a playoff game or two”. That’s what we gotta see now to make it all worth while!
September 9th, 2026 at 7:28 am
This deal does not surprise me in the least. Not in structure, nor in how it was accomplished. We seem to be be applauding the annual 10% cap raise while ignoring that same annual raise (or more actually) in tix prices, concessions, and the number and expense of the multiple platforms necessary too watch a full season. Yay, greed! Let’s go glut! Next stop, tax payers buying billionaires new stadiums, while we cheer for higher gas and food prices. You think you’re anti-socialist? You’re not, you just subsidize the rich instead of those in need
September 9th, 2026 at 7:37 am
Market price!
It’s simple
September 9th, 2026 at 7:41 am
The deal is reasonable, and like Kidfloflo says, will seem VERY reasonable in a few years
September 9th, 2026 at 7:42 am
I like Baker, a lot. Teammates love him, that matters. However – just what IF the bottom falls out, the Bucs go 3-14 or something stupid. Arch Manning or CJ Carr better be the only gd options here. This deal seems a little rash. Optics are important and you want to show you’re a team that takes care of their guys and all but it’s also a little overrated – they did not NEED to do this. The Bucs are banking on the idea that if Baker throws 35 picks, 6 int’s and 4k yards then they’ll actually getting him at good value, and frankly that’s a hell of dice roll. Are we to be content and happy with another 8-9, back dooring our way in to the playoffs buoyed by the disgraceful division we play in with Baker having a ho hum average yr? This tells me the Bucs believe there’s a better chance of the Bucs going 11-6 or something with baker having a bang out yr and thus they skirt their way out of a future 250 million dollar deal or something but to me that’s the least plausible scenario. If I’m wrong – then great, happy to be wrong on this
September 9th, 2026 at 7:49 am
I believe Baker Mayfield could’ve gotten more money
He was.valuated at 3 years $165 million back in April
This is a good contract for both parties involved
Baker got his bag, the Bucs got their QB
Now it’s time to focus on the Bengals
September 9th, 2026 at 8:00 am
I wonder if the details of the contract require he slide on runs when the game’s not on the line.
September 9th, 2026 at 8:11 am
How far the Bucs get in the playoffs will be based on how well the team as a whole does in the playoffs. If everyone is working hard towards common goals and healthy, they can certainly get further than expected. Baker can help the team win but he cannot do it by himself. The same goes with losing.
September 9th, 2026 at 8:13 am
This is a fair deal. Probably a little tilted in his favor but that’s ok. If he falls apart you can drop him after ‘28 and it provides stability. But man, this whole citing “two nfc south division championships” as big accomplishment ls so telling regarding the mindset.
The one playoff win you have was against a disgruntled eagles team that backed into the playoffs by crawling.
And that mindset is clearly not just baker.
September 9th, 2026 at 8:19 am
Jason Licht: “Two years?”
Baker: “Do I look like a f-#-ing rental car?”
Turns out Baker wasn’t holding out for more money. He just wanted enough years to qualify for homestead exemption.
September 9th, 2026 at 8:23 am
Expecting a QB who had one great season to replicate that and justify the contract shows how bad a GM Licht is
September 9th, 2026 at 8:25 am
They should of let him play out the rest of his current contract. Last years play was not deserving of a an extension.
September 9th, 2026 at 8:34 am
I’m waiting on the details of the contract
They’re just throwing numbers out there , but no language
But l think it’s a team friendly deal
September 9th, 2026 at 8:38 am
Did he play on a TEAM at any point from 2023-2025 that should have been reasonably expected to win multiple playoff games and maybe a conference championship game? 2026 looks like it has the potential to be their best team since 2021. Those expectations are more reasonable now.
September 9th, 2026 at 8:46 am
I have a different take and believe both sides lost on this agreement.
For weeks it was acknowledged that Baker plays best when his back is up against the wall, having to prove it. Well the Bucs just moved the wall backwards, it wasnt required. I don’t recall Baker missing a start in 3 years, that’s a stark difference to his past. We will see if that continues now that he isn’t playing for a contract. We have a very weak division and are favored to win it, but it’s about the playoffs. The wall has been moved back, he has time now to go deep in the playoffs.
Baker lost as well and stopped betting on himself. Baker should have stayed the course, the division is ripe for the picking. Our defense line and our running game combined with our healthy O-Line; this is the year to go deep in the playoffs. If Baker stayed the course; next year he could have pushed $60M and 4 years.
Just my thoughts when news broke last night. Come on Baker prove me wrong!
September 9th, 2026 at 8:48 am
Makes sense. The average annual salary cap increase is around 7%. The equivalent salary in the last year of Baker’s contract should be around $67M. At which point $55M will look too low and the whole process will repeat. That’s the biz.
September 9th, 2026 at 8:51 am
“Is it too much to ask that one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league win a playoff game or two? You know, maybe lead your team to an NFC conference title game?”
Yes Joe, in this case it is way too much to ask Mr Mid QB to actually succeed against good teams when it actually matters.
Want a guy to barely back into a worthless division title in the worst division in football? Baker is your guy.
Now his contract is synced with Bowles contract. Stuck in reverse and going nowhere fast.
September 9th, 2026 at 8:53 am
I’m so stoked they locked him up.now I gotta go do the same on my #6 Jersey!
September 9th, 2026 at 9:50 am
kind of off-topic but did anybody hear the Jacksonville broadcast of the preseason game? They interviewed Liam Serpiente and the guy was calling plays before they happened with so much confidence. The Guy is an awesome coach and that’s why Baker did so good in 2024 can’t Zack just copy that guy? Copy his playbook? Then Baker could play up to his abilities
September 9th, 2026 at 10:05 am
it was never about the dollar amount, i said from the jump, he wanted that third year. he would’ve accepted 3 years 150 million and 80 guaranteed. like he said he wasn’t wanting to reset the qb market, just wanted the third year
September 9th, 2026 at 10:05 am
Finally after all the posturing a 3 year deal gets done for Baker Mayfield. The drama is never ending in the NFL.
September 9th, 2026 at 10:07 am
baker can replicate his 2024 season, it’s just harder to do with a new oc every year because baker plays great and they get head coaching jobs. everyone who’s anyone knows, they should’ve got rid of bowels after the 24 season and promoted liam to head coach. if the o-line stays healthy, baker will have a big year.
September 9th, 2026 at 10:09 am
If he can just get over his second quarter swoons we will win a lot of games.
September 9th, 2026 at 10:23 am
This Joe expects Mayfield to do it all on his own, with a line that is broken down and a defense that is like a sieve, but Mayfield all banged up because of the broken down line has to win it by himself. Pathetic take, just like the rest of the morons on here.
This all comes down to protecting a QB so he does not have to put his body in harms way. The Bucs have sucked at it for 2 years, even under Coen he schemed plays to get the ball out quickly. I say the Bucs line is overrated and needs to prove it isn’t this year.
September 9th, 2026 at 10:25 am
Great for Baker.
I’m hoping Robinson is on board with allowing Jalon some playing time when is obvious Baker is injured and not helping the team. It would be great to have Robinson and the QB coach get Jalon ready for 2029 or 2030.
Is on this weekend! LFG!!!!!!
September 9th, 2026 at 10:50 am
Problems solved LETS GO GET THE BENGALS !
September 9th, 2026 at 10:50 am
Problems solved LETS GO GET THE BENGALS ! Not a duplicate
September 9th, 2026 at 11:01 am
its a good deal and he gets what he deserves which is a push to the upper level of the pay scale. he came in on a prove it deal and has been proving it ever since. this year wont be any different in my opinion, he’ll prove it. again.
September 9th, 2026 at 11:03 am
Baker’s a top 12 QB, not a (tied for) top 3 QB. The Bucs overpaid. Now I’m more than concerned over what effect this will have on the quality of players the team will be able to recruit and/or keep.
Greedy QB’s tend to kill their team’s chances to win the big one in the salary cap era.
September 9th, 2026 at 11:05 am
BakerFan … ‘Mayfield all banged up because of the broken down line has to win it by himself. Pathetic take, just like the rest of the morons on here.’
I know that I’m just one of ‘the rest of the morons’ on JBF BakerFan, but I don’t see it the same way you do. Baker’s been here 3 years now, and played 17 games each season. He was sacked 40 times in 2023, 40 times in 2024, but only 36 times in 2025. Is THAT what you’d expect from a ‘broken down OLine?’
Why not just acknowledge that Baker is an inconsistent starting QB? Against the Super Bowl champion Seahawks last season he was incredible; 29-of-33 for 379 yds, 2 TDs & 0 INTs. But against the Rams just 6 games later he was 17-of-34 for a mere 103 yds with 1 TD & 2 INTs. Many other examples like that, but you already know that.
The big question to me is ‘Can our new OC (an ex-NFL QB) and our new QB coach help Baker become MORE CONSISTENT?’ When he’s good, he’s very good. But when he’s bad, look out below.
September 9th, 2026 at 11:22 am
So the argument here is that Baker actually thought about the final year of the contract and whether the way the market changes over the next three years will leave him uncomfortable with what he’ll be making that final year? Did I get that basically right?
If so, that’s what Vea should have done a couple of years ago. Pre back injury.