Did The Bucs Blink Too Fast?
October 11th, 2026
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield.
We’re at an interesting point in Bucs franchise history.
It seems like this Bucs team is teetering between relevant and top-five pick in the draft.
For the first four weeks of the season, the Bucs looked far more like a team that would have a top-five draft pick than a contender. Then on Thursday, backup rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, on national streaming no less, guided the Bucs to a road win in a short week over America’s Team. That’s big time!
Meanwhile, their $165 million dollar man, Baker Mayfield, is mired in a 2-10 slump. You don’t see that happen with too many franchise quarterbacks.
It’s not like Mayfield has balled out and the defense sucked out loud. Mayfield hasn’t performed close to the team’s expectations and, frankly, really hasn’t since he put the Bucs on his shoulders and beat the 49ers last season at home, 364 days ago.
NFL analyst Theo Ash is a known Mayfield hater. But Joe believes Ash makes some valid points about the Bucs’ near future and what could have been.
The Joe typing here was against signing Mayfield before the end of the 2026 season. Mayfield earned a prove-it year after how 2025 unfolded. If that meant it might cost more Team Glazer loot, better to overpay a little for production than to overpay a lot for minimal production.
It’s hard for Joe to believe Team Glazer isn’t having some form of buyer’s remorse right now.
Ash believes if the Bucs hadn’t folded like a tent so quickly, they could have gotten a helluva deal with Mayfield. Ash is of the mind the Bucs had all the leverage. Or, as Ash pointed out, do like most losing teams do and start building for the future with a drafted quarterback.
Now Joe has to wag a finger at Ash. He’s greatly underestimating the value of a good quarterback. Anthony Richardson was an option for the Bucs, really? For what, one of those dudes with leaf blowers after the game gathering up empty beer cups?
(Joe can also tell Ash doesn’t watch much college football — if both C.J. Carr and Arch Manning both enter the draft, there’s no way, as it stands right now, Manning is getting selected over Carr.)
Let’s see what happens when Mayfield returns (maybe against the Steelers next week?). As of Oct. 11, yeah, that Mayfield contract looks bad and it doesn’t look like the Bucs are playoff-bound.
A lot can happen between now and early January.
@theoashnfl Maybe my least favorite contract decision ever #nfl #football #buccaneers #sports #tampabay ♬ original sound – Theo Ash
October 11th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
The Bucs definitely blinked. There was no reason to sign Mayfield so early. I wonder if the Glazers had Antonio Brown’s situation in mind when they decided to offer Mayfield a new contract. The personalities and circumstances are different, but I suspect the Glazers erred on the side of keeping a key player happy rather than have him seething throughout the season. Just a thought…
October 11th, 2026 at 2:13 pm
Man some.”fans” we have here…the Bucs buyer remorse can last another 4 quarters of football only! IF Baker throws for 3 tds, no picks, goes for 300 yds, the line somehow gels, the running game stays like it did against the Cowboys and we win, the whole narrative and silly remorse are eradicated over night! This dude did not forget how to be a leading MVP candidate in 12 months….but the coaching and will of the team sure did
October 11th, 2026 at 2:18 pm
Who’s the kid in TikTok video?
October 11th, 2026 at 2:19 pm
Was it a bad idea to pay Baker Mayfield a greater percentage of the payroll than what Tom Brady and Brad Johnson were getting paid when they won Super Bowls for Tampa? Yeahhh!!!
Did I want Baker to stay in Tampa? Yes! But, not at any cost. And not at this cost.
53 players, almost 30 “starting” positions between special teams, nickel backs, 12 personnel, 21 personnel, etc. 12% of team salary for 1 player was a lot when Brady and Johnson earned it winning Super Bowls. How do you strengthen your roster, or even sustain it, when Baker is making more than that? It takes great work in the draft, great work signing UDFA’s, great work signing FA’s, and a decade’s worth of good luck every year. That is mighty difficult to sustain.
October 11th, 2026 at 2:21 pm
Bucs management are reactive not proactive – always been that way except for maybe the Kiffin / Dungy years – the Bucs have made it out of the divisional round once since Dungy and that was with the deus ex machina of Brady – literally ANY of the commenters on JBF or even that drunk guy down at the sports bar could have done as well as Licht – does Licht hit on some winners ? sure but so would Fred who is about to fall off his barstool
October 11th, 2026 at 2:23 pm
Daniels looked real good in preseason and then followed that up with his second pro start. I don’t think Baker has anything more to give and will not be able to elevate his game any higher than it has been. That said Bowles needs to go, and the only reason you may be seeing life in this team is because of Daniel’s. His value may be much, much higher than anyone realizes. Next week is the real test.
October 11th, 2026 at 2:24 pm
I agree, it’s too soon to jump on the Jalon bandwagon after beating the Cowboys, who have one of the worst defenses in the league. Let’s see how we do against the Steelers and then revisit this conversation. Our o-line still stinks, and when that happens, you almost need a Lamar-type QB to succeed. Daniels did sort of show shades of that, because the o-line still didn’t look great. And there is a reason the Ravens only go so far every year, so I don’t wanna rely on not having an o-line to win. We gotta clean some stuff up on the offense still.
October 11th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
This is silliness. Congratulations to Daniels for looking competent, staying cool under pressure, and guiding the Buccaneers to their first win. But let’s be real, he made some mistakes, one that could have cost the team the game had it been a pick six. There is a reason he wasn’t drafted. His footwork is poor to average and he bails quickly. That was true in college as well. Read the draft reports. He had a lot of interception, though fewer his senior year. He has difficulty throwing to the middle of the field. Fortunately, the Buccaneers recognize this and avoided those kind of throws. But you can’t hide your quarterback. Daniels is a developmental project. Not saying he isn’t talented. But wouldn’t expect much THIS YEAR. Loved the win. But let’s be real. Moreover, the Cowboys were dreadful and the Buccaneers offensive line decided to block this week. Bucky, the offensive line, and the defensive secondary were responsible for this win.
October 11th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
Media drama. Offensive line play has been terrible over that stretch. Thursday they came out and played better and with heart.
It is bakers team, and he definitely needs to play better, but it wont matter if the line doesn’t build on last weeks efforts . Go bucs
October 11th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
Kid makes a valid point. Baker would have played under contract this season and even if he balled out(which we have not seen) Bucs could have franchised him next season at less per year than what they signed him for.
October 11th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
As Joe points out you do not see any ” Franchise” QB’s go 2-10 over a 12 game stretch. When you are the 3rd highest paid QB that cannot happen.
October 11th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
The guy looks like he is 14yrs old.
October 11th, 2026 at 2:49 pm
go watch some football and relax joe… 🙂
mayfield is the guy the next couple years after this…
and daniels seems to be our new back up, and a developmental piece to eventually move into mayfield’s slot…but in 2-3 seasons
October 11th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
He’s going to ball out. Zac is ironing out the wrinkles . Give hurst and bake time to gel. This is coordinator number 10 for baker. Patience .
October 11th, 2026 at 2:59 pm
Can’t second guess like that…
Mayfield was the starter and was paid starting money
It is what it is now, make the best of it.
Daniels has potential and two games of NFL experience, DC’s are just now getting a body of work to defend against.
There are fundamental flaws in the management of the team
October 11th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
vikings defense is number 1 in league daniels didnt play them
October 11th, 2026 at 3:01 pm
Mayfield is the qb1 ..Daniels will show his talents in Pittsburgh where real men play defense Oline will have work to do
October 11th, 2026 at 3:04 pm
Daniels did HIS, job in Dallas, has to do it again in Pitt they call it a back- up for a reason to keep the team afloat Thete is no controversy
October 11th, 2026 at 3:07 pm
The offensive line needs to be not so offensive
October 11th, 2026 at 3:10 pm
It doesn’t matter what they did. Not your money not my money. It’s their franchise the own it. Half the poster here change names when they change their minds about any situation that possibly backfires. Just like with Jalon. He’s an udfa it will never work. It was a dumb decision. He wins one game now the names change and now he it the savior. It’s all their decisions to make. Don’t like don’t watch.
October 11th, 2026 at 3:12 pm
I’m personally see-sawing on this topic. I go back and forth. Witness my waffling:
PRO: You don’t let a proven starting QB walk just because the NFL’s most impatient fan base has the attention span of a TikTok squirrel.
CON: $165 million for a quarterback riding a 2-10 stretch? That’s not a contract extension. That’s a hostage negotiation where we paid the ransom voluntarily.
PRO: Baker brought stability to a franchise that once treated the quarterback position like a revolving door at a psychiatric hospital.
CON: The Bucs negotiated against themselves. Baker had another year under contract, and Licht apparently thought patience was a sexually transmitted disease.
PRO: Proven quarterbacks don’t grow on trees. We’ve spent decades digging through the compost looking for one. Baker was worth keeping.
CON: Paying a quarterback based on yesterday’s highlights is like buying a racehorse after discovering its best years are available exclusively on VHS.
PRO: Baker has survived more offensive coordinators than Spinal Tap had drummers. Maybe continuity will finally reveal what he’s truly capable of.
CON: Jalon Daniels just reminded everyone that winning football games doesn’t necessarily require a quarterback with the GDP of a small Caribbean nation.
PRO: When Baker is healthy and protected, he’s a dangerous quarterback. Judging him behind a collapsing offensive line is like blaming the pilot for a plane missing both wings.
CON: A franchise quarterback is supposed to elevate the roster. At $55 million annually, Baker should be elevating the roster, the stadium, and possibly several surrounding zip codes.
PRO: Leadership, toughness, chemistry and experience have value. Baker checks those boxes, and abandoning him after a rough stretch could set this franchise back years.
CON: The Bucs bought a $165 million insurance policy against quarterback uncertainty. Unfortunately, the deductible is three years of second-guessing Jason Licht.
October 11th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
Oh loo as of now. GB is beating the Bears. Jameis losing. The Saints are only behind the Saints. Jets are beating the browns 7-6. All these scores today are strictly on the quarterback.
October 11th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
Lol 😆 you Baker bros are something else 🤣 the guy is a backup quarterback now you guys act like Baker only been in the league for 3 or 4 years. This is Baker 9th year in the NFL and he still plays like a rookie quarterback or a 3 year quarterback. I told yall back in 2023 especially when Trask out played him in training camp a guy with no experience that the bucs ain’t winning or going to a superbowl with Baker. I wanted him to prove me wrong and I don’t believe it’s one bucs fan that hope he plays bad we want to win .
October 11th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
The debate over whether the Bucs should sign Baker before or after this season has been settled by events. They signed him. If you were arguing against that, you lost. Get over it.
October 11th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
If Daniels plays good against the steelers and we win and Baker comes back in play bad and we lose it will be a quarterback controversy and it should be one .
October 11th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
I’m no Baker hater but what has he done in the past 13 games that shows he is a franchise qb (and paid top 5)? Is he suddenly going to put on a show? I certainly hope so but I personally would feel better about the future had we not paid Baker.
Imo, Jalon has already shown more poise, better touch, quicker release, and much better wheels. The Oline played better and Baker could have had a good game too against Dallas, but does anyone think Baker would have been MUCH better than Daniels? $160m better? I think not.
October 11th, 2026 at 3:30 pm
The bucs made a bad decision by singing him but it ain’t the end of the world though his contract is really a 2 year deal because they don’t have to bring him back in 2029 . This 3 year contract yall be talking about it’s 3 years because they added this year included so that’s why people say 3 years.
October 11th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
74. I don’t believe anyone actually hates Baker as a person people don’t like how he plays on the field. I hate when fans say people hate this player or that player regardless of the sport as if people know them personally.
October 11th, 2026 at 3:41 pm
Oneilbucs- it’s funny you say that as I don’t hate anyone or anything, and almost stated that while using that term “hater”. I’m sure he’s a great guy and I’m solely taking about the field of play.
I wish him the best and only want what is best for our Bucs – and would really rather see Jalon continue to roll. Now if he stumbled and Baker played good – then great! It’s 2 games but I like what I’ve seen from Jalon and have not cared much for Baker’s play.
Wishing for the best regardless.
October 11th, 2026 at 3:56 pm
“Relevant!?” For WHAT!? Psst, that’s just crazy talk. Against a ‘historically’ BADDDDD Defense… Dead Last in passing AND rushing defense. 32nd-Ranked in BOTH. The game was also on SPECTRUM last Thursday Night, and not just streaming. Or, was on MINE anyway!!!! And, 2028 is the BETTER QB-class potentially, with SuperKamario, and Keelon Russell. Also, I see Manning returning to Texas now, more and more everyday!!!! Same with Dante Moore. Both, Taylor and Russell are BY FAR the much better prospects, with the ‘highest’ upside. The Bucs MUST get one of them. You take this modern day’s “football version” of LeBron James in the 2027-Draft… As in, Jeremiah Freaking SMITH. A 💯 total No-BRAINER, and call-it a day. Next season HAS TO BE a total retooling, with a brand new culture, and a fresh rebuild, through a different HC and GM. Otherwise, nothing else even matters, and is just a HUGE waste of time. Bottomline, PERIOD. End of Story.
The Packers look like a brand new football team at home today… It’ll be a total game-changer for them, if the get a fully-healthy’ Micah Parsons back. HE (and possibly Jacobs) changes EVERYTHING.
October 11th, 2026 at 4:00 pm
74. Thank you bro that’s a good take and I agree with you a 💯 percent on everything you just said because I feel the same way I just want my bucs to win regardless of who the quarterback is. I just said that because people use that word as if it’s personal because they will say people are happy when Baker plays bad as if we want him to play bad and the team lose.
October 11th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
The Bucs were bad in the first four games because the offensive line was literally a turnstile and their defense gave up gobs on real estate in the fourth quarters. They won their only game because the offensive line played average and the defense got some turnovers. it’s really not that tough to figure out if you look at the team and not just one position.
October 11th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
We didn’t need an upstart boy band member to confirm the unfortunate timing of this financial folly.
We should all be sick about it…because it puts incredible social pressure on Baker to perform…forcing him to press unnecessarily.
It also takes a potential top 5 pick outta the QB sweepstakes in a potentially deep QB draft.
It is what it is…he simply isn’t worth what Josh Allen & Joe Burrow are also making.
October 11th, 2026 at 4:06 pm
There is a huge QB bubble in the league. There is no real middle class QB contract like there should be. It’s either rookie contract, bridge/journey man contract, or franchise QB contract that will put you with upper echelon QB’s just because your the next guy up and the cap keeps increasing. I’m not saying JD is better than Mayfield, but I’d rather have JD at 900K than Baker at 55M. Baker isn’t all the players you can get for the 54M difference better than JD. I don’t ever see this issue being fixed though because it only takes one idiot, and it’s the most important position in the league
October 11th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
maybe zac can make daniels look good again with a week and a half preparation
October 11th, 2026 at 4:07 pm
O’Neil is still mowing Jamyth’s lawn
October 11th, 2026 at 4:09 pm
The Glazers gave into the pressure from LICKT, and that’s just all there is to it. Lickt wanted the deal done. PERIOD. They only met with him for 5-minutes, before agreeing to hand him his money, was ALL that ever was. And, you would too, before handing-out THAT kinda money. I mean, IF “Lickt” had nothing to do with the decision of SIGNING OUR QB (longterm, at TOP $), and has absolutely nothing to do with ANY of OUR UDFA’s (as HE himself, SAID), and only about half of our draft-picks, and free-agents (ONLY just the “good ones” LoL)… Then, I seriously can’t think of a BETTER REASON (or argument), than to FIRE HIM, and get a ‘real’ GM who actually DOES SOMETHING. Seems pretty freaking obvious, either which way YOU wanna look at it. Just his record ALONE, I mean… COME-ON. Open your damn eyes, and take a step into fricking REALITY.
October 11th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
@ Dom Says: “There is a huge QB bubble in the league. There is no real middle class QB contract like there should be. It’s either rookie contract, bridge/journey man contract, or franchise QB contract that will put you with upper echelon QB’s just because your the next guy up and the cap keeps increasing.”
Yeuuuuup! Been saying this FOR YEARS. It makes NO SENSE. It actually hurts most of the QB’s, as much as it does the teams. But, you NEVER do what the BUCS JUST DID. A 2nd-Contract due to only having a small ‘sample-size’ on a YOUNG Quarterback YOU DRAFTED (because of injuries, or having to sit for awhile, & etc.)… I get it. It sucks, but I get-it. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. It’s a zero-sum game. You can’t afford to let him walk, IF you’re still seeing huge ‘big-time’ upside. But, absolutely NOT with an already beaten up and banged up, inconsistent and undersized 31-YEAR OLD, on a 3rd or 4th contract, when you already KNOW what the hell you’re getting. There is ZERO REASON to PAY HIM. None.
October 11th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
Most fans and Licht obviously wanted to wait and let him prove it this year. He was being paid more than enough this year for his flop last year so it’s not like he’d be under paid. Now we have to hope he gets healthier and plays like he did in 2024 and the first 8 games last year but it’s a lot of hopium to be puffing on. Leave that to the moisty boyz. Fan remorse is more like it. The Grazers could always bite the bullet and cut him and eat that salary. We draft a qb and run with Daniels if he keeps playing like he has the last season
October 11th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
Our defense is ranked 4th so nobody can blame the defense .
October 11th, 2026 at 4:49 pm
They are just gonna have to eat it! That kind of money is alot to us, but nothing to them. It’s not illegal to sit a QB and still pay him that kind of money. Yes they jumped the gun in a major way. Pressure from fans and his agent, and they thought they had no one else. Regardless of coaching/play calling, receivers dropping the ball at times, and bad o-line play, baker was not playing well at all. In football it’s about winning, of course he’s gonna continue to lean, make mistakes, (make really bad ones at times) and have a bad game all together, but if JD continues to develop, show improvement and win games, then baker will never see the bucs football field again as our QB. My gut feeling is if JD does at least decent in this Steelers game, then the Glazer’s will buy themselves time by letting baker heal completely and giving JD more time. From this, they will at least make a more sound decision (not premature like they did with baker) on what to do with and how to deal with baker and JD.
October 11th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
SBLV. Are still washing Baker jock strap and making excuses for his bad play with a 4th ranked defense? If Daniels plays good and the bucs win next week I know you’re going to be worried about Baker 😆 🤣
October 11th, 2026 at 4:57 pm
Huge mistake. Bucs had nothing to lose by waiting.
Vea was a mistake also.
October 11th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Yes, the Glazers can afford to eat the contract and still sleep at night. But it allocates $55M for the next two years to a backup player that could have been used on other players. That’s $55M of salary cap wasted if he doesn’t return to his former self.
October 11th, 2026 at 5:17 pm
Did Bowles coach for the Commanders today? Jameis gets a tie because Washington say what the hell just let the clock run out in OT!
October 11th, 2026 at 5:19 pm
^ while in FG range
October 11th, 2026 at 5:56 pm
The very fact you felt the need to write this article proves just how incompetent the GM really is.
He gave a bottom tier QB the salary you give an MVP SB champion.
Any fat drunk at a sports bar could do that just as well as Licht.
Grade Point Average: 0.0
October 11th, 2026 at 6:09 pm
Ummm yeah we blinked… we paid skattebo the qb version franchise money while being entirely average minus the coen year
October 11th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
I keep thinking that this year is the antithesis of 2025. Baker could do no wrong in 4 of those first 5 games. We won those 4 games by the skin of our teeth on the last play of each game.
This season we don’t seem to have that same magic. When we really need the big play at the end of the game to put us over the top, we haven’t been able to make it. Huge difference in the start of those 2 seasons.
Strange thing is, we lost the Turnover Battle in each of the first 3 games this year and tied it (2 apiece) in the 4th game. And yes we lost all 4 games. Last year we only lost the Turnover Battle in ONE of the first 5 games, and that’s the only game we lost of those 5.
Turnovers are deadly. Ask the Cowboys. We won that Turnover Battle 3-0, and got 10 pts off of 2 of their turnovers (and their 3rd turnover allowed us to keep them from possibly tying the game at the end). Making those 10 pts was critical considering that we won by only 8.
October 11th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
Ridiculous article. Just red meat for the know nothing Baker Hate Brigade. We are questioning paying Baker the market rate for throwing the second most TD’s in the NFL during his 3 years at Tampa? Not to mention having a new OC each year while making incredible scrambling 1st downs behind an always porous O line.
The idiots who post here should be screened for competency. They do it with such an assured sense of their own competency. That is laughable when you read the tortured syntax that these llightweights use to express a point of view.