Baker Mayfield Is Way Better Than Daniel Jones
June 15th, 2026
Numbers.
The question on many Bucs fans’ minds before mandatory minicamp starts tomorrow is. when will Baker Mayfield will re-up with the Bucs?
His contract is up after this season.
Mayfield went public with his contract feelings this month. Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht put a contract in front of Mayfield’s agent and, when Mayfield spoke 10 days ago, he had not issued a counteroffer to Licht’s first missive.
Saad Yousuf and Daniel Popper of The Athletic typed a story about quarterback contracts in the wake of Pat Mahomes signing a hefty extension last week. Yousuf and Popper addressed Mayfield’s status.
He is 16th in AVV at $33.33 million. A rising tide lifts all boats. Will Mayfield get a bump into the Daniel Jones range, closer to $44 million to 45 million? Will he jump into the $50 million range? For now, he said he and the Bucs are “not anywhere close” to a deal.
If the Bucs think they can get Mayfield at Daniel Jones money, Joe thinks that is naive. Hell yes Mayfield is worth more than Jones.
Just look how Mayfield played before the bye last season. He was a legit MVP candidate. Has Jones ever remotely played at that level?
Joe suspects Mayfield, sooner or later, will agree to sign with the Bucs north of $50 million. How much north? That’s open for discussion.
Always remember and never forget, in the NFL, what’s expensive today is typically a bargain tomorrow.
June 15th, 2026 at 4:21 am
At this point the Bucs would be bidding against themselves in regards to a new deal for Baker. If Baker wants a good deal, take what the Bucs are offering. If he wants top 5 QB money, play out the year, and earn it. Don’t just give in now to his demands.
June 15th, 2026 at 4:31 am
Was Mayfield better than Daniel Jones last year? This is how Jones’ season went:
Start: 7–1 (dominant, NFL-best)
Peak: 8–2 (still elite contender)
They were 8-5 when he got injured. And there was some MVP discussion surrounding him as well. The way Jones ended the season was much better than the way Baker ended the season so to say Baker is better is a stretch right now. I think it would benefit Baker greatly by waiting until after the season to ink his deal.
If he had all that moxie and really believed in his game, he would want the same. There’s no way he should want to be compensated for the level he played that last year.
June 15th, 2026 at 4:35 am
Last year, Daniel Jones started out at 71 and went to eight and two. The Colts were eight and five at the time he was injured. There was also some MVP chatter surrounding Jones last year.So, to say that Mayfield is better than Jones is not really true at this point in time. last year, Mayfield played horribly down the stretch.
I really don’t understand why he’s rushing his deal. Because if they paid him according to the way, he played last season, he would be making much less at Daniel Jones because Jones had a far superior year last season.
June 15th, 2026 at 4:57 am
You sit it out until a new contract is signed You don’t take a risk of a freak accident plus you take control of the negotiations. JoeBuc posters may not like it but that is the way it is done
June 15th, 2026 at 6:19 am
Baker is under contract this year so sitting out is not an option. Two things can be true, You can love some of Baker’s attributes and playmaking abilities but also question whether his play will affect his availability late in season and playoffs.
June 15th, 2026 at 6:28 am
Paying mid QBs top 10 money sets franchises back more often than not, Russell Wilson was elite once, Baker had 1 great year 6 average or worse, Tua had more good seasons than Baker, Kyler has had multiple elite seasons, Cousins has had way more success than Baker, even Carr had more years way better than Bakers non 2024 season, his MVP start last season wasn’t sustained that same season he played like Carolina Baker, does this scream to anyone like a $50+ a year QB
June 15th, 2026 at 6:35 am
Baker is under contract this year so sitting out is not an option. Two things can be true, You can love some of Baker’s attributes and playmaking abilities but also question whether his play will affect his availability late in season and playoffs.
This is not a knock on Baker, but both Hebert and Darnold were in the playoffs with injuries that were probably made worse with the punishment they received in the playoffs.
June 15th, 2026 at 6:40 am
Another thing that says maybe Baker isn’t 2024 Baker, Coen made Trevor look like a stud last season, what a colossal mistake letting Coen go
June 15th, 2026 at 6:51 am
Guzzie55. Coen made Trevor look like a stud last season. Well, the first thing a football guy might say is that Baker threw about 15 more TDS than Trevor did in their one year each under Coen. Trevor may have looked like a stud. Baker is a stud. Big difference.
June 15th, 2026 at 6:57 am
To justify paying him people have to compare Baker to other mid to terrible QBs with horrible deals. Everyone knew at the time Tua and Daniels didnt deserve those contracts. The Bucs won’t make the same mistakes those teams made. Going to the media won’t help Baker, it might’ve made things worse judging by Licht’s comments. Overpaying for mediocrity is not a good long term plan. This is why the Bucs have a lot of final season contracts this year, they’re about to turn the page on this boring, tread water, slightly above or below average ho-hum team.
June 15th, 2026 at 6:58 am
Way better? No, not really. A little better would be more accurate. Baker’s deal will probably be about $54-56 million if he has a good year. Tha. t’s just what good starters command.
June 15th, 2026 at 6:58 am
Guzzie55. Lawrence completion rate of 60.9 under Coen. Baker 71.9 completion rate under Coen. Baker 107.9 passer rating under Coen. Trevor 90.5 passer rating under Coen. Not even close Guzzie.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:16 am
Imagine baker with Indys defense.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:18 am
Wouldn’t say it’s that clear cut Mayfield is better than Daniel Jones, but they way Jones’ contract is laid out with a bunch of performance incentives is good example of how Bakers’ new deal could be structured if he indeed gets a new contract.
Jones performed at a pretty high level last season before getting injured, and he’s 3 years younger.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:31 am
At 50 million a year according to AI Baker gets to take home approximately 28 million after deductions. Which is a nice chunk of cash however that’s a lot of money to taxes,agents etc…
June 15th, 2026 at 7:32 am
Pay him and let’s move on.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:33 am
“Imagine baker with Indys defense.”
21st in points allowed @24ppg, same as us
28th in first down allowed, worse than us
31st in pass attempts & yards allowed, worse than us
Forced less 2 less turnovers than ours
They’re defense wasn’t head nor shoulders better than our. Their offense was better though, at least with Jones in the line up and they didn’t punt as much as us.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:50 am
Baker better than Daniel Jones. Yes. But a lot. Nope.
Baker better than Sam Darnold. No. But Darnold a lot better. Nope.
Beker better than Kyler Murray. We will see.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:54 am
The real question we should be asking is who is going to be our backup QB? Because if the Bucs hold firm, and make Baker earn his contract, which they should, he’s going to take chances that will probably get him hurt. And honestly, our o-line has not really proven themselves to keep Baker in the pocket.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:54 am
The real question we should be asking is who is going to be our backup QB? Because if the Bucs hold firm, and make Baker earn his contract, which they should, he’s going to take chances that will probably get him hurt. And honestly, our o-line has not really proven themselves to keep Baker in the pocket.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:58 am
Guzzie55. Lawrence completion rate of 60.9 under Coen. Baker 71.9 completion rate under Coen. Baker 107.9 passer rating under Coen. Trevor 90.5 passer rating under Coen. Not even close Guzzie.
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Lawrence had like one receiver. Give him the weapons Baker had at his disposal and the line he was playing behind and Lawrence would put up numbers just as good, if not better than Baker’s
June 15th, 2026 at 8:27 am
Never compare $ for $ in QB money, instead, compare percentage of salary cap when contract is signed.
June 15th, 2026 at 8:37 am
All These guys are over paid making millions to play a game the rest of us play for free
June 15th, 2026 at 9:01 am
Daniel Jones was getting MVP chatter before he got hurt….Baker fell off after the bye week and played his worst ball in DEC….they’re about equal
GO BUCS!!!!
June 15th, 2026 at 9:10 am
It’s Baker’s play after the bye that’s the issue. All the excuses in the world aren’t enough lipstick for this pig.
He sucked, he gagged.
Make him earn his deal with a season long, successful, winning performance. Although in fairness, under Bowles that’s gonna be impossible.
June 15th, 2026 at 10:13 am
Irrelevant. It was a REAL DUMB move by the Colts. It doesn’t mean that Bucs have to do it, too.
June 15th, 2026 at 10:22 am
And, I’m pretty sure it was only a 2-year deal, AND they did not have the ‘franchise tag’ option in their back pocket like the Bucs have. It was a move entirely out of desperation. By a team who just gave up TWO 1st-Round Draft-Picks, as an ‘all-in’ type of move. Hopefully, their HC will be in the Bucs ‘short-list’ next offseason.
June 15th, 2026 at 10:34 am
@ Bakerfan Says: “You sit it out until a new contract is signed You don’t take a risk of a freak accident plus you take control of the negotiations. JoeBuc posters may not like it but that is the way it is done.”
He is NOT missing out on about $40-MILLION after having a new kid. BE REAL. He would never be able to recoup that. Once it’s gone… It’s GONE. Cause, then WHAT!? You think anyone is SIGNING HIM to a longterm max-level deal, at 32 YEARS-OLD, AFTER ‘SITTING OUT’ for the entire prior season!? And, with his last season actually PLAYED being LAST SEASON’S 11-Game in a row DISASTER!? Really!? Yeah, I don’t think so. The BUCS have ALL the leverage.
June 15th, 2026 at 10:37 am
Deal will get done. Teams love this kinda drama in the offseason
June 15th, 2026 at 10:38 am
Bakerfan Says: “You sit it out until a new contract is signed You don’t take a risk of a freak accident plus you take control of the negotiations. JoeBuc posters may not like it but that is the way it is done.”
He is NOT missing out on about $40-MILLION. BE REAL. He would never be able to recoup it. Once it’s gone… It’s GONE. And, THEN WHAT!? You think anyone is SIGNING HIM to a longterm max-level deal, at 32 YEARS-OLD, AFTER SITTING OUT for the entire prior season!? And, with his last season actually PLAYED being LAST SEASON’S ‘eleven game’ in a row DISASTER!? Really!? Yeah, I don’t think so. The BUCS have ALL the leverage.
June 15th, 2026 at 10:44 am
I bet the Baker team and family are aware of Kenton Smith. And, not in a ‘good way’ either, if you know what I mean. Weird. Freaky. Stuff.
June 15th, 2026 at 11:00 am
Lawrence wasn’t dinkin’ and dunkin’ to teams to death, all game long. That’s not his game. Hell, he looks like a big ole giraffe out there. The games I saw of him last season he was throwing the ball downfield and ‘out routes’ towards the sidelines, all from standing tall in the pocket. Coen made him competent. I don’t like his motor, but HIS ‘ceiling’ is still SKY-HIGH. Especially, with Coen. Baker is already a ‘finished’ product with NO real upside.
June 15th, 2026 at 11:02 am
MelvinJunior. Did you know that only 3 QBs in NFL history have thrown for at least 3500 yards in their first three seasons while also tossing at least 75 touchdowns? He did that with a team that had won 1 game the 2 years before he got there. In 13 and a half games his rookie season he set the league rookie record in TD passes. That’s his first 3 seasons. We all know about the last 3 years. 95 TDs and 12000 plus yards passing. His 4th and 5th years were ruined by a jealous newbie coach named Stefanski. Stefanski, the stud, won 8 games the past two years while Baker was winning 18. Payback is gonna be a bltch I’m telling you.
June 15th, 2026 at 11:13 am
@ Warren Brooks Lynch – Al great points. I was gonna say… I watched quite a few of their games last season, and I sure did NOT remember them having this “great defense,” at all. People just spew whatever EMPTY comments, that are in their head. I actually ‘picked them’ to go to the playoffs, which looked like a great pick for quite awhile, BEFORE Jones got hurt (he was actually already beaten up pretty bad for those last 2-3 games before the final devastating injury that ended his season).
June 15th, 2026 at 11:26 am
I think the Bucs would give Baker a Danny Dimes type of deal. For the 2-YEARS. I mean, I wouldn’t. But, the Bucs might have. BEFORE, the recent Stefanski comments on Twitter, and then the ‘public’ statements about his contract to the media. It gives them a definite reason to pause for cause. Are all the ‘distractions’ and baggage that comes along with Baker, REALLY WORTH-IT!? There’s just A LOT. And, that’s not even including all of the uncertainty surrounding the rest of the entire team.
June 15th, 2026 at 11:38 am
@Melvin
If you were to take Jones’ 13 games and Mayfields first 13 games from last season, they’re not that far apart. Jones is bigger, and younger so that’d factor in on top of the injuries. Before Jones, tore his achilles he was showing up on the injury report with a hairline fractured fibia and played a couple games with that injury and miraculously enough, didn’t throw a single pick while playing injured.
June 15th, 2026 at 11:46 am
@ WBL – you are 💯 spot on CORRECT about all of that. He was also in the MVP discussion. Hell, it’s why the made the Sauce Gardner deal, at the deadline. They were sitting pretty as the #1-SEED, until Jones got hurt and then was done completely. But, yeah… He prob shouldn’t had even been out there in the first place, when he got knocked out! It was VERY ‘touch and go’ before that game.
June 15th, 2026 at 11:56 am
I think the Bucs would give Baker a Jones type deal. For the 2-YEARS. I mean, I wouldn’t. But, the Bucs might have. BEFORE, his most recent comments directed at his former coach, and then the comments about his current contract negotiations to the media. It gives them a definite reason to pause for cause. Are all the ‘distractions’ and baggage that comes along with Baker, REALLY WORTH-IT!? There’s just A LOT there, not even mentioning on the field, AND the commercials, & etc. That is not even including all of the uncertainty surrounding the rest of the entire team.
June 15th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
Mayfield 8 years in the league. Jones 7 years in the league. Mayfield 58-62. Jones 32-49-1. Mayfield 197 TD passes. Jones 89 TD passes. Mayfield passing yards almost 30,000. Jones almost 20,000. Joe’s story is aptly titled.
June 15th, 2026 at 12:27 pm
Baker Mayfield is way better than Daniel Jones. That the most “duh” statement I’ve probably ever heard.
June 15th, 2026 at 12:44 pm
Only Licht would sign Baker to a $50 mil+ per year contract.
No other GM in football we do something so obtuse.
He’s a career losing QB1. And that’s all he’ll ever be.
Bowles + Baker = Zero Superbowls
June 15th, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Six years $325 million with $210 million guaranteed….
June 15th, 2026 at 1:06 pm
John ocala Says:
“Six years $325 million with $210 million guaranteed….”
That would be organizational suicide.
We have too many other needs to waste money like that on a career loser.
June 15th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
I’m done. It’s just way too big of a struggle, and frustrating pain in the ass to get a comment to go through anymore.
June 15th, 2026 at 1:47 pm
People just make up and comment whatever number comes to mind with Baker with no thoughts about business and reality. It doesn’t matter how much you like a QB, you can’t pay him 20%+ of the salary cap. Not with this roster and not with a player over 30 that can’t get you deep in the playoffs.
The mentioning of his contract to the media pissed off the team I believe. Coming off missing the playoffs and he demands a raise. Talk about failing upward.
June 15th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Brady set the example – even in his NE years – take less to bring in more talent
June 15th, 2026 at 2:33 pm
Our offensive line sucked after the bye. Constant pressure right up the middle. We couldn’t run or pass the football anymore. Only quick outside dumpoffs and screens. Offense was stuck in neutral. That won’t happen this year with the complete, healthy offensive line in. Should be right back to electric runs and exciting offense! Plus the defense should be a lot better.
June 15th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
You guys that say you don’t sit out because he is under contract…. Boy are you guys dumb…. It happens ALL THE TIME. Dak Prescott did just in his last contract. Look around a smell the coffee and wake up.
June 15th, 2026 at 3:43 pm
bakerfan – Dak was a completely different story. Number one, he’d already played under the ‘Franchise Tag’ once, and was actually ‘tagged’ AGAIN for a second time, before eventually agreeing to a deal. Plus, HE’s already been PAID plenty. And, He had ALL the leverage. Jerry screwed up that entire ordeal, just as he did with CD, and with Parsons. Jerry had no other choice but to finally agree to a deal, in order to make cap room, & etc. These are NOT similar situations, or anything even close. And, Dak is a bigger, stronger ATHLETE, and better QB.
June 15th, 2026 at 3:55 pm
The whole Dak-Jerry fiasco was a YEARS LONG ordeal, where Dak (after signing the tag and willing to PLAY TWICE on it), had painted Jerry into a corner. None of these things are even. Most of those other QB’s were 25-26 years old, when they signed those big 5-year extensions, with the team who DRAFTED THEM. So, there’s a whooole LOT more to it than just saying, well, this and that Quarterback makes this or that amount. It’s NOT the same thing.
June 15th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
Baker is under contract currently right now, for THIS SEASON. We are nowhere even CLOSE yet, to being in the same situation as the Cowboys were with Dak.
June 15th, 2026 at 4:32 pm
Daniel Jones is overrated and overpaid. He lucked out in Indy and had good players surrounding him, with good coaching. I can say he also took a lot of beatings as the Giants QB. Baker is tougher and has more grit. He’s a good leader, I’m ok with him getting paid but we need to see some more positives from this group as a team.
June 15th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
They are the same quarterbacks !!
June 15th, 2026 at 5:46 pm
Baker Mayfield has averaged more passing touchdowns per game than Dak Prescott since joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. Over this period, Mayfield averaged 1.86 passing touchdowns per game, slightly outpacing Prescott’s 1.82 per game.
Apparently Baker is the better QB, NOT Dak.
June 15th, 2026 at 6:10 pm
It’s all about timing, circumstances, AND LEVERAGE. Just think about all those years, where Kirk Cousins got PAID all that money. HE was also willing to play on the ‘franchise tag’ and betting on himself. It didn’t bother HIM one bit. He never did get that longterm deal with Washington, either. But, he was good with it. He took just a 3-year deal with the Vikings, and the rest was history. If Baker is looking for comfort, then he’s going to have to settle for LESS. Where’s that BIG “DISCOUNT” LoL.
June 15th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
@ Stpetematt – Oh, okay! Because, YOU pull-out one BS stat outta your ass, that says he has a 0.04% points on TD’s per game, and over just a 3-YEAR PERIOD. Get Out. I don’t need any “stats.” All I need is my own TWO EYES.
June 15th, 2026 at 6:25 pm
To be fair, Daniel Jones was playing lights out before he got hurt as well.Bajer is worth more because he’s simply better and has done more career wise.
June 15th, 2026 at 6:34 pm
Baker would first have to play this season, then the next on the franchise tag. And, then be tagged once AGAIN for 2028, before we are in a similar situation as Dak and the ‘Boys. At which point, where BAKER will be 33-YEARS OLD. Dak was just 31. And, signed a 4-year deal. He was also drafted by the Cowboys, which is a very big deal (especially in the “BIG-D”). A totally different situation entirely, than the Bucs are currently in with Baker.
June 15th, 2026 at 6:42 pm
Stats are real math which are far better than your own opinionated “two eyes.”
And if a QB is throwing more TD’s he’s getting his job done better.
June 15th, 2026 at 6:55 pm
WBL, Daniel Jones is 2 years younger than Baker. 2 years and about 40 days younger.
June 15th, 2026 at 6:56 pm
You’re really scratching here. And proving nothing. Dak was 31, and so is Baker. More similarities than differences, really. Baker is slightly better statistically so should get slightly better money. That is, if people can stop blaming our defensive performance and lack of a healthy offensive line this past season on Baker and instead pay him purely for his performance and abilities.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:46 pm
Nope. You are leaving off one thing… BAKER is still under contract. With TWO franchise tags left to play with. Since, you’re talking about “MATH,” that would make HIM 33-years old, in 2028. And, piling up a bunch of EMPTY 4th-Quarter STATS is completely meaningless, AFTER stinking it up for the FIRST 3-Quarters of a ballgame. Maybe, just maybe, IF we weren’t forced to have to throw the ball for EVERY down, due to being BEHIND, then maybe, just maybe, Baker’s record these past 3-years in ‘Primetime’ games, wouldn’t be 2-11.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:50 pm
@ Oscar – Yeah, he said “younger.” So, what’s your point. The difference between being just 29 in THE NFL versus 31, is a BIG DEAL. Pretty huge actually.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:51 pm
ESPECIALLY, when you’re talking 4 and 5-year CONTRACTS.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:56 pm
@ StPeteMatt Says: “And if a QB is throwing more TD’s he’s getting his job done better.”
And, YOU are an absolute moron. 💯. You’ve never been ‘right’ on ANY freaking THING. Ever. I mean, it has now gotten soooo BAD, that you have just turned into a complete troll. Just entirely, unserious. Only babble. There is a whoooole lot more to being a great Quarterback and LEADER, than just stats.
June 15th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
I mean, Dak and Baker aren’t even on the same PLANET. All you gotta do is just WATCH the games. Without even including Dak being the farrrr superior LEADER, his accuracy downfield, his deep ball, his consistency, intangibles, & etc. is just soooo much more ELITE-level. It’s not EVEN CLOSE. It’s very easy to see. And, he hasn’t been a ‘distraction’ either. Though, Jerry himself, already has that covered.
June 15th, 2026 at 8:16 pm
@ StPeteMatt- annndd, YOU are obviously incapable of comprehending the term “LEVERAGE.” Jerry & The ‘Boys had NONE left after TWO ‘franchise tags’ later. The Bucs have ALL the (there’s that mysterious word to you again) “Leverage.” Baker is currently, STILL under contract. AND, the Bucs still have BOTH tags left remaining. It’s all pretty simple.
June 15th, 2026 at 9:13 pm
A legitimate statistic is a fact. Sorry, but the facts do not fit your narrative. The most important statistic of all for a QB is TD passes. It means he is moving his offense and executing when it counts. And Baker has been incredibly good at it especially since joining the Bucs. His average TD’s per game played are higher than Mahomes or Prescott in that same timeframe. You sound like a Dallas fan. Maybe you should move on to one of their pages instead. I promise you won’t be missed.
June 15th, 2026 at 10:06 pm
Melvin Jr. You don’t get it, a player can hold out anytime he wants and just depending on his position he will have the leverage, seen it too many times. It could be to get traded (Micah Parsons), get extended in years or get more money or both. Here is a list of recent QB’s that held out
Jordan Love
Kyler Murray
Lamar Jackson
Dak Prescott (Dak Prescott sat out the entire 2020 virtual offseason program. He refused to sign his $31.4 million franchise tag for months in an attempt to leverage a long-term deal. While he eventually played the 2020 season on the tag, his leverage held, and Dallas signed him to a massive four-year, $160 million contract the following spring)
This is a tool that is used, Melvin Jr. or others will scream when and if it happens, but this is part of the game.