Albert Breer: No Reason For Baker Mayfield Not To Get $50 Million+ Annually
June 15th, 2026
Ready for a new payday.
So the game of chicken has begun. Who wins? Does Baker Mayfield cave or does Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht capitulate?
That’s unclear. But Albert Breer of SI.com believes Mayfield’s accountant will win in the end.
Breer is not saying Mayfield will break Team Glazer’s vault. But Breer mentioned a few quarterbacks one can fairly compare with Mayfield earning a nice piece of change.
And if those quarterbacks can get paid, Breer points out in a video mailbag, Mayfield should as well.
“I think looking at this going forward, you have to start to look at some of the [player] comps,” Breer said. “I think Jared Goff’s a fair comp. I think Tua Tagovailoa is a good comp. I think Brock Purdy is a good comp.
“Baker Mayfield is firmly in that category of quarterbacks. He’s as good as those guys. I’d say better than Tua, right around the same range as a Jared Goff, right around the same range as the Brock Purdy, based on their production over the last couple of years.”
Joe thinks Breer is fair comparing Mayfield to Jared Goff and Brock Purdy. At least Purdy has taken his team to a Super Bowl.
Goff and Purdy average $53 million a season. Tua makes about a tricked out Ford F-150 from Bill Currie Ford more than Goff and Purdy, per Spotrac.com.
“So there’s really not a lot of reasons for the Buccaneers not to go to that [Goff/Purdy/Tua] level,” Breer said. “On top of that, the projection for the franchise tag [for quarterbacks] in 2027 is over $50 million.
“So it’s hard to see a scenario where Baker Mayfield is going to accept less than that. And as difficult as it can be [for the Bucs] to come to the realization now that the three-year discount that they’ve gotten on Mayfield has expired, that’s really where we’re at.”
Joe agrees. It’s difficult to believe Mayfield would settle for less than $50 million a year.
And Joe is completely confident Mayfield will still be barking signals for the Bucs when the 2027 season arrives.
June 15th, 2026 at 9:06 am
Baker would already be signed had he not choked in DEC lol
he’ll play out his contract in 2026…if he chokes again in DEC he’ll be someone back up
GO BUCS!!!!
June 15th, 2026 at 9:06 am
I am sure our Bucs will make the right decision.
June 15th, 2026 at 9:12 am
you only need 11 more articles today about Baker Mayfield to mee the Q
June 15th, 2026 at 9:14 am
Those comps seem about right. Get the comps figured out and then the dollar range gets sorted out. The main sticking point could be guaranteed money.
June 15th, 2026 at 9:14 am
Yes, because the re signing of the quarterback is not a big deal NerdsAreDumb.
June 15th, 2026 at 9:17 am
IF – the Bucs are healthy this year;
IF – the Bucs can move down the field rushing on 60% of the plays, moving defenders so that gain early separation and quick passes;
IF – in that favorable environment, Baker unnecessarily holds the ball to long leading to sacks and forcing the ball leading to turnovers;
Then, save $20M to $30M by replacing Baker with a game manager and spend the savings on building an even stronger team to support the new guy.
But, like last year, Bucs receivers will not gain separation and the quick passing game will not work if the Bucs do not have an effective run game that they use predominantly on all three downs – which will break the passing game wide open if they randomize it and disguise it so that other teams don’t tee off on it.
June 15th, 2026 at 9:31 am
Agreed, Bucs should extend Baker now if he is willing to accept a contract in the $50-55 million range.
June 15th, 2026 at 9:43 am
After last season, Light should be asking Baker for money back. He’s overpaid now. Lots of quarterbacks could have taken the Bucs to that 2-7 finish, for a lot less money. $55million a year is simply stupid.
June 15th, 2026 at 9:46 am
A little over $50M a year sounds fair to me.
Toss in bonus/incentive money if he hits certain numbers and for playoffs.
The guy got us into the playoffs his first year and that was on a $4M prove-it deal. He deserves to be paid.
He does, unfortunately, choke sometimes at critical moments. If not for that, I’d be fine with going a little higher than Goff/Purdy money.
June 15th, 2026 at 9:58 am
You know stupid!
June 15th, 2026 at 10:17 am
Baker has as much of a chance as getting 60 million as Joe Buc fans have of getting a job and life
June 15th, 2026 at 10:41 am
More like will the Glazers capitulate, because they’re the ones signing the checks.
June 15th, 2026 at 10:44 am
I think Goff and Purdy are good comps.
Baker is more ‘talented’ than either of them – yet both of those QBs have played ‘consistently good’ more often than Mayfield has….
Purdy is more fragile than Baker – or at least has missed quite a few more games than Baker – so that’s one feather in his hat that Baker has over Purdy (even though he shouldn’t ALWAYS wear that hat – as we saw last year…)
I could see a 3 year extension for $160M ($53.3M per) with $90-100M guaranteed + some incentives being the final # Mayfield and the Buccaneers come to agreement on….
Including the $40M Baker is already guaranteed this year – that’s an average of $50M per over the next 4 years with about 70% of that $200M guaranteed.
Sounds crazy to me to pay that much to one player – but unfortunately – that’s today’s market value for ‘good’ QBs…. And the Bucs believe as do I that Baker Mayfield is a “good” QB.
June 15th, 2026 at 11:10 am
BE THE GM
1. He’s under contract this year
2. The franchise tag is $50m next year
3. He’ll be a 33 years old after next season.
No way a 33 year old, journeyman QB, with no post season success can negotiate a big multi-year deal.
There’s no reason to sign him deal more than $50 for 3. Licht holds all the cards UNLESS Baker has a big year.
June 15th, 2026 at 11:22 am
Well, as much as I love Baker for the Bucs, the guy has to get Tampa back to the playoffs, and win a game or two in the tournament.
Tom Brady proved that passing accuracy, and the ability to get first downs consistently was the difference from QBs with arm talent alone.
Baker needs to sustain drives so the defense can stay off the field and the team has every chance to score.
Too many erratic throws and punting situations is the reason Mike Evans bolted.
June 15th, 2026 at 11:25 am
No way is Baker better than or on par with Brock Purdy or Jared Goff. Those 2 have gotten big paydays already, and accomplished more relative to Mayfield.
The fact Mayfields’ reps would have to cite a deal for a guy selected dead last in his draft class to negotiate for a former 1st overall pick, sounds as wild as it read typing it just now.
Door no.2 szn might be upon us sooner than we all think(and some of you might not like it at all)
June 15th, 2026 at 11:25 am
There’s no rush. Let him play out the season and see how he does and if he adjusts his reckless style.
He’ll be 32 next April and thats getting up there for a QB who tends to sacrifice his body unnecessarily.
Tag him for ’27 thats what its there for.
June 15th, 2026 at 11:33 am
Too many erratic throws and punting situations is the reason Mike Evans bolted……Fat Hat
Oh, come off it! There is enough dopey talk from 813 and a few others, now this. If Evans bolted for the door for any reason evolving the Bucs we all know what it was- -3rd and 28! He frigen said it!!
I, a 49 lifetime fan, have said that Baker is better than Purdy. Several others today have said the same. Evans left because the Bucs seem to be stuck in reverse mode or stalled at the gate defensively.
June 15th, 2026 at 11:44 am
I’m not sure how much flexibility teams/players have on creative contract terms, but pinning a chunk of $ to avoiding injury might be in everyone’s best interest.
June 15th, 2026 at 11:44 am
it doesn’t make any sense to extend Baker now with the option of a franchise tag next year – but because Licht is a bobblehead he will do something stupid – again
June 15th, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Tune in to tomorrow’s article about Mayfield’s contract.
AND the same commenters saying the same ol shyte.
Let him play out the season blah blah blah…