NFL Analyst Believes Todd Bowles Is The Speedbump To Baker Mayfield Getting A New Contract
August 11th, 2026
Key to Baker Mayfield’s future?
Want to look at why the Bucs haven’t lured Baker Mayfield to agree to a contract extension? Well, an analyst for a prominent national publication seems to point the finger at someone.
And no, it’s not Team Glazer or Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht or even Mayfield’s agent. And maybe not even Mayfield himself.
Robert Mays of The Athletic thinks the Bucs are on the fence about bringing back KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles in 2027, or beyond. So Mays is of the mind the Bucs are not aggressive trying to get Mayfield to put pen to paper because they may be bracing for coaching turnover.
“My gut feeling with the Bucs is this is probably the last year for this [coaching] staff,” Mays said. “And if that’s the case, and you are turning the page as an organization next year, you have a choice about whether you want Baker Mayfield at $47 million dollars to be the starting point of the next version of your organization.
“If this was a situation where it’s like, ‘We’re putting all of our chips in, it’s the one-year thing, we have to see what we can get out of this version of the offense.’ Then you do it.”
The implication here is if the Bucs have a losing season and turn loose Bowles, would the top head coach candidates want Mayfield or would they instead prefer to draft and develop someone like C.J. Carr or Julian Sayin or Trinidad Chambliss?
You know, would candidates be turned off to the job because they would inherit Mayfield?
Or would Team Glazer reach the Colin Cowherd conclusion — that while Mayfield is a good quarterback, he’s not elite enough to overcome him potentially eating up too much of the salary cap, leaving Licht with not enough Team Glazer loot to stock the roster?
The best way for the Bucs to determine the future of the team? Mayfield balls out and the Bucs win 10 games and just about everyone at One Buc Palace will be safe, except for possibly Zac Robinson, who then would likely be a head coach and leave Bowles looking for his sixth different offensive coordinator in six seasons.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:06 am
The Bucs biggest problem over the last 3 or 4 seasons is the inconsistent and porous defense. Seattle won the Super Bowl because the defense was great. Tampa has reloaded on offense, but has been as good reloading the defense.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:16 am
TB is a speed bump to winning
My gawd the river in Egypt is strong in Tampa town
August 11th, 2026 at 9:18 am
Bowles Derangement Syndrome on full display. 😏
Robert Mays offered a gut feeling that this could be Bowles’ final season. From that speculation, we somehow arrive at Bowles being the speed bump holding up Baker’s extension.
That’s quite a journey, to say the least.
We know Bowles doesn’t negotiate contracts. He doesn’t set Baker’s price. He doesn’t control Baker’s willingness to sign. And nobody from the Bucs has said a possible coaching change is delaying anything.
Could the organization simply be preserving flexibility? Absolutely. Baker’s age, asking price, future cap hit—and whether a new coach would want to inherit a $47 million quarterback—are all legitimate considerations.
But notice the trap:
If Tampa extends Baker now, Bowles is tying the next coach to an expensive quarterback.
If Tampa waits, Bowles is preventing Baker from getting paid.
Either way, Bowles gets charged with a crime committed entirely inside somebody else’s hypothetical. 😂
August 11th, 2026 at 9:20 am
Agree 💯
August 11th, 2026 at 9:21 am
Hadn’t looked at it that way–BOTH sides have a plausible reason for not signing (if at ALL) until the season concludes
August 11th, 2026 at 9:21 am
Water is wet……
August 11th, 2026 at 9:23 am
Todd is definitely a speed bump. I can’t wait to see all these new linemen drop into coverage
August 11th, 2026 at 9:27 am
Licht is the reason Bowles is still here.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:28 am
The Buckeye QB would be a good choice to draft.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:29 am
Test
August 11th, 2026 at 9:32 am
It will be interesting that Baker plays the coach who canned him twice this year. Looking at the jets last year that could be two wins.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:34 am
So let’s follow the logic:
-The Glazers keep Bowles.
-Licht negotiates with Baker’s agent.
-Baker decides what he’ll accept.
-Yet somehow, Bowles is the speed bump. 🤔
That isn’t what Mays actually said. It’s what the headline needed him to mean.
And judging by the comments, it worked beautifully. 😂
August 11th, 2026 at 9:38 am
This has been mentioned by a dozen posters here a dozen times. Now it will get the here comes Tomlin gang started .
August 11th, 2026 at 9:43 am
They offered baker a contract extension. He did not accept it. It has nothing to do with Todd Bowles.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Its everyone’s fault but Baker huh? If Baker signed the extention, would that have been Bowles fault as well?
August 11th, 2026 at 9:47 am
No, no buckeyes qb would be a good choice
August 11th, 2026 at 9:49 am
combination of a few things mentioned above….
if bowles doesnt make a deep/solid run in the playoffs he’s gone….
baker hasnt won a playoff game in 3years and if he fails to make the playoffs and/or performs like he did the 2nd half of the season, he’s gone…
glazers are in prove it mode…
GO BUCS!!!!
August 11th, 2026 at 9:50 am
This is a stupid statement. “him potentially eating up too much of the salary cap, leaving Licht with not enough Team Glazer loot to stock the roster?” Licht does more than enough stupid moves of his own that don’t leave enough loot to stock the roster. Along with his drafting oft-injured db’s, trying to hit again on his Ali Marpet success by drafting small school lineman, going for high RAS score guys with little college production.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:52 am
Bee the answer is Yes. You would blame it on both Bowles and Licht. You will be totally pissed if he had or does sign a contract.
August 11th, 2026 at 9:59 am
This is exactly what I’ve been saying. I believe that is why Mayfield will do his best to have a deal in place before the start of the season.
August 11th, 2026 at 10:00 am
I buy it. The Incredibly Average Todd Bowles loyalists refuse to admit is, but Incredibly Average Todd Bowles is incredibly average, and incredibly average coaches like Incredibly Average Todd Bowles tend to get fired.
…eventually…
So I can buy an argument that the Glazers offered a short term contract with a lowball offer to Baker while at the same time holding off on a longer term, more expensive offer because they’re in wait-and-see mode to decide if Incredibly Average Todd Bowles is going to be incredibly average yet again (he will).
August 11th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Repeating “incredibly average” six times doesn’t turn speculation into evidence. It just gives the speculation a catchy rhythm. 😂
Could the Glazers be in wait-and-see mode? Absolutely.
But now we’ve invented a lowball offer nobody has reported, assigned the Glazers a motive they haven’t stated and predetermined the season before it begins—all to prove a conclusion already reached.
That isn’t analysis.
That’s writing the verdict first, then creating the evidence needed to support it. 😏
August 11th, 2026 at 10:02 am
^^ bad edit…
That last line should have read “…because they’re in wait-and-see mode to decide if Incredibly Average Todd Bowles is still incredibly average (he is), and whether it means he should get fired (he will be).
August 11th, 2026 at 10:06 am
The edit fixed the sentence.
It didn’t fix the logic. 😏
The Glazers’ offer is still imaginary. Their motive is still assumed. The season’s outcome is still predetermined. And Bowles’ firing is still being presented as fact before a game has been played.
That’s not “wait and see.”
That’s “I’ve already decided—now wait and agree.” 😂
August 11th, 2026 at 10:16 am
Bucs brass doesn’t want to win. It was obvious when Mr mediocrity was retained. Never deserved an extension. Had the luxury of a terrible division for years and still was only average. Until there is new blood brought in, the atmosphere will remain toxic.
August 11th, 2026 at 10:17 am
Bee Says:
August 11th, 2026 at 9:45 am
Its everyone’s fault but Baker huh? If Baker signed the extention, would that have been Bowles fault as well?
Since you are an expert on “fair” contracts how much of the two year offer to Baker was guaranteed? The actual contract offered has not been made public so we are just guessing on the number of years, actual amount offered and no clue on the guaranteed money.
August 11th, 2026 at 10:25 am
I’m glad I don’t subscribe to The Athletic.
August 11th, 2026 at 10:29 am
Come on…..
August 11th, 2026 at 10:44 am
Im in opposition to this nonsense. And I think the defense plays much better and Bowles keeps his job. Eventually Licht will work out a deal with Baker- maybe even before the season starts. We aren’t going to be in a position to draft a qb next year because we are going to the PLAYOFFS.
You heard it here first.
August 11th, 2026 at 10:46 am
Licht is as big a problem as Bowles.
August 11th, 2026 at 11:13 am
I don’t think this situation is really that big of a mystery. Glazers and Licht will not offer Baker more than 2 years, based off the way he played last year – which is also tied to the HC’s job. Both baker and Bowles are playing for their jobs this year, why the **** would we offer either one a long term contract? Is that what you all really want in this transition period? Seriously??!!
Cut and dry business decision, and the correct one.
There was no “low ball” offer if baker was indeed offered 50mil and 2 years. Absolutely fair for what baker has shown the past 3 years. Hes the definition of a mid QB – who in my opinion hasn’t hit his ceiling yet so that is good.
But let’s drop this thought that Licht and the Glazers are cheap. Not buying that, they just aren’t push overs.
August 11th, 2026 at 11:16 am
I don’t think it’s that new coach wouldn’t want to be saddled with Mayfield, it’s that they wouldn’t want to be saddled with Mayfield’s contract.
August 11th, 2026 at 11:18 am
I couldn’t agree with talking head any more! That’s the problem the JL has to navigate.