The Bucs and quarterback Baker Mayfield have not yet agreed to a multiyear contract extension. All signs point to Mayfield becoming a free agent, and interest from multiple teams could drive up Mayfield’s asking price.
Even if Mayfield ultimately wants to re-sign with the Bucs, he’ll want to make the most of the opportunity to cash in on a lucrative long-term deal after a big career comeback year in Tampa Bay. Dew.
Mayfield led the Bucs to a 9-8 record and three straight NFC South titles, followed by a playoff victory over the Eagles. He threw for over 4,000 yards for the first time in his career and scored a career-high 28 touchdowns.
Mayfield, who turns 29 in April, could be considered the best free agent option at quarterback. Especially since Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins is 36 years old, returning from a season-ending Achilles injury, and may want a fully guaranteed contract as he is used to being signed by the Vikings. .
So what kind of contract is Mayfield looking for? Let’s take a look.
Baker Mayfield has some work to do to catch up financially
Baker Mayfield – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
the bucks got baker mayfield Last year, they signed the journeyman quarterback to a one-year demonstration contract worth $4 million in a bargain. Mayfield’s incentives amounted to about $3 million, but he was still woefully underpaid by 2023 NFL starting quarterback standards.
Half of the league has starters making more than $33 million, and 26 starting QBs made more than Mayfield last year. The average starting quarterback salary in the NFL last year was $29.85 million, so Mayfield may believe in his mind that he has a shot to catch up. Mr. Mayfield earned a total of approximately $7 million in 2023.
Mayfield may feel the need to recoup the nearly $23 million he didn’t make last season in his next contract. That’s because, after making more than $48 million in his first five years, he was forced to take a significant pay cut before signing an incentive-laden contract. He will be traded for a base salary of $4 million in Tampa Bay. Keep in mind that federal and state taxes likely eat up nearly half of Mayfield’s lifetime earnings, and the former Heisman Trophy winner reportedly lost $12 million on investment plans. .
Given that Mayfield had to take a pay cut in 2023 to get a chance to restart and revive his career in Tampa Bay, and the $12 million he lost in fraud, Mayfield could give the Bucs some sort of hometown discount. It is doubtful whether you are trying to give .
Mayfield entered the league at age 23, but will likely only have a few more years of earning potential as a starting quarterback. In fact, Mayfield’s next contract could be his last chance at a big contract. If he signs a four-year contract in March, he will become a free agent again at age 32 if he plays all four years of his contract.
Baker Mayfield could earn between $30 million and $38 million annually in free agency.
![Bucks OLB Joe Tryon Soyinka and Giants QB Daniel Jones](https://www.pewterreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Tryon-Shoyinka-Joe-Daniel-Jones-Bucs-Giants-pressure-300x200.jpg)
Bucks OLB Joe Tryon Soyinka and Giants QB Daniel Jones – Photo courtesy of USA Today
under consideration baker mayfield He’s had a checkered career since entering the NFL as the No. 1 draft pick in 2018, but he probably won’t earn a salary among the top 10 quarterbacks. Not only did he make the Pro Bowl one season, he earned a Pro Bowl berth by playing as an injury replacement. The top 10 QBs are thought to make between $55 million (Joe Burrow) and $40 million annually (Matthew Stafford, Dak Prescott, Daniel Jones).
Mayfield doesn’t have the consistency of Prescott or Super Bowl-winning Stafford. And Mayfield has only won two playoff games in his career. However, Mayfield has played better than Jones, and if Jones is worth $40 million per year, he could argue that he is as well.
Mayfield could argue he’s the best QB in the NFC South, and if Derek Carr is making an average of $37.5 million, he should be making at least that much.
The Bucks may counter that Mayfield’s career path is similar to Geno Smith’s resurgence in Seattle. Smith signed a three-year contract worth $25 million per year after the 2022 season. And although Mayfield lost twice last year to Jared Goff, Goff is making $33.5 million and is considered the better QB at this stage of his career.
Mayfield could have multiple suitors as a free agent, including Atlanta, Minnesota and New England, among others, who could be interested in him. The more bidders there are for Mayfield, the higher his price will likely be.
![Bucks QB Baker Mayfield](https://www.pewterreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Mayfield-Baker-Bucs-Lions-clap-1-300x200.jpg)
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Tampa Bay has to hope that some of the QB-needy teams this year choose to pick in a quarterback-rich draft class rather than enter the Mayfield sweepstakes in free agency. . Up to six QBs could be in the first round, including USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., and Oregon’s They include Bo Nix and Michigan’s JJ McCarthy.
The guess here is that the absolute floor on Mayfield’s new contract, whether in Tampa Bay or elsewhere, will be $30 million per year. And if multiple suitors drive up his price on the free agent market, he could earn up to $38 million annually.
This raises two questions.
How far are the Bucks willing to go to re-sign Mayfield, and where do they draw the line?
And is Mayfield going to value the possibility of receiving more money in a bigger contract elsewhere more important than the familiarity and comfort he achieved in Tampa Bay?