Baker Mayfield just made it crystal clear that he doesn’t want to play anywhere else. The Bucs quarterback told reporters this week he wants to stay in Tampa Bay on a long-term deal, calling the area home and praising the organization for how they’ve treated him. But there’s a catch: both sides still need to find that middle ground on a new contract.
Mayfield is playing on the final year of a three-year, $100 million deal. And at $33.3 million per year, he’s arguably the most underpaid starting quarterback in the NFL right now. He’s been in the MVP conversation for most of his time in Tampa Bay. The Bucs haven’t won a Super Bowl with him, but his production has been elite. Spotrac pegs his market value at $53.6 million annually, which would make him the seventh-highest paid QB in the league.
What Mayfield Actually Said
Here’s what he told reporters about the negotiations: “I would love to be there. I think both sides want to get it done. Now it’s a matter of finding that middle ground and what makes both sides happy.” He went on to say his family has fallen in love with Tampa and they plan to spend their offseasons there regardless of what happens. He compared it to how he felt about Oklahoma, calling it the first place that has felt that way since his college days.
He also acknowledged the heat is brutal but joked that it’s good for training.
The Money Gap
So what’s the holdup? Money, obviously. Mayfield is outperforming his current contract by a significant margin, and he knows it. The Bucs have to decide if they’re willing to pay him like a top-seven quarterback, or if they want to try to negotiate down based on the fact that he hasn’t taken them past the divisional round yet. That tension between what a player has earned and what a team is willing to bet on future success is the whole story here.
Mayfield has played well enough to command a raise. But the Bucs might look at the market and wonder if they can get similar production for less, especially if they draft a rookie or sign a veteran on a shorter deal. The team has not confirmed where talks stand, and no new offer has been reported.
What Comes Next
This feels like it could go either way. If the Bucs want to keep their franchise guy, they need to pay up. If they drag their feet, another team with cap space and a QB need could come calling. Mayfield made it clear he wants to stay. But the NFL is a business, and numbers matter more than sentiment. For now, both sides say they want the same thing. The real test is whether they can agree on the price.
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