Quarterback Baker Mayfield took advantage of a one-year prove-it deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, earning Pro Bowl honors and establishing himself as one of the best players available in NFL free agency. Now, Mayfield is reportedly poised to blow past the contract he signed a year ago.
In March 2023, Mayfield was coming off a down year with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams. Heading into his age-27 season, he signed a one-year contract with Tampa Bay worth up to $8.5 million. It made him one of the lowest-paid starting quarterbacks in the NFL.
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- Baker Mayfield stats 2023: 4,044 passing yards, 7.1 yards per attempt, 28-10 TD-INT, 64.3% completion rate, 94.6 QB rating
Mayfield enjoyed a career-best season, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and becoming an NFL Comeback Player of the Year candidate. The Buccaneers have made it a priority to re-sign him, viewing him as a multi-year starter and a key figure in the locker room. However, bringing him back could prove difficult.
According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, Mayfield is expected to sign a contract in the neighborhood of $40 million annually. Even around the NFL Combine, there was talk of the Buccaneers’ quarterback likely commanding at least $34-$36 million per season on a new deal.
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The expected cost of re-signing Mayfield is already one issue the Buccaneers will face, but it’s not the only hurdle. Because safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is expected to receive the franchise tag this offseason, both Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans are expected to hit NFL free agency.
Who will sign Baker Mayfield?
While Mayfield is only expected to have a few suitors on the open market, it only takes one to create a bidding war. Of specific concern for the Buccaneers has to be the team they are reportedly going to be competing with for the veteran quarterback.
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Pauline also noted that he received confirmation that the Atlanta Falcons will pursue Mayfield in NFL free agency. There is a connection to Atlanta, with new Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson having briefly coached Mayfield when the two were together with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Falcons have also been connected in NFL trade rumors for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, with the cost of acquiring him recently revealed, along with impending free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins. Given the quick timeline for a Fields trade, Tampa Bay could know how involved Atlanta will be for Mayfield in the next two weeks before free agency opens.
- Baker Mayfield career earnings: $55.256 million
For now, the expectation remains that Mayfield and Evans will each sign multi-year deals to remain with the Buccaneers. However, the likelihood of them testing the open market leaves the door open to the possibility that either one or both players depart this offseason.
