While Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles is among those on the NFL coaching hot seat right now, it appears quarterback Baker Mayfield could save his coach’s job and reportedly be significantly rewarded for it in 2024.
Following the retirement of Tom Brady this past season, Tampa Bay’s search for its next quarterback landed on Mayfield. While the former No. 1 overall pick had to compete for the starting job in training camp with Kyle Trask, Mayfield won the position battle and never looked back.
- Baker Mayfield stats 2023: 94.7 QB rating, 63.5% completion rate, 24-8 TD-INT, 3,315 passing yards, 7.1 yards per attempt, 5.2 percent touchdown rate, 33 sacks taken in 14 games
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Entering NFL games today, Tampa Bay leads the NFC South and a victory on Sunday over the Jacksonville Jaguars would put the Buccaneers in the driver’s seat to win the division. Not only would a home playoff game likely keep Todd Bowles’ job as head coach, it would also put a lot of money in Mayfield’s pocket.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Mayfield would earn a $1 million bonus for winning the NFC South this season. In a rebound year for the veteran quarterback, it apparently won’t be the biggest payday he’ll be earning in the next few months.
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- Baker Mayfield contract: $1.7 million cap hit, $1.125 million base salary, $2.875 million signing bonus in 2023, NFL free agent in 2024
Mayfield is one of the lowest-paid starting quarterbacks right now, but that will change in 2024. As reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Mayfield and the Buccaneers have a mutual interest in a return next season.
Tampa Bay will face more challenges in re-signing him than it did a year go. Mayfield’s performance this season has demonstrated that he can still be a starting-caliber quarterback, even for a team in the playoff hunt. With so many injuries to signal-callers across the league and with others disappointing, an array of NFL teams will be in the quarterback market this spring.
Baker Mayfield contract incentives
- $1 million for winning the NFC South
- $2 million for playing 85 percent of Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive snaps (99.7 percent currently)
- $250,000 for each playoff win
- $300,000 for Top-10 finish in NFL/top five in NFC in QB rating, completion rate, ypa (max: $1.5 million)
With Jimmy Garoppolo ($24.25 million), Geno Smith ($35 million), Ryan Tannehill ($29.5 million) and Derek Carr ($37.5 million) all making upwards of $24-plus million this season, it’s reasonable to think Mayfield could push towards a $30 million salary in contract negotiations this spring.
