RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 3 sourcesBaker Mayfield contract projection: Why Bucs QB is right to feel 'disrespected' by Tampa Bay's negotiations originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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Contracts are an inevitable storyline during training camp, when extension negotiations often come down to the wire as players hold out or "hold in."
Baker Mayfield won't be doing any of that. Mayfield set a deadline for contract negotiations to end by the start of training camp, and he says it's going to be "all ball" from this point through the end of the season.
That hasn't stopped the Buccaneers quarterback from expressing his frustration , however. Mayfield said Thursday that he felt disrespected by the franchise's final offer as he heads into the final year of his contract.
Here's a look at what Mayfield's next contract could look like.
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Baker Mayfield contract
Mayfield is heading into the final season of the three-year, $100 million deal he received from the Buccaneers in 2024 after his resurgent first season with the team. He was hoping to have a new deal in place by the start of training camp, but Mayfield instead is ticketed for either free agency or the franchise tag.
At the time, Mayfield's 2024 deal seemed an appropriate contract, considering he was at risk of losing his place as a starting quarterback in the NFL just a year earlier. The Buccaneers bet on him sustaining that strong season, and he's largely done that, even with a disappointing finish to 2025.
Two years later, quarterback salaries have risen, and Mayfield has a larger body of work to rest on. Mayfield is the NFL's 17th-highest-paid quarterback , with a significant chunk of the starting quarterbacks behind him on that list simply playing on their rookie contracts.
Here's a closer look at what the next deal could look like for the former Heisman Trophy winner.
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Baker Mayfield contract projection
Mayfield said Thursday that the Buccaneers' final offer was "pretty far" from the range of $50 million per year and spanned only two years, which tells you exactly what he's aiming for.
If all goes well this season and Mayfield avoids major regression, you can expect him to shoot for at least $50 million annually and a long-term deal spanning three years or more.
A mega extension that spans five years might not be on the table. Mayfield turns 32 next year, and he hasn't proven he's a truly special quarterback even if he is a solid one. $50 million isn't an unreasonable request, though, especially with the salary cap likely to rise again next spring.
Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence each received $55 million, though they came with youth and potential. Daniel Jones received a two-year deal at $44 million annually from the Colts this offseason, but he was coming off a torn Achilles and didn't have the track record Mayfield does. Based on Mayfield's comments, the Buccaneers' final offer resembled what Jones received from the Colts.
Mayfield's next deal probably should be closer to Love and Lawrence than Jones. Could it look like the four-year, $180 million deal Kirk Cousins signed with the Falcons in 2024? Cousins was coming off an Achilles tear at the time, but he was in Mayfield's tier — if not slightly above it — as a solid but not necessarily special veteran starter. Cousins received $45 million per year, but salaries have risen and Mayfield will be younger in comparison.
A three-year deal worth between $50-52 million per year isn't unreasonable, though a four-year deal could come in a touch lower in terms of annual salary if Mayfield is prioritizing long-term security.
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Baker Mayfield contract comments
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Mayfield said he wasn't given a contract offer that matches what he's brought to the Buccaneers.
"It's disappointing in that regard to feel disrespected a bit," he said, explaining that he feels "undervalued" by the franchise.
"I think I'm a franchise quarterback. I've been told I'm a franchise quarterback," Mayfield said. "So to not have a deal done is very disappointing."
Baker Mayfield said it's "very disappointing" to not have a new contract, feeling "disrespected" and "under-valued" after thinking he "earned it," via @gregauman : pic.twitter.com/fAlBCE2fp3
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) July 30, 2026 Later Thursday, Mayfield told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that the Buccaneers' offer was only two years and "pretty far" from the $50 million annual salary range. Mayfield said his deadline was final and there would be no more negotiations during training camp or the season.
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