RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension and the veteran signal-caller isn’t shy about expressing his frustration.
Mayfield is in the final year of his contract and while the two sides have talked about a new deal , nothing has gotten done and Mayfield has now closed the door on talks for the remainder of the year.
Before the Bucs’ latest practice of training camp on Thursday, Mayfield said he feels “disrespected” and “undervalued” by the team.
“To feel disrespected a little bit, that’s really the disappointing part to feel undervalued after, you know, thinking you earned it,” Mayfield admitted.
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“I can sit here and look at other quarterbacks and peers and evaluate myself based on that and put myself in certain categories, that I deserve to be compensated for that,” he added. “I think I’m a franchise quarterback. I’ve been told I’m a franchise quarterback. It’s been said publicly from ownership down here. So to not have a deal done is very disappointing.”
Mayfield went on to reiterate that “the deadline is the deadline” and he is very serious about not continuing contract talks.
The Bucs have made it quite clear they want Mayfield around for the long haul , but there is a clear disconnect when it comes to how much he’s worth.
One thing is certain: if Mayfield hits the open market in 2027, he’s going to draw plenty of interest from quarterback-needy teams.
Baker Mayfield’s market value
Jan 3, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass against the Carolina Panthers in the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Mayfield isn’t an elite quarterback by any stretch, but he is a good starting quarterback in the NFL and the going rate for those is quite high.
Spotrac estimates a Mayfield extension at four years and $214.4 million, which works out to about $53.6 million annually.
Those might seem like astronomical amounts for a quarterback who isn’t elite, but they are realistic nonetheless based on the going rate for the next tier of signal-callers.
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Mayfield would rank 12th and eighth, respectively, in total value and annual average if he gets that projected deal, according to Over The Cap.
Quarterbacks in the area of those projections include Jordan Love, Jared Goff, Brock Purdy and Justin Herbert, none of whom are considered elite.
It’s hard to argue that Mayfield shouldn’t be paid similarly after averaging over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns over his three seasons in Tampa Bay.
If the Bucs don’t give him that kind of deal, chances are another team will.
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