Over the past few seasons, quarterback Baker Mayfield has made a home for himself in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers. With his contract set to expire soon, GM Jason Licht provided a positive update that should give Buccaneers fans hope for the future.
Buccaneers Expected to Retain Quarterback Baker Mayfield
On Monday afternoon, Licht met with reporters to discuss the remainder of the team’s offseason plans. When asked about the possibility of the Mayfield’s extension, NFL Insider Rob Maaddi described the GM as “confident.”
He wrote: “Buccaneers GM Jason Licht is confident the team will extend Baker Mayfield and YaYa Diaby’s contracts. He wants both players long-term. ‘Baker is a true pro. He’s a leader for this team. We love Baker.'”
Maaddi later added a second quote, directly from Licht. The message read: “Baker is still our quarterback. He’s one of the toughest guys on the team. He’s a great leader. Everything kind of revolves around the quarterback spot. At some point, I’m sure we’ll figure something out. There’s no timetable on that.”
After joining the Buccaneers in the spring of 2023, Mayfield has experienced a complete resurgence. In his first season with the franchise, he recorded 4,044 passing yards and 29 total touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Mayfield led the Buccaneers to the playoffs, managing to win a postseason matchup over the Eagles.
The following season, Mayfield continued to improve. He threw for 4,500 yards and scored 44 touchdowns to 16 interceptions. According to PFSN’s metrics, he posted an 85.0 QB Impact Score, placing 7th among all signal-callers.
Unfortunately, in 2025, the 30-year-old improviser took a slight step back. Having dealt with several minor injuries throughout the season, his passing yard mark dipped to 3,693. Meanwhile, he recorded 27 total touchdowns to 11 giveaways, which, while solid, isn’t quite the production fans had come to expect.
Still, all things considered, Mayfield undoubtedly deserves a contract extension with Tampa Bay. The franchise adores him, he’s a fan-favorite, and the overall production speaks for itself.
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Although there is no official timetable for a new deal, it’s fair to assume the Buccaneers will aim to get it done before their 2026-27 campaign. Mayfield is currently under contract for only one more season, currently set to earn 27 million, per Spotrac.
A long-term extension would likely be in the 3-5 year range, with the opportunity to see up to 40 million annually. The situation will be worth monitoring as the offseason rolls on and the Buccaneers continue to build towards both the present and the future.
