Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s future with the franchise is still up in the air, with the parties yet to agree on a contract extension. Mayfield is entering the last year of a lucrative three-year contract extension, which he signed with the Buccaneers in 2024 after establishing himself as one of the most effective quarterbacks in the league.
What Pat McAfee Said About Baker Mayfield’s Contract Standoff
During Monday’s segment of “The Pat McAfee Show,” analyst Pat McAfee addressed the contract standoff between the Buccaneers and Mayfield and why it didn’t signal the end of the quarterback’s career with the franchise.
“Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not gonna be negotiating when training camp starts,” McAfee said. “This is not abnormal. I think people try to make this a bigger deal than it actually is. He’s now in his third chapter, which has become his home and we’ve had Jason Licht, the GM, come out and say he absolutely loves Baker Mayfield.
“Whatever you think of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South, you like them and you think Baker and Tampa like each other. I don’t think we’re anywhere near done negotiating; we still got time. I don’t think that this is the most negative thing on earth that this is happening.”
Mayfield first signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Buccaneers in 2023 as he auditioned to fill the role left by the legendary Tom Brady. After strong performances in his debut season with the organization, the Buccaneers rewarded him with a hefty three-year, $100 million contract.
Mayfield has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league during his stint in Tampa, earning back-to-back Pro Bowl selections in 2023 and 2024. He led the Buccaneers to two NFC South titles in his first two seasons under center, although they regressed last season and missed the playoffs after a disappointing 8-9 finish.
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While speaking to reporters last week, Mayfield reiterated his wish to stay with the NFL franchise for the long term but revealed that the parties were nowhere near striking a deal to keep him in Tampa for the foreseeable future.
“We’d love to be here long-term. And as of right now, that’s not exactly the case, but I’m under contract for 2026,” Mayfield said. “Obviously, yes, I would love to have a long-term deal, but they know my deadline is as soon as training camp starts, we’re not doing any contract stuff, it’s all ball.”
Last season, Mayfield tallied 3,693 passing yards on 63.2% completion, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, while adding 382 rushing yards and 1 score for the Buccaneers, earning a PFSN QB Impact score of 73.4.
