The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield failed to agree on a long-term contract extension this summer, leaving his future with the team beyond this year in serious question.
Looking ahead to the 2027 offseason, here are five teams that should pursue Mayfield if he ultimately hits the open market.
5 Teams That Should Pursue Baker Mayfield in 2027 Free Agency
New York Jets
Sam Darnold, Zach Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, and Justin Fields are just a few of the quarterbacks who have started for the Jets over the past decade. Aside from playing in New York, they all shared one thing in common: operating in an unstable offensive environment.
That won’t be the case heading into the 2026 season, as the Jets have quietly built one of the league’s stronger supporting casts. The group is headlined by Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, along with first-round rookies wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and tight end Kenyon Sadiq. The Jets boast one of the NFL’s youngest and most talented offensive lines as well, led by tackles Olu Fashanu (23) and Armand Membou (22).
The defense remains a work in progress under second-year head coach Aaron Glenn, but offensively, the Jets may be a Mayfield away from building their most well-rounded group in years.
Geno Smith is expected to start Week 1 after the Jets acquired him from the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this offseason. But, at 35 years old and on a one-year deal, he’s unlikely to be the franchise’s long-term answer. That could leave the Jets searching for another QB next offseason, and if they’re willing to spend big, Mayfield could be their guy.
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Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud was once viewed as the Texans’ franchise quarterback for years to come. After all, he led Houston to a 10-7 record and an AFC South title as a rookie while throwing 23 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
The past two seasons, though, have looked much different. Stroud endured a sophomore slump, throwing 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His third season wasn’t much better, as he finished with 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
Thanks to Houston’s elite defense, which ranked No. 2 in PFN’s Defense Impact Metric, the Texans still reached the Divisional Round in both seasons. Stroud, however, fell short in the playoffs, particularly this year against the Patriots, completing just 20 of 47 passes for 1 touchdown and 4 interceptions in a 28-16 loss.
All of the Texans’ top playmakers, including WR Nico Collins, RB David Montgomery, edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, and CB Derek Stingley Jr., are signed through at least the 2027 season. Stroud, meanwhile, has yet to receive a long-term commitment from the franchise. He is under contract through 2027 after the Texans exercised his fifth-year option, but they could easily move on if things don’t work out in 2026.
With this roster already built to compete, the Texans don’t have much time to waste on a quarterback. If Stroud doesn’t bounce back, Houston could target Mayfield next offseason and plug him into an offense alongside Collins and Montgomery as they attempt to maintain their Super Bowl contender status.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have made a number of moves at quarterback over the past two offseasons, but more than likely, their Week 1 starter in 2027 isn’t currently on the roster. The current depth chart lists Aaron Rodgers as QB1, followed by Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Drew Allar.
Rodgers, 42, has already announced that this will be his final NFL season before retiring. Rudolph, on the other hand, has never started more than eight games in a season since getting drafted in 2018, and with just one year remaining on his contract, he’s unlikely to factor into the Steelers’ long-term plans.
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That leaves Howard, the Steelers’ sixth-round pick in 2025, and Allar, the team’s third-round selection in 2026. Howard entered the NFL as the more pro-ready prospect after leading Ohio State to a national championship in 2024. However, he failed to make an appearance as a rookie and likely won’t have much of an opportunity to do so in 2026 either.
As for Allar, he’s the definition of a raw prospect. He possesses a rare combination of size and arm strength, which the Steelers clearly valued when they drafted him, but he’s still several years away from being ready to make an impact.
Between DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith, and Jalen Ramsey, the Steelers have a clear win-now roster. With veteran head coach Mike McCarthy now running the show, Pittsburgh could look to bring in Baker Mayfield next offseason as Rodgers’ successor and keep the Steelers in playoff contention for years to come.
Minnesota Vikings
Early reports out of Vikings training camp suggest that Kyler Murray has struggled to adjust to head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offensive system. Unfortunately for Murray, there is no guarantee he’ll start in Week 1, as he’s competing with J.J. McCarthy for the QB1 spot.
Additionally, Murray is currently on a one-year, $1.3 million deal. If he fails to make his mark early in the season, which is becoming an increasingly likely possibility, Minnesota could very well decide not to bring him back. That leaves McCarthy, for whom the jury is still out. Based on his first year as a starter in 2025, it doesn’t appear the Vikings’ staff is totally in love with the former first-round pick.
If, by next offseason, they decide that neither Murray nor McCarthy is their long-term starter, they will be left with a massive void at the position. This is where Mayfield would slot in. While it could be difficult from a contractual standpoint, with Mayfield reportedly seeking a deal worth upwards of $50 million annually, it’s a perfect fit from a football perspective.
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O’Connell is one of the best offensive minds in the NFL, and his system, which relies on big downfield-breaking routes, would work well in Mayfield’s favor. We’ve seen time and time again that Mayfield is willing to stand in the pocket and deliver darts to the likes of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Emeka Egbuka. Who’s to say he can’t do it with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison?
Admittedly, with McCarthy still likely to be on the roster in 2027, a move for Mayfield is a bit far-fetched. However, if the Vikings could pull it off, they’d have one of the most explosive and electric offenses in the entire NFL.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals still have a long way to go in building their roster, as they have major holes at quarterback, offensive line, linebacker, and safety, aside from Budda Baker. One area they don’t lack talent, though, is their backfield and pass-catching group.
The running back room is headlined by 2026 third-overall pick Jeremiyah Love and fifth-year veteran Tyler Allgeier. At wide receiver, Arizona has one of the league’s most promising young duos in Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Although Harrison has gotten off to a slow start in his career, he has the talent to bounce back with the right quarterback. Then there’s Trey McBride, who led all tight ends last season with 126 receptions, 1,239 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns, earning First-Team All-Pro honors.
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Simply put, the Cardinals need someone capable of getting the ball to those playmakers. Their current quarterback room of Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, and third-round rookie Carson Beck is unlikely to provide that long-term.
Arizona is expected to have the most cap space in the NFL entering the 2027 offseason, according to Spotrac. Then again, there’s a chance the Cardinals finish near the bottom of the league in wins and ultimately draft a quarterback next spring. However, if they want to become competitive sooner rather than later, offering Mayfield a lucrative contract could be the optimal move.
Bonus: Cleveland Browns
Mayfield and the Browns had a brutal fallout five seasons ago. Unsurprisingly, their quarterback situation hasn’t improved much since then. A return to Cleveland once seemed impossible, especially with Kevin Stefanski remaining as head coach through 2025.
However, with Stefanski now coaching the Falcons, it wouldn’t be completely ridiculous for Mayfield and the Browns to see where they stand with each other in 2027.
