Quarterback Baker Mayfield will play the 2026 season on an expiring contract after failing to agree to an extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mayfield detailed his dissatisfaction with the Bucs’ short-term contract offer, which fell far below his expected $50 million valuation.
Dez Bryant Gives Baker Mayfield Contract Advice
Former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant offered some advice on X to Mayfield on his contract woes with the Bucs.
“Baker go out there and show that he can play at a high level with Mike Evans nowhere in sight..and you’re 100% going to get paid,” Bryant wrote.
Mayfield lost one of his top receivers after Evans joined the San Francisco 49ers following an injury-hit 2025 season.
After a resurgent season with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, Mayfield joined the Bucs, repairing his damaged reputation following underwhelming seasons with the Carolina Panthers and the Cleveland Browns.
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Mayfield provided a stabilizing influence that the Bucs had missed since Tom Brady’s retirement and had his best season in 2024, tallying 4,500 passing yards on 71.4% completion, 41 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions, while adding 378 rushing yards and 3 scores.
After consecutive seasons of 4,000+ passing yards, Mayfield’s production suffered last season, registering 3,693 passing yards on 63.2% completion, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, earning a PFN QB Impact score of 74.4, No. 22 in the NFL. It was later revealed that the quarterback dealt with a myriad of injuries last year, including a sprained MCL and PCL, a biceps contusion, and a left shoulder injury.
While addressing his contract standoff with the Bucs on Thursday, Mayfield insisted that the Bucs did not meet his contract valuation compared to other league quarterbacks in the same bracket.
“It’s been some of the best years of my career, and I think it’s only gonna trend upwards,” Mayfield said. “Just being comfortable and feeling that, so disappointing in that regard, to not have, you know, to feel disrespected a little bit, and that’s really the disappointing part, to feel undervalued after, you know, thinking you’ve earned it.”
“I can sit here and look at other QBs and peers and evaluate myself based on that and put myself in certain categories that I deserve to get compensated for that,” Mayfield add. “I think I’m a franchise quarterback. I’ve been told I’m a franchise quarterback. It’s been said publicly from the ownership down here. So, to not have a deal done is very disappointing.”
Mayfield has led the Buccaneers to one playoff win in his career in Tampa, losing in the Divisional and Wild Card Rounds in consecutive seasons and missing the playoffs altogether last year.
