Baker Mayfield reported to Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp without a new deal, and revealed that he felt “disrespected” and “undervalued” by the team’s offer. He has shut down further negotiations and said he plans to play out the final year of his three-year, $100 million contract before hitting free agency in 2027.
Now, NFL insider Albert Breer has hinted at the number Mayfield’s camp was pushing toward in contract negotiations.
Albert Breer Reveals Baker Mayfield’s Reasonable Demand
Speaking on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Breer revealed the salary Mayfield was seeking and explained that his demands were not wild, given the current state of quarterback contracts in the league.
“I wonder if the Bucks have come to the full recognition that this is just the price of doing business, is like $55 (million) is not what it used to be, you know,” Breer said. “I don’t know that they wouldn’t have eventually gotten there, and I don’t know that they won’t get there over the course of the next few weeks.”
When Eisen asked Breer whether it’s confirmed that Mayfield was asking for a salary of $55 million, the latter replied, “I don’t know specifically what he was asking for, but it was in that range.”
Breer continued, “I believe the number is, I think there are 14 quarterbacks this year making over $50 million per year. It’s not a huge ask to go to $55 million, and if you look at it, the franchise tag after this year, it will be $50 million. And then if you put two franchise tags together, if he was tagged the next two years, (the total) is $110 (million).
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ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently reported that Tampa Bay’s most recent offer for Mayfield was a two-year extension “worth slightly above $100 million in total.”
However, Mayfield didn’t like the offer, as he was looking for a long-term deal based on what he had done for the franchise since arriving in 2023.
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The 31-year-old quarterback led the Buccaneers to back-to-back NFC South titles in 2023 and 2024, made two Pro Bowls, and delivered the kind of leadership and durability the franchise had chased since Tom Brady’s retirement.
According to PFN’s QB Impact Metric, he finished as the fourth-best quarterback in the league in 2024 with an impact score of 86.1. However, the 2025 injury-marred season complicated the picture, as Mayfield’s impact score fell to 74.4, ranking 22nd in the league.
The Buccaneers star struggled while playing through injuries, throwing for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 games while Tampa Bay missed the playoffs.
Mayfield put the team first and played through injuries, but ultimately, it impacted his market value, leading the Buccaneers to decline to offer him a lucrative long-term extension.
The standoff could actually work in his favor. If Mayfield stays healthy and produces at his 2023-24 level, he walks into free agency with the likes of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings among the potential landing spots looking for a proven starter.
Since more quarterbacks will sign contract extensions before the start of the 2027 NFL free agency, Mayfield could easily fetch a salary of above $60 million with his new contract.
