Baker Mayfield’s resurgence with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has reignited conversations about his long-term future with the franchise. Once viewed as a stopgap option, he has steadily rebuilt his reputation as a reliable starter.
His performances, combined with his leadership and edge, have earned praise from analysts across the league. However, questions remain about whether Tampa Bay is ready to commit to him with a lucrative contract extension. Former Buccaneers signal-caller Chris Simms believes the answer should be a resounding yes.
Chris Simms Wants Buccaneers to Give Baker Mayfield Long-Term Deal
Speaking while reflecting on Mayfield’s career trajectory on NBC’s “Pro Football Talk,” Simms strongly endorsed the quarterback as both underrated and worthy of a crucial financial commitment. He emphasized Mayfield’s competitiveness and ability to deliver under pressure, arguing that he stacks up favorably against several higher-paid quarterbacks.
“Baker Mayfield’s chippy. Baker Mayfield’s a franchise QB,” Simms said. “He’s underrated. Baker Mayfield has a lot of guys in front of him where I’d go, ‘They’re making a whole lot more money,’ and if you ask me right now who I’d take, I’m taking Baker Mayfield.”
“I think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and people there are going to be like, ‘Yes, we’ll make it happen, we love Baker Mayfield, let’s make you the quarterback for quite some time here in Tampa,'” Simms added.
Simms also revisited Mayfield’s difficult exit from the Cleveland Browns, noting that Mayfield’s willingness to play through pain may have cost him, as it affected how he was evaluated internally by the Browns.
“That’s the tough thing, and that’s what burned him in Cleveland — the fact that he continued to play and then didn’t play his best because he was injured and not 100%,” Simms continued. “They held that play against him and then forwarded with Deshaun Watson and didn’t communicate with him, and that was the end of the time in Cleveland for Baker Mayfield.”
Despite that setback, Simms highlighted the importance of Mayfield’s revival in Tampa Bay, particularly given the immense pressure of replacing one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Tom Brady.
He further praised the team’s ability to remain competitive during the transition, crediting Mayfield for helping maintain continuity even amid changes at the coaching level.
“They didn’t miss a beat,” Simms added. “They go to the playoffs, and even though the coach changed, like, nothing matters there… He’s been phenomenal. So, he needs a reward here.”
If we see the numbers, Mayfield’s 2025 campaign didn’t go as well as he hoped for, but that was largely due to the injuries he was playing through. According to the PFSN QB Impact Metric, he posted a 73.6 QB Impact Score with a C grade, ranking 24th for the season.
Across 17 starts, he completed 343 of 543 passes for 3,693 yards, throwing 26 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. He also contributed on the ground with 382 rushing yards and a touchdown, showcasing his ability to extend plays and add versatility to the offense.
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Team performance, however, remained inconsistent. The Buccaneers finished with an 8-9 record while recording a 71.4 OFFi score, placing them 21st in the league with a C- grade on the PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric. Although the offense showed flashes, they failed to find consistency.
If Mayfield continues to produce and lead effectively, the pressure to secure his long-term future in Tampa will only intensify.
