Baker Mayfield could be headed for the exit in Tampa Bay after the 2026 season if the Buccaneers fail to get a long-term deal done. NFL insider Mike Florio already has a wild landing spot in mind.
Baker Mayfield Envisioned for ‘Perfect’ Pittsburgh Steelers
Mayfield made it clear that he wants to remain with the Buccaneers, with his family settled in Tampa. But contract talks have broken down. Currently, the quarterback is focused on playing out the 2026 season before potentially testing free agency.
Florio believes that could lead Mayfield to make a decision that has nothing to do with the biggest paycheck.
“Baker Mayfield is no different than the guy that he was when he was drafted first overall by the Browns in 2018, and they pissed him off,” Florio said on the “Pardon My Take” podcast. “And what happens when you piss off Baker Mayfield?”
Florio laid out a scenario in which Mayfield could reach the open market and accept less money than Tampa Bay offers, just to prove a point. “He could take less, just as a middle finger to the Buccaneers for not paying him when they had the chance,” Florio said.
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The NFL insider then named the Pittsburgh Steelers as a “perfect” destination for Mayfield and said, “I could see him taking less money to go to Pittsburgh, to some other — like, Pittsburgh is the perfect — it just feels like the perfect destination for him.”
Florio does the best choose your own adventures https://t.co/bmLMHqKBSc pic.twitter.com/YFUsXQqK8R
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) August 10, 2026
The contract situation has clearly frustrated Mayfield. NFL insider Ian Rapoport said the quarterback is “upset” and “a little pissed” after the Buccaneers’ offer fell short of what he wanted in terms of long-term security.
Rapoport said the Buccaneers offered Mayfield a two-year deal averaging around $50 million per year, but the quarterback was looking for more years.
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Mayfield is entering the final year of his current Buccaneers contract after signing a three-year, $100 million deal in 2024. He is currently scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
Mayfield has plenty of motivation heading into 2026. While dealing with injuries, he completed 343 of 543 passes for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 starts during the 2025 regular season.
According to PFN’s QB Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 74.4, ranking 22nd in the league. It was a big fall off from his 2024 season when he posted an impact score of 86.1 and ranked fourth in the league.
However, the quarterback has shown what he can do when his back is against the wall. That is exactly why Rapoport believes the contract drama could fuel Mayfield rather than hurt him.
“The other part of this is the Bucs and the entire NFL have seen what Baker Mayfield can do when he’s got something to prove, when his back is against the wall,” Rapoport said.
Mayfield and the Buccaneers now have an entire season to change the direction of the relationship. If they cannot, Florio believes Pittsburgh could suddenly become a very interesting option, especially with Aaron Rodgers already declaring 2026 will be his last season.
