The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a strange situation with quarterback Baker Mayfield.
They’re past the point of offering him a lucrative contract extension and have basically painted themselves into a corner with another “prove it” season in 2026 — similar to the 1-year, $3 million contract he played on in 2023, just with much bigger stakes.
Mayfield has had a hand in this as well, mostly with how poorly he played in the 2nd half of the 2025 season.
Either way, if Mayfield succeeds, the Buccaneers succeed. It’s hard to get around that fact in the final season of the 3-year, $100 million contract he signed before the 2024 season. And if he succeeds, he’s going to get paid.
“Should Baker Mayfield rebound from his hideous eight-game stretch to end the year (10 touchdowns, eight interceptions), Tampa Bay could be frisky,” Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame wrote.
What’s at stake for Mayfield is a possible deal that could be worth around $50 million per year — or more — and there will be plenty of teams willing to pay up.
Baker Mayfield Called ‘Obvious Fit’ in NFC North
The Athletic’s Jeff Howe thinks there’s a chance Mayfield could become the NFL’s 1st $50 million free agent quarterback in 2027, and have several obvious suitors if it comes to that.
That group could include his former team, the Los Angeles Rams, as well as another team playing with a starting quarterback on a 1-year contract in 2026 — the Minnesota Vikings.
According to Howe, Mayfield’s next contract could “redefine the market” for free agent quarterbacks.
“Compensation for quarterbacks has exploded in recent years, often outpacing the rapidly expanding salary cap,” Howe wrote. “Mayfield’s next long-term contract provides a unique set of challenges. When it lands, it will be a seminal moment in the way teams value extended-act quarterbacks … Mayfield has a chance to be the first QB to exceed $50 million in free agency. Considering the likely competition for his services, it’s not far-fetched to believe he could corral the biggest contract in NFL history. And if quarterback Matthew Stafford retires after the 2026 season, the Los Angeles Rams and Mayfield might feel compelled to reunite. The Minnesota Vikings would be another obvious fit, but there would be a handful of teams ready to pursue the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner.”
Baker Mayfield Would Be Upgrade for Vikings
The Vikings probably wish they could have Mayfield in 2026.
Minnesota went 14-3 in 2024 with Sam Darnold as the starting quarterback, and instead of bringing him back, they let him exit in free agency, where he signed a 3-year, $100 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks and led them to a Super Bowl win in his 1st season.
The Vikings not only let Darnold go, but also let backup quarterback and former 1st round pick Daniel Jones go in free agency to the Indianapolis Colts, where he starred in 2025.
In their place, the Vikings decided to ride with 2024 1st round pick J.J. McCarthy, who couldn’t stay healthy and looked like 1 of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks when he was on the field.
The Vikings signed former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray for 2026 — almost certainly their 3rd starting quarterback for the season opener in 3 seasons. If Murray does well playing on a 1-year contract, he could be in line for his own massive free-agent contract in 2027.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield Called ‘Obvious Fit’ for NFC Rival Amid Contract Uncertainty