The season started with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield as an NFL MVP candidate and seemingly lined up for a massive contract extension.
The season ended with Mayfield seeming overwhelmed and outplayed by a succession of quarterbacks that included an aging Kirk Cousins and a pair of rookies in Tyler Shough and seventh round pick Quinn Ewers.
That doesn’t instill much confidence in the future — especially not after the Broncos lost 7 of 8 games down the stretch, finished 8-9 overall and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
The Buccaneers might need to at least entertain a change at quarterback in the near future, and the solution might be in the early rounds of the 2026 NFL draft.
Mayfield’s Contract Up After 2026
Mayfield will enter 2026 in the final year of a 3-year, $100 million contract he signed before the 2024 season that he will end up cashing out every cent of. In the world of the NFL it’s highly unusual that an elite quarterback get to within one year of the end of their deal without securing an extension.
Mayfield’s play down the stretch essentially made sure he wouldn’t get the kind of deal he seemed destined for after the Buccaneers got off to a 5-1 start — one that would have paid him something in the neighborhood of $50 million per season.
Instead, Mayfield will be playing for his NFL future in 2026.
Down the stretch, turnovers were especially a concern. After throwing 3 interceptions in the first 10 games, Mayfield threw 8 interceptions in the final 7 games, including a pair of 2-interception games in losses to the Los Angeles Rams and Miami Dolphins.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles hasn’t been shy about calling out Mayfield for his proclivity for throwing interceptions in the past.
“We’ve got to be better at the quarterback position and we’ve got to be better at the signal-calling position and we’ve got to be better blocking it,” Bowles said after the loss to the Dolphins in Week 17.
One thing to take into account for 2026 is Mayfield will be with his fourth offensive coordinator in 4 seasons with the Buccaneers after Josh Grizzard was fired after just one season.
Mayfield’s first 2 offensive coordinators were hired as NFL head coaches after one season with him — Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales in 2023 and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen in 2024.
Buccaneers Could Draft Ole Miss QB in Early Rounds
One intriguing option in the early rounds for the Buccaneers would be Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who came out of nowhere to lead the Rebels to the College Football Playoff semifinals and will likely be available in the second or third rounds.
Chambliss went 25-3 as a starter the last 2 seasons, leading Ferris State to the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2024 at Ferris State before becoming a surprise star at Ole Miss in 2025, where he threw for 3,937 yards, 20 touchdowns and 3 interceptions to go with 527 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns.
Chambliss is currently the No. 3 quarterback on ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper’s Big Board — he also had a 1,000-yard rushing season at Ferris State in 2023.
Bucs Urged to Draft Replacement for QB Baker Mayfield