Baker Mayfield Projected $50 Million Deal Amid Buccaneers Uncertainty

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has been a steal for general manager Jason Licht since the former first-round pick signed with the team in 2023.

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Mayfield earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nominations in 2023 and 2024, leading the Buccaneers to playoff appearances in both seasons.

In 2025, Mayfield threw for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. In 2024, he threw for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

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Mayfield is set to play under the final year of his contract that pays nearly $33 million per season. He will have no money guaranteed in 2026.

After the draft, Licht suggested the Buccaneers are planning to keep Mayfield.

“Baker is at the forefront of our mind at all times,” Licht said during an appearance on “The Drive with TKras” on Tuesday. “All of our plans revolve around Baker. That’s something that we’ll get to at some point. I have had a lot of discussions with Baker about the team… And listen, nobody here wants Baker to be playing for any other team, so I’ll just leave it at that.”

But the price might be costly.

Kevin Patra of NFL Media predicted Mayfield to earn more than the $44 million per-year deal that the Indianapolis Colts gave Daniel Jones, coming off an Achilles injury, this offseason. Mayfield could make more than $50 million per-year on his next contract.

“The question is how high up the quarterback money list Mayfield leaps,” Patra wrote. “Daniel Jones’ $44 million per-year deal would appear to be the absolute floor. Frankly, if the Bucs could get him to sign for that, they’d leap so fast, Licht would probably blow out his back. At this point, Baker becoming the 11th QB to reach $50-plus million seems more likely.

“Mayfield played at an MVP-level last season before injuries to himself and the surrounding crew sank the Bucs’ ship. His play has proven he’s worth more than bridge-QB money.”

Mayfield has been everything the Buccaneers hoped for after Tom Brady retired. He’s more than earned a pay raise after rehabilitating his career in Tampa Bay.

With that being said, $50 million would put a serious ding in the salary cap for the Buccaneers, and could keep Licht from building a roster that would better support its quarterback.

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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 2:41 PM.