Mayfield and Buccaneers agree to three-year, $165M extension on September 8

Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension on September 8, ending months of acrimonious negotiations, per CBS Sports reporting.

The extension carries an average annual value of $55 million, tying Mayfield with Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, and Matthew Stafford for the third-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. Mayfield becomes the highest-paid player in Buccaneers franchise history.

Mayfield had made it clear he wanted a deal in place by training camp and said he would not resume talks until after the 2026 season. At the start of camp, Mayfield said he felt "disrespected" and "undervalued" by the team, stating he was a "franchise quarterback" who had "earned it." On June 5, Mayfield said the Buccaneers "are not anywhere close to what we were thinking" regarding contract figures. In July, Mayfield told ESPN that the team offered only a two-year extension, which was "probably the most disappointing part" because he wanted long-term stability. In the final days before training camp, the Buccaneers offered two years worth slightly more than $100 million, which would have placed him in the $50 million per year range but lacked the third year and proper guarantees he sought.

According to ESPN's reporting, the Buccaneers engaged in talks with Mayfield's agent, Tom Mills, last week without Mayfield's knowledge until Monday at 6 p.m., after securing a separate one-year, $30 million extension for defensive tackle Vita Vea that keeps him through 2027. Mayfield had told Mills that once he reported to training camp, he was "done talking about it" unless "something really changes." Mills informed Mayfield about the new offer Monday evening while Mayfield was at dinner with his wife, Emily. Mayfield learned the final terms of the agreement while watching a 20th-anniversary theatrical release of "Cars" with teammates and their children, per ESPN reporting. Mayfield said: "That was fun. Step away from Lightning McQueen for a second to agree to that."

Mayfield's 2024 season placed him in MVP conversation with a 71.4 percent completion rate and 41 touchdowns, per CBS Sports reporting. His other two years in Tampa Bay have not been as fruitful. After a disappointing second half of the 2025 campaign, both Mayfield and the team enter 2026 with uncertain trajectory.

Mayfield is on his fourth team and started for all four in the span from 2021 to 2023. According to CBS Sports, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has a pattern where once Week 1 arrives, players should not expect to ink a new deal until after the campaign ends. Licht said: "One of the things I love the most about Baker is you never have to question or wonder how he feels. We got an example of that last month, but it's that passion that he has that makes him tick and what he is as a player." On negotiations, Licht said some back-and-forth exchanges with Mayfield were "not safe for work" but added: "We knew deep down that at some point we'd get something done." Licht joked: "Just don't do it on vacation."

Mayfield said: "This is life-changing money and this is stuff that for us is unbelievable, but it's an opportunity to help the community to continue to progress and move forward. Main goal is still a Super Bowl, and I don't have one of those." Left tackle Tristan Wirfs joked: "Baker, now that you've done your deal, the O-line is wondering what the Christmas gifts are going to be?" Mayfield responded: "A lot of the guys are making jokes, but it's all fun and whatnot, but for me, I'm going to lead. It doesn't matter what the contract is, doesn't matter what the outside thinks. I'm going to lead the best way I can and just be myself and play with fire and passion and try and be the best quarterback on the field."