Baker Mayfield signs 3-year, $165M extension with Buccaneers on September 8

Baker Mayfield signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, September 8, locking the 2018 first overall pick through the 2029 season at an average of $55 million per year, according to ESPN. The extension is the largest contract in Buccaneers franchise history. The deal ends a training-camp contract dispute in which Mayfield sought a longer commitment than the club initially offered. Mayfield's previous contract history with Tampa Bay spans a rapid escalation. He signed a one-year, $4 million deal worth up to $8.5 million in 2023. In 2024, the Buccaneers gave him a three-year deal for $100 million in total with $50 million guaranteed. The new extension reflects a substantial increase in average annual value. According to ESPN, Mayfield wanted an agreement longer than two years, which became a sticking point in negotiations. The Buccaneers' final contract offer before the deal was struck was two years and just north of $100 million. Talks broke down during training camp and resumed over the weekend, when the three-year extension was finalized. At $55 million per year, Mayfield joins an elite quarterback salary tier that includes Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love, according to ESPN. Jared Goff and Brock Purdy both earn $53 million annually per year. ESPN reports that 13 quarterbacks now occupy the $50 million-and-up salary club, and multiple agents told ESPN to expect today's $50 million tier will become $60 million tomorrow. However, ESPN's Ben Solak graded the deal a B, noting Mayfield has "high peaks (he was producing at top-of-the-league levels for stretches of 2024 and 2025) but low valleys (injuries and overaggressive play create big mistakes)." Solak wrote that Mayfield must now deliver "high-level, veteran consistency" to return value on the extension. The Buccaneers' roster has undergone turnover. The team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020 last year. Wide receiver Mike Evans has departed, and linebacker Lavonte David is also no longer on the roster. Defensive tackle Vita Vea held in as a disgruntled team captain and requested a trade while dealing with a back injury, though the Buccaneers re-signed him last month, per ESPN. Tampa Bay kicks off its season at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, September 15, at 1 p.m. ET on Fox, according to ESPN.