Baker Mayfield’s next contract is still a question mark as he enters the final year of his deal. What could Mayfield’s contract look like? Is he due to be paid like one of the best quarterbacks in the league?
What Could Baker Mayfield’s Next Contract Look Like?
The 2026 season is the final year of Baker Mayfield’s three-year, $100 million contract he signed with Tampa Bay following the 2023 season.
Mayfield’s team and the Buccaneers have actively been discussing a potential extension before the season starts, but according to Mayfield earlier this month at Bucs OTAs, the two sides aren’t “anywhere close” on a deal. He also said he will not participate in negotiations after the Bucs training camp starts July 30.
Both sides are on record saying they want to get a deal done.
“We love the community, we love being here. They’ve embraced us, and we enjoy being here and obviously are going to raise kids here,” Mayfield said earlier this month. He also added that he “would love to be here long term.”
Bucs general manager Jason Licht echoed that sentiment.
“But no one wants to see Baker go anywhere, and no one’s worried about how Baker’s mindset is going to be,” he said.
Mayfield’s Case to Get Paid
Finding a stable quarterback in the NFL is hard, and Licht knows that firsthand. The Bucs cycled through lackluster quarterback play during Licht’s first seven seasons as general manager before signing Tom Brady ahead of the 2020 season.
When Brady retired following the 2022 season, the Bucs seemed poised to return to inconsistent quarterback play. That’s when they signed Mayfield to a one-year, $4 million deal.
Since then, Mayfield has been one of the league’s top quarterbacks. He ranks second in the NFL with 95 passing touchdowns and third with 12,237 passing yards since the start of the 2023 season.
Mayfield led the Bucs to back-to-back NFC South titles before missing the playoffs last season. He has a 28-26 record as a starter with Tampa Bay.
The Bucs are 1-2 in the playoffs under Mayfield. Over those three games, Mayfield averaged 308.3 passing yards per game while throwing eight touchdowns and four interceptions.
Mayfield has started every game for the Bucs since the beginning of the 2023 season. He has provided stability at quarterback that the franchise has found hard to come by throughout its existence.
What Number Could Mayfield’s New Contract Land At?
The Bucs have gotten Mayfield’s consistent production at a bargain. His $33.3 million average annual salary ranks 16th among quarterbacks entering the 2026 season.
Twelve quarterbacks will enter the 2026 season making more than $50 million annually.
Mayfield is 31 and will be looking for what could be the last long-term deal of his career. While quarterbacks have signed contracts of three years or longer after turning 35, those deals are few and far between.
To get an idea of what Mayfield might receive in his next contract, you can look at other quarterback contracts and extensions in recent years.
One relevant comparison is the four-year, $212 million extension signed by Lions quarterback Jared Goff in 2024. Goff was 29 when he signed the extension, making him slightly younger than Mayfield is now. However, Goff shares some similarities with Mayfield: finding a new level of success with a new team, gaudy passing-yard numbers from 2023-25 (Goff ranks first among quarterbacks in passing yards during that stretch) and an ability to spread the ball around to a variety of playmakers.
Mayfield’s team could look for a number similar to Goff’s $53 million average annual salary and $113.611 million in guaranteed money. However, with the NFL salary cap growing by $45.8 million per team since the 2024 season, Mayfield’s team will likely seek a deal that is at least slightly larger than the one Goff signed in 2024.
Another deal that could inspire Mayfield’s next contract is Dak Prescott’s four-year, $240 million extension with the Cowboys in 2024. Prescott was 31 when he signed the deal, the same age Mayfield is now.
Prescott spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Cowboys, unlike Mayfield, who has played for four different teams. However, while the uncertainty surrounding Mayfield stems from his inconsistent play early in his career, Prescott’s centered on his health. He missed multiple games in 2020 and 2022 after sustaining a serious ankle injury in October 2020.
Even so, Prescott still secured a four-year deal with the Cowboys because of his production despite not making a deep playoff run. Mayfield’s team could look for a similar deal to the one Prescott signed in 2024.
Prediction For Mayfield’s Next Contract
It’s hard to see Tampa Bay parting with Mayfield anytime soon. He has proven himself to be a strong quarterback during his time in a Bucs uniform, and Tampa Bay would not be able to replace his production easily.
For that reason, Mayfield’s team should be able to negotiate a high price from the Bucs because the quarterback market remains strong.
My prediction: Four years, $232 million ($58 million annually), with approximately $120 million guaranteed.
