The game of contract chicken is officially over and quarterback Baker Mayfield has a secure future with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers and Mayfield have agreed to a three-year, $165 million extension, putting an end to one of the summer’s most dramatic contract standoffs, ESPN reported Tuesday. The deal will earn Mayfield an average of $55 million per season, putting him into a tie for the third-highest average annual salary among quarterbacks, according to Spotrac.
Mayfield has come a long way from signing a one-year, $4 million prove-it deal in the 2023 offseason. After securing a major extension to stay in Tampa Bay long-term, all eyes now shift toward reclaiming the NFC South division title from the Carolina Panthers. Mayfield has thrived despite the intense pressure of replacing Tom Brady since arriving in Tampa Bay.
Mayfield has posted a 27–24 regular-season record and earned two playoff appearances during his tenure with the Buccaneers. His peak performance came in 2024 when he posted career highs with 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. However, Mayfield’s gunslinger playstyle took a step back last season as injuries to primary targets Mike Evans and Chris Godwin disrupted the offense.
Mayfield pushed publicly for this payday as he was entering the final year of his current contract. He signed a three-year, $100 million extension with the Buccaneers in 2024. Now, he has a contract that pays him an equal yearly salary to Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott are the only other players with a higher average annual salary than Mayfield.
