Five-Year, $150 Million Deal for Baker Mayfield? Bucs Comfortable Cap Offers Mutual Motivation for Bumper Contract

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers romped out the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card game, the talks of keeping Baker Mayfield have intensified. With the Bucs preparing for the divisional playoffs, their long-term QB problem has presented a solution in the form of Mayfield.

After Tom Brady retired earlier this season, the decision to replace him with Mayfield was scrutinized. But in the end, it seems the Bucs had the last laugh. But with only one one-year contract, the time is almost right to award the QB a hefty contract extension.

Baker Mayfield is on the path of making big money

For past seasons, Mayfield was signed on by franchises and then let go. But that will not be the case this time around, as the 3 TD hero in the game against the Eagles, has proved his worth. And looking at the available cap in the Bucs’ purse, Mayfield is in for a big payday. After being signed by the Bucs for a $4 million deal.

Currently, the Bucs have $50 million available per year available to stay under the cap limitations. And with top QB salaries soaring way over $50 million a year, the Bucs might still make a bargain.

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After this stellar season, the 28-year-old will be on top of this list for many teams. Hence, the Bucs could be inclined to offer him a $150 million deal over 5 years. This should be a sweet deal for both parties. Considering Mayfield is still young, he will deliver crucial returns on that investment for many more seasons. And for the QB, this will be a nice change of scenario compared to his career as of today.

Baker Mayfield’s journey so far

Mayfield was the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns signed him for 4 years at a $32.68 million contract. In 2022, the Browns activated the fifth year of his contract for an additional $18.9 million. But the same year, he was traded to the Carolina Panthers.

This $18.9 million figure was finally split between the Panthers, the Browns, and the Los Angeles Rams. The Panthers then let Mayfield go in the middle of the season and the Rams picked him up. But they too did not sign him on after the end of the season.

With a simple 9-0 win over the Panthers, Mayfield is the guy behind the Bucs making it to the playoffs. In the process, he has already made a whopping $1 million bonus. Now that he has so much success under his belt on a $4 million contract, the time is right for the Heisman Trophy winner to get a big payday.

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