Breaking: Bucs Agree 3-Year Deal To Sign $115 million Star
Following his acceptance of a three-year contract worth up to $115 million, Baker Mayfield will remain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a source familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Speaking to the AP under oath, the individual said that the arrangement, which guarantees $50 million, has not yet been formalized.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Mayfield is expected to collect $30 million in 2024 and $30 million in 2025, with a guaranteed $20 million in the second year of the agreement. According to the report, the quarterback’s pay would rise to $40 million in 2026.
After playing for four teams in the previous three seasons, Mayfield revived his career in 2023 when he signed a one-year contract with the Bucs after Tom Brady retired and helped the team win the NFC South for the third time in a row.
In addition to throwing for a career-best 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns, the No. 1 overall choice from the 2018 draft reduced costly errors that hampered his time with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Los Angeles Rams in the past.
The only quarterbacks in the NFL to pass for at least 28 touchdowns and 10 or fewer interceptions in the previous campaign were Baker Mayfield and Dak Prescott.
In Tampa Bay’s two postseason games—a divisional round defeat to Detroit and an NFC wild-card victory over Philadelphia—the 28-year-old Mayfield also passed for over 300 yards and three touchdowns.
Two days after Tampa Bay signed standout receiver Mike Evans to a two-year, $52 million contract—Evans also turned down a chance to prove his worth in free agency—Mayfield agreed to terms. After finishing his season with 1,000 yards for the tenth time in a row, Evans matched Tyreek Hill for the league lead with 13 touchdown receptions.
Hiring Liam Coen as offensive coordinator last month, following Dave Canales’ departure from the Bucs to take a coaching position with the Panthers, was another crucial move toward guaranteeing Mayfield’s return.
In 2022, Coen collaborated with Mayfield during his time as the quarterback for the Rams.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht can now focus on attempting to reach a long-term agreement with All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield, who is guaranteed a one-year, $17.12 million contract for the upcoming season under the franchise tag, after he signed Evans and Mayfield before to the start of free agency.
Priorities include re-signing kicker Chase McLaughlin and linebacker Lavonte David. The left tackle Tristan Wirfs, who is scheduled to receive a fifth-year option pay of $18.2 million next season, is another player whose contract the Bucs are considering extending.
