Baker Mayfield signs three-year, $100M contract extension with Bucs’ as he ends speculation on his future
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NFL QB Baker Mayfield has signed a three-year, $100 million contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ending his ability to be a free agent this offseason.
The 28-year-old one-time Pro Bowl selectee will make $50 million in guaranteed money as part of his new deal, according to a source close to Dianna Russini of athletics.
Mayfield will be paid $30 million per season through 2026, including $20 million guaranteed in 2025, and $40 million his final year. The Bucs have also added $5 million per year in incentives, pushing the contract to a maximum value of $115 million.
Mayfield led the Bucs’ to the NFC divisional round this past season after exceeding expectations with a 9-8 record before the playoffs, winning the NFC South.
He passed for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions by the end of the regular season and had a pair of 300-yard games in the playoffs, putting up 337 yards and three touchdowns against Philadelphia, and going 349-3 with two interceptions in Detroit. in a 31-23 loss during the divisional playoff round.
Baker Mayfield has committed his long-term future to the Bucs instead of looking at a new team
Bucs general manager Chris Licht remained optimistic that Mayfield’s future was in Tampa when asked about the quarterback’s contractual situation at the NFL Scouting Combine, but he understood the reality of their predicament.
“As Bruce (Arians) would say, look behind door No. 2, 3, 4 and 5. We always feel like we need options,” Licht said Friday.
Mayfield, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, has played for three teams (Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams) since 2021 before signing a one-year deal in free agency last March.
The Bucs are also in active discussions with linebacker Lavonte David, another free agent, Licht said.
Star wide receiver Mike Evans signed his $52 million deal Friday, which runs through 2025, and gave his two cents on the quarterback situation.
“I think he’s an elite quarterback,” Evans said of Mayfield, assessing his confidence that Mayfield will be his quarterback in 2024.
‘I have a lot of confidence in it. I’m not 100 percent, but he played really great for us last year. The city took him in, the players loved him. Hopefully we get him back, but he has to do what’s best for him.’