Quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to a three-year contract extension that could be worth up to $115 million. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport shared that the contract includes $50 million in guaranteed money.
Out of that amount, $30 million is guaranteed in the first year, another $10 million is secured in 2025, and the final $10 million in the final year. He can earn the remaining money through performance bonuses and incentives.
Buccaneers closing in on 3-year deal with QB Baker Mayfield worth $100M with $50M guaranteed. (via @rapsheet) pic.twitter.com/WtPrOQgMAC
— NFL (@NFL) March 10, 2024
Mayfield signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Buccaneers during the 2023 offseason. Before joining the two-time Super Bowl champions, he played five games for the Los Angeles Rams and seven for the Carolina Panthers. The Cleveland Browns, the team that selected him first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, traded him to the Panthers after acquiring Deshaun Watson.
Mayfield made the most of his first year in Tampa Bay, finishing with 364 completions for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns. Those numbers helped the Buccaneers win the NFC South division title, giving them home-field advantage during the Wild Card Round.
The Buccaneers used that advantage well, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles to clinch their spot in the Divisional Round. They nearly beat the San Francisco 49ers if not for Christian McCaffrey’s rushing touchdown and Dre Greenlaw’s game-sealing interception.
Still, Mayfield did enough to merit the contract extension, keeping him in Tampa Bay until 2026. He will have Mike Evans back on a two-year deal worth up to $52 million. Their new contracts will be made official on March 13, the first day of the 2024 NFL league year.
-Lance Fernandez