Baker Mayfield will not reach free agency. The Buccaneers’ efforts to retain their starting quarterback have produced a lucrative new pact. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the sides are finalizing a three-year, $100MM contract featuring $50MM guaranteed.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds this pact could reach a maximum value of $115MM. Even if that does not take place, this new deal marks a massive raise for the former No. 1 pick in his bid to cash in following his successful debut Bucs campaign and find stability in the process. After playing in Tampa on a one-year, $4MM deal last year, Mayfield has certainly accomplished that goal.
Does this payday strike anyone else as strange? I’ve never seen a journeyman player sign a backup level FA contract one year and parlay that into anything resembling $50M guaranteed 1 season later.
In other words, what is TB doing? Who was competing with them for Baker’s services to warrant such a raise? I get it is a byproduct of where the market is at for starting QB’s and Baker played his way into this money but some dots are still not connecting here.
My greater worry is our own QB’s payday. If one great year and 6 months younger than Jared get’s you $50M, Jared is worth how much more? Our advantage is that we plug Hooker in and recoup a 3rd as a comp pick if we choose not to extend him.
Baker earned it. I’d just say it like that. While it’s odd, I think he always had the ability. I actually wanted him at some point before I saw the light with Goff. The Bucs lucked themselves into a top 10 QB.
Geno Smith threw for LESS than 1500 yards…
TOTAL… in the 6 seasons that preceded 2022…
and then landed $40 million in guarantees…
with “practically” $50 million guaranteed because he was essentially guaranteed to be on the roster for 2 years with the structure of the deal.
Geno, as @Phunnypharm mentioned. Love’s about to go from a paltry contract to a big one, though certainly he’s not a journeyman. Delhomme and Gannon got big contract upgrades after bouncing around for awhile. It happens.
