Buccaneers Sign Baker Mayfield to Three-Year, $165 Million Extension
The largest contract in franchise history, at roughly $55 million a year, was negotiated in secret and finalized four days before the opener, ending a standoff in which Mayfield had said he wouldn't talk again until after the season.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield agreed to a three-year, $165 million extension, the largest contract in franchise history, ESPN's Jenna Laine reported. The deal averages about $55 million a year and was reached Monday, Sept. 8, after a week of talks the two sides kept quiet.
How did the deal come together?
Mayfield had rejected a two-year offer before camp, said he felt disrespected by it, and told reporters he would not negotiate again until after the season. General manager Jason Licht kept saying he was optimistic, and the sides reopened talks privately the week before the opener. Mayfield got the final terms by phone from agent Tom Mills while watching the 20th-anniversary release of "Cars" with teammates and their kids. "Step away from Lightning McQueen for a second to agree to that," he said.
What did the two sides say?
"I'm going to lead the best way I can and just be myself and play with fire and passion," Mayfield said. Licht: "One of the things I love the most about Baker is you never have to question or wonder how he feels." Mayfield had been set to play out the final year of a deal that paid him $33.33 million a year, 16th among quarterbacks, and carried a $39.975 million cap number for 2026.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: How Baker Mayfield learned about his new contract while watching 'Cars'
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