The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have finalized a contract extension with quarterback Baker Mayfield, worth $165 million over three years, just ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. This agreement prevents Mayfield from entering free agency after the current season.
The decision to extend Mayfield now was strategic for the Buccaneers, as delaying the deal could have resulted in a significant dead-money cap hit of $30.15 million for the 2027 season. NFL insider Dan Graziano noted that if the team had opted to franchise tag Mayfield, the overall cap number could have exceeded $80 million.
The contract, which breaks down to $55 million per year, was reported by insiders Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport. Schefter indicated that discussions had stalled at the beginning of training camp but resumed as the regular season approached, leading to the successful negotiation of the extension.
With the contract settled, Mayfield and the Buccaneers can now concentrate on their upcoming season, starting with their game against Cincinnati on Sunday.
