Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield got his career back on track this year. In the process, Mayfield became a huge bargain for the Bucks.
The base value of his one-year contract is $4 million. He has an additional $4.5 million in incentives, up to $2 million based on playing time and playoff berth, and another $1.5 million based on him finishing in the NFL top 10 or NFC top 5 in passer rating (300,000 dollar) will be given. , touchdown passes ($300,000), total passing yards ($300,000), completion percentage ($300,000), yards per pass ($300,000), and an additional $250,000 for each playoff win, up to $100,000. Million dollars.
Regardless of the specific incentives he ultimately earns, the wire-to-wire starting quarterback who led the team to the playoffs (if they can make the playoffs) once the market value of that position has increased. The total amount paid is less than $10 million. The jump to more than $50 million per year creates value that teams with veteran quarterbacks rarely realize after their second contract.
Mayfield’s real reward is at hand. He has said he wants to remain with the Buccaneers. His next contract in Tampa will be worth much more than his current contract. If the Bucks don’t do it, someone else will. This franchise tag could likely fall into the $35 million range, more than the four-year rookie contract ($32.68 million) Mayfield received as the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, starting in 2024. The amount given to Mayfield will be large.
Yes, he’s playing well enough to get paid more. So far, the Bucs have been able to play solidly compared to the play of a talented veteran quarterback through Peanut’s 14 games.
And anyone could have had him. Examples include the Falcons guaranteeing Taylor Heinicke $6.32 million in 2023. Or the Saints, who gave Derek Carr $60 million fully guaranteed at the time of his signing and another $10 million fully guaranteed in March 2024. If the Buccaneers win, the NFC South, Falcons and Saints will regret not taking a closer look at him.
Last year, Mayfield bet on himself by forgoing $4.6 million of his $19.9 million option salary to leave Cleveland. It didn’t work. Mayfield’s bet on himself this year is paying off in the short term for the Buccaneers. In the long run, Mayfield may end up getting the kind of contract the Browns never gave him.
In the process, Mayfield re-established himself as a quality starter who is a great leader and will likely become a division champion. He’s only 28 years old. He could end up being one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
That’s the case this year. Especially since he did something that not many starters do. He started every game until late December.
So where will he be next year? Again, he has stated that he wants to remain in Tampa Bay. Other teams looking for a starter include the Patriots or Steelers (if they decide Kenny Pickett isn’t the answer), the Raiders or Broncos (if they move on from Russell Wilson), or the Vikings (if Kirk). It can confuse it. Cousins leaves) or the Seahawks (if they choose to move on from Geno Smith).
Either way, Mayfield probably has more options in March 2024 than in March 2023. And ultimately, that might be enough to force the Buccaneers to apply the franchise tag — which would give Mayfield a one-year salary that few expected. The Browns would become attached to Deshaun Watson and Mayfield would become affiliated with a team in Carolina after Mayfield fired head coach Matt Rhule just five games into his tenure. That’s what I noticed.