In its post-Tom Brady era, the Buccaneers needed a new face at quarterback — and Baker Mayfield has been the perfect answer so far.
After joining Tampa Bay on a one-year deal in March 2023, Mayfield led the team to a 9-8 record and playoff victory over the Eagles last season.
The former Heisman Trophy winner has seen a true career resurgence with the Buccaneers. Mayfield went No. 1 overall to the Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft, spent four seasons with Cleveland and helped the franchise return to the playoffs in 2020, but then fell out of the team's favor at quarterback as it later pursued Deshaun Watson.
After brief, and mostly unsuccessful, stints with the Panthers and Rams, Mayfield found a perfect match for his play style in Tampa Bay. The team rewarded his 2023 efforts with a contract extension, boosting his average annual value (AAV) to the level of some of the league's other starting quarterbacks.
Here's what to know about Mayfield's current deal with Tampa Bay and how it stacks up against other NFL quarterbacks.
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Baker Mayfield contract details
Just around a year after signing a one-year contact with Tampa Bay, Mayfield inked a three-year, $100 million contract extension after the 2023 season.
Per NFL.com, the extension could end up being worth up to $115 million with incentives and included $50 million guaranteed.
Mayfield found a new home with the Buccaneers, where his competitive spirit mixed with his precise passing skills meshed well with the team's offense, which has featured two top-tier receivers for years in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
Having two targets as reliable as Evans and Godwin has helped Mayfield remain efficient and avoid turnovers as he plays to his strengths with the Buccaneers. In 2023, Mayfield threw for two career-bests with 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns, another reason his team was willing to offer him a significant extension.
Mayfield, 29 years old, is now under contract with Tampa Bay through the 2026 season. Below is a breakdown of his year-by-year salary, per Sportrac.
| Season | Base salary | Signing bonus | Cap hit |
| 2024 | $1.125 million | $5.775 million | $6.9 million |
| 2025 | $30 million | $5.775 million | $35.775 million |
| 2026 | $40 million | $5.775 million | $45.775 million |
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Highest paid NFL quarterbacks in 2024
Per Over The Cap, Mayfield's $33.33 million AAV currently ranks 19th among quarterbacks in the NFL.
While he doesn't rank among the top-tier quarterbacks in terms of how large his contract is, Mayfield's extension does put him above other veteran names like Geno Smith and Sam Darnold in total contract value.
Below is a look at the highest total values for quarterback contracts across the NFL, per Over The Cap. Mayfield's deal ranks behind around half of the league's signal callers.
| Player | Team | Total contract value |
| Patrick Mahomes | Chiefs | $450 million |
| Trevor Lawrence | Jaguars | $275 million |
| Joe Burrow | Bengals | $275 million |
| Justin Herbert | Chargers | $262.5 million |
| Lamar Jackson | Ravens | $260 million |
| Josh Allen | Bills | $258 million |
| Jalen Hurts | Eagles | $255 million |
| Dak Prescott | Cowboys | $240 million |
| Kyler Murray | Cardinals | $230.5 million |
| Deshaun Watson | Browns | $230 million |
| Jordan Love | Packers | $220 million |
| Tua Tagovailoa | Dolphins | $212.4 million |
| Jared Goff | Lions | $212 million |
| Kirk Cousins | Falcons | $180 million |
| Daniel Jones | Giants | $160 million |
| Matthew Stafford | Rams | $160 million |
| Derek Carr | Saints | $150 million |
| Aaron Rodgers | Jets | $112.5 million |
| Baker Mayfield | Buccaneers | $100 million |
