Baker Mayfield had a lot to prove when he signed a one-year contract with the Buccaneers during the 2023 NFL offseason. He did just that, and now, he's cashing in on his success.
Mayfield inked a three-year deal to return to the Buccaneers and attempt to build on the success he enjoyed in 2023, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. He led Tampa Bay to a 9-8 record and a playoff win over the Eagles while posting some of the best passing numbers of his career.
Mayfield achieved all of that while replacing the greatest quarterback in NFL history, Tom Brady. Understandably, the Buccaneers want to keep Mayfield because of that. For Mayfield, his decision to stay is all about being comfortable with his Buccaneers teammates.
“I wanted a chance to come back,” Mayfield said, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. “I love coach Bowles and the staff. I’m happy to be here and I want to win more in the postseason.”
Here's what to know about Mayfield's contract as he and the Buccaneers look to run it back in 2024.
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Baker Mayfield contract details
Mayfield signed a three-year contract worth up to $115 million to return to the Buccaneers after the team enjoyed a successful 2023 NFL season. His contract contains $50 million in guaranteed money and gives him the 12th-highest average annual value (AAV) in the NFL at $38.3 million.
Mayfield will make $30 million in the first year of his contract, $30 million in the second year of his contract and $40 million in the final year of his contract, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. He will have $5 million in bonuses available each season as well.
Baker Mayfield’s deal with the Buccaneers:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2024
2024: $30 million
2025: $30 million, including $20 million guaranteed
2026: $40 million
$5 million per year in incentives
$100 million total, with incentives a max value of $115 million. https://t.co/EiPSqo9huE
Mayfield made just $4 million in 2023 after signing a one-year, "prove it" deal with the Bucs in the offseason. He will now be earning more than nine times that AAV on his long-term deal.
Mayfield has career earnings of just under $55.3 million. Those will more than double thanks to his new deal with the Buccaneers.
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Highest-paid QBs in the NFL
Mayfield's contract will make him the 12th-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL in AAV. He comes in just shy of the $40 million AAV owned by Dak Prescott, Matthew Stafford and Daniel Jones and just ahead of Aaron Rodgers and Derek Carr, who each have a $37.5 million AAV.
Below is a look at where Baker ranks among the NFL's highest-paid quarterbacks:
| Rank | Player | AAV |
| 1 | Joe Burrow | $55 million |
| 2 | Patrick Mahomes | $52.65 million |
| 3 | Justin Herbert | $52.5 million |
| 4 | Lamar Jackson | $52 million |
| 5 | Jalen Hurts | $51 million |
| 6 | Kyler Murray | $46.1 million |
| 7 | Deshaun Watson | $46 million |
| 8 | Josh Allen | $43 million |
| 9 | Dak Prescott | $40 million |
| Daniel Jones | $40 million | |
| Matthew Stafford | $40 million | |
| 12 | Baker Mayfield | $38.3 million |
MORE: Breaking down the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL for 2024
Baker Mayfield stats
Mayfield enjoyed the best season of his career with the Buccaneers in 2023. He set career-best marks in completion percentage (64.3), passing yards (4,044), and passing touchdowns (28) while his 94.6 passer rating was his second-best mark ever.
Below is a look at how Mayfield has fared during each of his six NFL seasons to date:
| Year | Team | Record | Comp. % | Passing yards | Pass TDs | INTs | Rating |
| 2018 | Browns | 6-7 | 63.8 | 3,725 | 27 | 14 | 93.7 |
| 2019 | Browns | 6-10 | 59.4 | 3,827 | 22 | 21 | 78.8 |
| 2020 | Browns | 11-5 | 62.8 | 3,563 | 26 | 8 | 95.9 |
| 2021 | Browns | 6-8 | 60.5 | 3,010 | 17 | 13 | 83.1 |
| 2022 | Panthers/Rams | 2-8 | 60.0 | 2,163 | 10 | 8 | 79.0 |
| 2023 | Buccaneers | 9-8 | 64.3 | 4,044 | 28 | 10 | 94.6 |
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Baker Mayfield teams
Mayfield has played for four teams during his six-season NFL career.:
- Cleveland Browns (2018-21)
- Carolina Panthers (2022)
- Los Angeles Rams (2022)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2023-present)
The Browns initially selected Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, but he didn't develop into the high-quality starter that Cleveland hoped. They traded him to the Panthers before the 2022 season, but Mayfield struggled immensely in Carolina and was released late in the season.
The Rams scooped Mayfield up to start for them, and he fared better in that environment before joining the Bucs as a free agent in 2023. He enjoyed the best season of his career playing under offensive coordinator Dave Canales and now will be tasked with repeating that success with yet another new offensive coordinator after Canales left to be the Panthers' next head coach.
