The Cash Line In The Sand For Baker Mayfield
January 24th, 2024
Team Glazer members.
There will not be a whatever-it-takes, open-checkboook, anything-he-wants approach to re-signing Baker Mayfield.
First, there’s no reason for it. The Bucs can slap the franchise tag on Mayfield if necessary. That would lock him up for 2024 only — at roughly $35 million. Joe is sure neither party desires that because it limits salary cap shenanigans flexibility for the Bucs and forces Mayfield into a prove-it-again deal. But it’s an option at a reasonable price.
Second, Team Glazer won’t open the vault for Mayfield in a crazy way because he hasn’t proven enough.
Mayfield had an excellent season, but is one enough to command true franchise quarterback money?
Ex-players have varying takes. Mayfield fan and Bucs fan Gerald McCoy of NFL Network says Mayfield has earned two or three more years guaranteed from the Bucs, but not more. McCoy didn’t talk money, but former Bucs cornerback Richard Sherman, the Amazon analyst, thinks Mayfield has bagged $40 or $45 million annually because of his play.
Max Starks has a different view. The retired offensive lineman intrigues Joe because he’s a friend of former Bucs playcaller Byron Leftwich and he follows the Bucs. He also played for Bucco Bruce Arians.
Starks co-hosted on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week — on Late Hits with Alex Marvez — and was clear that Mayfield doesn’t deserve a giant contract.
Bouncing around the NFL and performing like he did this season are not worthy of top-15 quarterback money, per Starks. “Because that ship has sailed with the amount of times Mayfield has traveled around the league.”
For perspective, per reliable Spotrac.com, the Lions are set to cough up $26 million next season for three-time Pro Bowl QB Jared Goff. That would rank as the 15th-most cash in the NFL at the position.
“[Mayfield is] still a stopgap,” Starks added while claiming Mayfield’s annual ceiling is “9 or 10 wins.”
It’s hard for Joe to say what salary Mayfield deserves. Will there be another team saying, “Baker, come play for us for the next three years?” That’s the key question.
January 24th, 2024 at 2:47 pm
Baker contract probably is more in line with 3 years 60 million and 40 million guaranteed so that way if he sucks we can get out if the contract after 2 years. Dude really isn’t worth more than 20 million a year.
January 24th, 2024 at 2:48 pm
Geno Smith 3 years 75 million and 40 guaranteed is the bar. Nothing more than 25 a year. Tag and trade him if it doesn’t work out and draft Bo Nix on rookie contract. Allows you to spend freely for next 4 years and keep a team around him.
January 24th, 2024 at 2:50 pm
Data Nugget:
Spotrac projects $27.1 million annually for Mayfield or the equivalent of a four-year, $108.51 million deal.
January 24th, 2024 at 2:51 pm
I like 25 million a year for 3 years with 2 years guaranteed or give him the amount Brady played for adjusted for inflation. That should allow us to sign the other players we need to.
Go Bucs!!!
January 24th, 2024 at 2:57 pm
Very happy for the Bucs season. They did more offensively than I expected this year.
It was a year with no significant injuries to any of our offensive players.
So despite, us saying that Canales showed that he was good and Baker was better than average this year. What is the reason with all our health that we were still only 18th in scoring.
Some of the teams behind us:
Chargers lost Eckler, Herbert, Allen and Williams for 4 games or more.
Vikings lost Cousins and Jefferson
Raiders: Bad QBs and lost Jacobs
Cardinals lost Murray and Conners
Those 4 teams all scored within 2 points of the Bucs even with their player losses.
The bottom 5 were:
Steeler
Jets
Giants
Patriots
Panthers
Panthers
The 3 teams above those bottom 5 were:
Tennessee, Atlanta and Washington. We know what happened to those coaches.
Happy for the season. But just don’t want to sing the praises that Canales and Mayfield are some gem formula that will work for us in the future.
January 24th, 2024 at 3:09 pm
He deserves what is worth the risk.
40-45 mill a year. RFLMAO…..never ask a player with no negotiating experience. He will be lucky to get a 3 yr 50-60 mill deal.
January 24th, 2024 at 3:11 pm
Wait, the franchise tag is only $35m? I thought I read it was $45m.
So I was thinking the Bucs would pay him $35m, and basically be able to get out of the deal after a year for $10m, or keep him for around $40m.
Those numbers are probably a little too high, maybe more like $30m for next year, and a $5-8m out, with future years more in the $35m range.
Of course if Baker isn’t interested that, or the Falcons want to do a bidding war, I’d drive up the cost as much as possible then let the Falcons have him.
There’s other options out there, with the big one being Justin Fields, who had a nice 2nd half of the year and was more consistent than Baker, plus Fields can actually run – which would open up a whole new dynamic to the offense. Also look at what Fields did with DJ Moore this year, who on the Bucs would be the #3 WR.
I’m not saying to get rid of Baker, but people need to realize there’s other options out there if he drives up his price too much. Fields, Kyler Murray, perhaps Geno Smith is cut. Heck, I think Russell Wilson would do very well in this scheme. The point is there’s a number of legit options if Mayfield isn’t back. But, calm down Baker Bois, I still assume Baker is back.
January 24th, 2024 at 3:16 pm
25-30 per year, that’s it… Anything more would be a mistake.
January 24th, 2024 at 3:18 pm
I think 3 years, $25M a year with maybe $40 guaranteed is fair. And draft and develop someone. Baker was great at times, terrible at other times and inconsistent. Maybe he would play more calmly and consistently with a 3 year deal.
January 24th, 2024 at 3:24 pm
3 year contract worth 90 million with 2 years guaranteed at 55 million. Make the 3rd year an option to renegotiate or cut loose.
January 24th, 2024 at 3:24 pm
Baker is a 28yo, small, injury prone QB. Baker is a 2 to 3-year plan. I could see him getting $30-$35M for 3 years with team option for year 4. Keep developing Trask and go the Jordan Love route.
January 24th, 2024 at 3:27 pm
$30 to 33 is more likely, but you never know. The low taxes of Florida and wanting his teammates to get paid me make him go for something like 25
January 24th, 2024 at 3:27 pm
@Boss – Richard Sherman negotiated his own contracts with NFL teams.
January 24th, 2024 at 3:30 pm
Right now Baker’s ceiling has a name and that name is Todd.
January 24th, 2024 at 3:33 pm
Boss really put his foot in his mouth huh. LOL
January 24th, 2024 at 3:34 pm
If he is viewed as a stop gap employee then move on. Bet someone will pay him
January 24th, 2024 at 3:47 pm
If we can keep Canales, then I think Baker could be better next year in the same system. If we lose Canales, then Baker will have to learn a new system or be coached by someone on our current staff. Either way, a bad outcome for the Bucs and Baker. Let’s see what happens with Canales.
January 24th, 2024 at 3:49 pm
Joe I agree with this article of you and Starks point of views. Mayfield played well but didn’t really blow it out of the water. Can he do it again next year. I am not a GM but I don’t think Mayfield quite earned the top dollar contract yet. He played well this year but still had quite a few hiccups. I would like to see him get paid but how much and how long ??? Again I am not an NFL GM
January 24th, 2024 at 3:50 pm
I think he is worth $35mm per year. A three year deal for $105mm
January 24th, 2024 at 3:51 pm
I’m gonna LMAO if the Bucs go cheap and somebody else offers Baker better and he takes it. PAY DA MAN!
January 24th, 2024 at 3:51 pm
I vaguely remember him saying he wants to run it back and sacrifices will have to be made. Sounds incentive heavy to me. Baker is obviously not afraid to bet on himself
January 24th, 2024 at 3:52 pm
If he hadn’t thrown that last INT and found a way to tie the game he would have been $40mm a year
January 24th, 2024 at 4:01 pm
I agree Baker Fan. If he is not someone the Bucs think they cannot win a Super Bowl with then don’t sign him.
First year in this system I would say he played at a very high level and deserves a big contract from the Bucs.
There is no sense in offering him $20MM, because I think he can easily get more in free agency. Sportrac estimates his contract at 4 years for $108,512,500 which is an average salary of $27,128,125 per year.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:03 pm
Poorly worded:
I meant If Bucs do not think he can win a Super Bowl then they should not sign him at all.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:05 pm
I can see at most him getting $25-30 million per year, with $40-$45 guaranteed.
But in all honesty, I don’t think he is worth more than $20 million per year.
He was up and down all year, he’s been bounced around the league. Teams have cut him after he supposedly did well.
I don’t believe Mayfield wants to be on he free agent market anymore.
I would offer him $60 million for 3 years, 2 guaranteed. Add in some incentives, and a no trade clause.
If he doesn’t take the deal, franchise him and hope for a trade partner with a high pick.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:06 pm
Let Mayfield check out the market – he will find very few starting jobs available and back up money (7m, tops) isn’t that good.
2 years, 30m, with incentives but no guarantees.
Decent money and best of all, he will play.
Mayfield is aggressive & competitive but he also isn’t a top 15 QB in the league. If some team wants to play him more then wave good bye.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:08 pm
ocala Says:
January 24th, 2024 at 4:03 pm
Poorly worded:
I meant If Bucs do not think he can win a Super Bowl then they should not sign him at all. ”
I tend to agree, but our record knocked us out of the high pick range.
If a cheap deal cannot be worked out, franchise him, try to trade for a good pick. If no offers come in, play him a year on the tag.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:08 pm
@Boss – Richard Sherman negotiated his own contracts with NFL teams.
yep. he got “real” money…… enough to not be wanted anymore.
have BM ask tof “real” money lol
January 24th, 2024 at 4:09 pm
to ask for
January 24th, 2024 at 4:09 pm
I would love to be a fly on the wall fo that negotiation!
January 24th, 2024 at 4:14 pm
If Goff is at 26 per that is a good comparison. Baker should be a little lower actually.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:18 pm
Has Starks ever negotiated a contract as an agent? Is he a lawyer? If no, his opinion is no better than anyone else. He has an opinion. I have a different one. Mayfield says he wants to stay in Tampa. He will give some money to stay but don’t think he will give up 20 million a year. He has a wife and they have opinions or at least mine does. Guarantee 40-50 million over 3 years with some incentives should do it. Or franchise him, pay the 35 and roll the dice that it doesn’t cost you more next year when he has an even better year.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:18 pm
Bowles is Done, PFT really ripping a good one now!!! on the time out issue… Just make Canales the Head coach!!
January 24th, 2024 at 4:23 pm
Don’t care
January 24th, 2024 at 4:24 pm
Cut out the Trask nonsense already. To find out his value offer him up on the trade market and see what you get. Bet you can’t even get back the draft spot spent on him. Maybe he can improve but live game moves too fast for him.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:24 pm
$10M per year for 3 years, $150M bonus if you win the Super Bowl.
Honestly, I wish the entire NFL did this… would be fun to watch.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:25 pm
David, you couldn’t get Goff for that now and won’t when his contract is up. Not an apples to apples comparison
January 24th, 2024 at 4:32 pm
Play Trask and save 45 million. Sounds good to me.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:35 pm
Hopefully, the Falcons will sign Baker and we can start Trask who is still on his rookie deal
January 24th, 2024 at 4:39 pm
Who would you take, Derek Carr of Mayfield? Long-term they’ve played about the same.
Derek Carr signed a 4 year, $150,000,000 contract with the New Orleans Saints, including a $28,500,000 signing bonus, $100,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $37,500,000. In 2024, Carr will earn a base salary of $30,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $35,700,000 and a dead cap value of $52,800,000.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:40 pm
ocala Says:
January 24th, 2024 at 4:01 pm
I agree Baker Fan. If he is not someone the Bucs think they cannot win a Super Bowl with then don’t sign him.
…………………………………………….
Let them roll with the walking statue next year and with this offensive line he will be on the injure list early and often.
You are getting me a little wrong but we come to the same conclusion, if they are not willing to go all in then Baker should not sign with them either. They will not Franchise him because that leaves them very little left.
Trask wins, now all these people get their wish and as Metallica sings in King of Nothing….
Careful what you wish
Careful what you say
Careful what you wish you may regret it
Careful what you wish you just might get it
Then it all crashes down
January 24th, 2024 at 4:43 pm
Who would you take? Jimmy Garrapolo or Mayfield. Mayfield plays more, similar talent. Garappolo plays about half the games in a season but he is far better looking than Mayfield. Who do you want?
Jimmy Garoppolo signed a three year, $72.75 million contract with the Raiders. The contract $33.75 million in fully guaranteed salary. The full guarantee consists of Garoppolo’s 2023 base salary and an $11.25 salary in 2024.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:47 pm
Oz Len Says:
January 24th, 2024 at 4:43 pm
Who would you take? Jimmy Garrapolo or Mayfield.
………………………………………………….
Great trade I would love to see Baker in the Fearful and Dreaded Silver and Black
January 24th, 2024 at 4:52 pm
If Canales leaves, Glazers should fire Bowles, hire Monken and tag Baker and see how he does with the new offense. Wishful thinking. Sign Wirfs, Winfield, LVD, and draft Cneter, Guard, Edge rusher, cb and RB. Can’t afford Evans plus he’s dropped enough passes as a Buc.
January 24th, 2024 at 4:56 pm
A lot of GM’s and financial advisors in here
January 24th, 2024 at 5:02 pm
$30 mil plus incentives seems reasonable…..3 years with $60 guaranteed.
The way he plays, we could be looking at IR for part of that.
January 24th, 2024 at 5:02 pm
17 regular season games we struggled to get to get over 20pts and doing it only 7 times…I think 20-25 Mill is ok till he proves he can score more pts .
January 24th, 2024 at 5:12 pm
Didn’t New York pay Daniel Jones $160,000 over 4 years? Baker played better than Jones. $40 mil/year is the bar for B-rated QB’s now
January 24th, 2024 at 5:31 pm
Fire Bloweszo hire Harbaugh and let him decide.
January 24th, 2024 at 5:38 pm
Mayfield can be replaced easily. Take the best veteran Qb available at a decent price and they will play well here with this team. This talent on offense will carry the next QB just as well as they carried Mayfield.
January 24th, 2024 at 5:41 pm
Game was on the line in the playoffs and he choked.
Two years, $30 million. Take it or leave it.
And draft a QB.
No one is clamoring for Mayfield except Bowles.
January 24th, 2024 at 5:49 pm
Baker: 3 years for 90 million. Make sure we keep Canales. If Canales comes back from Carolina with a job offer, fire Bowels and hire Canales, or tell Bowels he can come back as DC at a reduced rate, which he will refuse. Yup, I’m back to spelling it “Bowels” after that timeout fiasco and his inability to own up to it. Disgraceful.
January 24th, 2024 at 5:58 pm
Really funny to hear these experts talk about “Mayfield’s ceiling.”
How do they know what his ceiling is? If Mayfield enjoyed strong O and D lines, his ceiling is virtually unlimited. Have to laugh at these imbeciles because a year ago these fools though Baker was a candidate for the USFL. Stafford was in a 10 year Detroit wilderness with a “limited ceiling” before he found his ceiling was unlimited with a well managed and coached team in LA. Same is true for Baker.
January 24th, 2024 at 6:00 pm
Atlanta hires Belichick along with Evans, Winfield, LD and Tompkins. Belichick trades down in the draft to the Bucs for Trask – to be Falcons QB1.
Canales and Mayfield go to the Panthers. Bucs give them Wirfs to trade up in draft.
Glazers and Bowles rehire Jameis as QB1 (4 million), Byron as OC and Aguayo as kicker. Bucs get Caleb Williams in draft – he will sit on the bench 3 years, groomed by JW and BL.
My buddy, Rod Munch loaned me his official NFL crystal ball. 🙂
January 24th, 2024 at 6:01 pm
Agree with those who say $25 mil a year for 3 years, with 2 years guaranteed, BUT … with tough incentives that could get it up to $30 mil a year (winning record, playoffs, etc).
Bucs’ problem is how to come up with the money AND still pay other critical FAs (Winfield, Evans, McLaughlin & LVD come to mind) PLUS sign Wirfs to a long-term deal (his is the 1st one I’d do). As bad as 2024 already is, it looks like 2025 will be even worse. There’s a price for mortgaging the future. New Orleans is about to find that out, even more than we will. Atlanta’s in the best shape IMO. Carolina’s OK too, but they don’t have the players that Atlanta does.
January 24th, 2024 at 6:01 pm
I just read a report Dan Morgan the new GM for Carolina is really good friends with Dave Canales. The article says it’s getting serious between the two.. looks like they want him to work his magic with Bryce Young
January 24th, 2024 at 6:03 pm
Jason and the Glazers need to listen to Toad’s advice.
Why prolong the obvious? Fire him now.
Harbaugh.
January 24th, 2024 at 6:09 pm
Baker saved his career this year…but there’s really no guarantee that he can replicate his 2023 success in 2024.
He’s been up & down from the get-go. Good rookie campaign, Soph slump, Good 3rd yr, 4th yr slide, 5th yr nearly got him out the league if not for Bucs life line for a chance to compete against a Traskcan for QB1 in Tampa in yr 6 of his career.
I’m not 100% sold on him being “the guy”…But solidly in the Geno Smith contract range for Baker…3yrs-$75M w/ no more than $35-40M in guarantees. Take it or leave it.
January 24th, 2024 at 6:10 pm
I take it many of you did not graduate College as you do not understand the law of supply and demand. The Bucs will not be able to sign Mayfield for a Salary under 35 million a year and more likely at least $110 million for 3 years. The people who think Mayfield can be signed for $20-25 million a year have definately not graduated College. If a Daniel Jones, Jimmy Garapolo, Geno Smith, Derek Carr are makiing near 30 million, Baker Mayfield will be paid at least higher, that is the market. You people thhink you can get rid of Mayfield & replace him with a Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Kyle Trask or similar QBs & think the Bucs will do as well or better when they all failed with their current teams. Get real!
January 24th, 2024 at 6:14 pm
Whta you people do not understand the Bucs are a much worse team without Mayfield than if they didn’t resign any of their other free agents.That is the Facts
January 24th, 2024 at 6:16 pm
lol gonna play NFL GM for a moment. Offer Mayfield $ 35 mill with incentives next season, $40 to $46 mill with incentives pending on how he plays in 025 with an option for 026. I think Mayfield want the Bucs as much as they want him. I mean he played as a starter for $4 mill last year, that’s damn near backup money. I think both sides will come to a reasonable contract
January 24th, 2024 at 6:20 pm
Well my first comment was censord so I’ll try to word this nicer. If the goig rate for a Daniel Jones, Derek Carr, Russell Released Wilson, Geno SMith, Jimmy Garrapolo is $25-30 million dollars, for you not to think Baker Mayfield will be offered at least 35 Million for 3 years each is ludicrous.
January 24th, 2024 at 6:23 pm
catcard202 Says:
January 24th, 2024 at 6:09 pm
I’m not 100% sold on him being “the guy”…But solidly in the Geno Smith contract range for Baker…3yrs-$75M w/ no more than $35-40M in guarantees. Take it or leave it.
____________________
Baker will leave your offer. You are soon going to see what he commands on the open market and you are not close. Hope you Traskites enjoy your man next year. Not your money and nobody cares whether you “are sold on him” or not.
January 24th, 2024 at 6:27 pm
I can see pushing ME13’s salary into the future (a habit we are trying to break)—his is a special case. Not sure that would be enough tho
January 24th, 2024 at 6:33 pm
“[Mayfield is] still a stopgap,” Starks added while claiming Mayfield’s annual ceiling is “9 or 10 wins.”
—–
Thata probably the dumbest take I’ve ever seen anyone make on a starting QB. who in his first year wth a team already sits at 9
So he can’t possible do better in his second year than one more game? lolol
Whats with all this Trask talk STILL? As I recall he is on his final year come next season as well. So we are going to be at stop gaps for a long time because why should he not want to bolt for ANY team that didn’t sit him on the bench for three years?
Anyway as a Bucs fan I’d love to see him stay on here . However, frankly It would be faaaaar more entertaining for him to land up in A steeler jersey. Baker likes to play with a chip on his shoulder and there he would have a perpetual chip playing in the same division with the Browns.
OF course being a Baker fan I know its clap trap that Canales ressurrected Baker. Mcvay did that which is why he was even on the Bucs radar. I like canales but I can already see the fan base here over rating the guy. Theres nothig special Canales has done for Mayfield that other OCs can’t do and some even better.
So Baker will be fine regardless. His mission for 2023 was accomplished.
January 24th, 2024 at 6:34 pm
This the same Max Starks that Baker and the Browns retired in 2020 in the playoffs in their house? The grapes are a little sour on that man. Baker earned what the market will dictate for him. Falcons, Vikings, Steelers, Raiders, and Broncos are too far back in the draft for one of the top guys and want/need an upgrade or have an FA QB…
Bucs gonna have to pay at least close to what any of them may offer…though, making work quickly would be smartest option. Get him off the market before the market dictates, but his agent will be ready and aware of what teams will offer
January 24th, 2024 at 6:59 pm
@ Rod
Another option is the transition tag. $31M for one year. Baker gets to negotiate with other teams but the Bucs get the chance to match any offer…
The only reason I would prefer a multi year deal is due to the additional salary cap flexibility.
January 24th, 2024 at 7:02 pm
Food for thought re dropping Baker and hitting the draft to get better odds of winning a Super Bowl. In the Super Bowl era, 721 quarterbacks have played in the NFL. Of those, 64 (9%) have made it to at least one Super Bowl, and 29 (4%) have won at least once. So, if you think that Baker has less than a 4% chance of pulling it off, it makes sense to rely on the draft, instead.
January 24th, 2024 at 7:04 pm
My opinion is that we will still see Jensen with the Bucs. Only this time as an OLine coach.
January 24th, 2024 at 7:05 pm
Regardless of what has been posted, if the Bucs cannot or will not sign Mike Evans, Baker will not sign with the Bucs, no matter the money on the contract. Any NFL QB worth their “salt “knows success centers around the quality of teammates. If he returns, three years at 65m with 40m guaranteed.
January 24th, 2024 at 7:08 pm
Pay the man!!! Cmon guys, with that offensive line and a subpar run game most of the year, with that production, with increased efficiency under pressure in playoffs, AND he has the love and respect of his teammates and you STILL want him to sign a bridge deal? REALLY? Pay the man and build the trenches. Smh
January 24th, 2024 at 7:29 pm
Well .. roll the dice. I guess we always have Trask, right? Some other team castoff? The 26th pick in the draft?
January 24th, 2024 at 7:37 pm
Should we not save the franchise tag for Winfield? We absolutely cannot lose him. Baker might be well advised to study the long term benefits of the Brady model. Take less than market value to ensure the team has the money to resign Evans and add pieces.
January 24th, 2024 at 7:45 pm
The problem is that Baker holds most of the cards. We can’t trade for a top-notch QB. We won’t find a top tier guy at 26 in the draft, most likely. We don’t have a backup to step in at a starting level. Pay him and get on with improving the team.
January 24th, 2024 at 7:49 pm
If you sign Baker ,will he throw the ball to him self and block for his self and play defense. Sign a young quarterback.
January 24th, 2024 at 8:14 pm
The Brady model?
LOLOLOL.
“Brady earned some 525 million during his 23 seasons, of which 333 million was from playing contracts and more than 200 million was from his off-the-field activities.”
I mean how ignorant can someone be? The Brady model? Gisele?
Please people…read some books…google…anything but that nonsense
January 24th, 2024 at 8:19 pm
Oz Len Says:
January 24th, 2024 at 4:39 pm
Who would you take, Derek Carr of Mayfield? Long-term they’ve played about the same.
Derek Carr signed a 4 year, $150,000,000 contract with the New Orleans Saints, including a $28,500,000 signing bonus, $100,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $37,500,000. In 2024, Carr will earn a base salary of $30,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $35,700,000 and a dead cap value of $52,800,000.
——-
Well that’s the thing, you don’t want to get stuck with a terrible contract like the Saints gave Carr.
That’s why, if I’m the GM, I’d do a deal that you can get out of after a year – but also keeps him under contract if he’s worth the money. You’re likely going to pay very close to that $35m for the flexibility you’re getting from doing that.
If you had complete confidence in Baker, that he’s your future QB, then you likely could get him on multi-year deal, like 4-years, at that Goff type of money of $26m, but you’d have to guarantee most of that.
Regardless of if you like Baker or not, the guys who have been in Bakers situation, that have had a breakout season, the bust rate on them is very high and it would be extremely risky to do a long term deal without an out. That’s the type of deal, as a GM, that gets you fired if Baker was to regress, and that’s why I think the Bucs will pay more up front to maintain flexibility.
January 24th, 2024 at 8:22 pm
After reading those comments, Canales, Mayfield and Evans should go to Atlanta and play for a Title there. BUCS fans are dumb enough to fail to appreciate contention in the postseason, that much is clear. The BUCS can probably get Flacco for 35 mil a year for 3 years with 65 guaranteed or you smart apples could do much better than Mayfield, just pick up the rest of Deshaun Watsons contract! 😅
January 24th, 2024 at 8:29 pm
Optimistic….. Just curious where you were going with this? If Brady earned 333 mil after 23 years which is about 14.5mil a season…… Meaning he kept his contract down to allow the team to bolster its roster. I’m not understanding your take. I get that not most QBs can have the off field stuff that Brady has, but he did leave a lot of money on the table to help his team
January 24th, 2024 at 8:42 pm
Love will get $$ in Green Bay, Wilson will get $$, Mayfield will get $$, if he wants to pursue top $$. He stated that he wants to stay AND keep Evans. Instead of acting like he’s not one of the top ten QBs out there right now in yards, TDs, and yards per game(it means your running game sucks) maybe ownership will recognize ALL of those factors along with only 10 Ints regular season and awesome playoff qbr and just structure all of the key deals together. Maybe, just maybe, they’ve learned what many on this page didn’t learn from Cleveland and theyll just say “guys you’re worth every penny of top $$, but if each takes a little less, then we can get a few more players and keep the band together for another good ol fashioned playoff sortie next year…and this time we’re bringing the parrot!
January 24th, 2024 at 8:58 pm
Lol @ Doc! Baker has received the ball, ran the ball (while blocking for himself) and he probably would play defense if he thought it’d help the team! He’s a gamer and he wants to win, he’s exactly what this team needed?
January 24th, 2024 at 8:59 pm
Lol @ Doc! Baker has received the ball, ran the ball (while blocking for himself) and he probably would play defense if he thought it’d help the team! He’s a gamer and he wants to win, he’s exactly what this team needed!
January 24th, 2024 at 9:07 pm
Gene Says:
January 24th, 2024 at 8:22 pm
After reading those comments, Canales, Mayfield and Evans should go to Atlanta and play for a Title there.
…………………………………………………
If Mayfield went by the consensus on here I would sign with Atlanta and come back in here and spike the ball in the endzone over and over. Baker would of tore Tampa a new one if he was Detroit’s qb and given the time that Goff was given.
You guys over rate TB talent on both side of the ball. Sure Evans may be Bucs best receiver but he is not the best receiver in the league, he is in that 12-15 range, actually the same where you haters put Baker.
Please Baker move on…..Raiders, Titans, Falcons, Steelers and take Evans with you . Evans on one side and Devante Adams would be a nightmare.
January 24th, 2024 at 9:20 pm
Everyone can stop hoping for the Bucs to get Harbaugh he is going to the Chargers.
January 24th, 2024 at 9:31 pm
If he wants more than 30 million, franchise tag him.
He won’t like it, but it is a way for the Bucs to find out if this season was a fluke. To me it looks very like a fluke, but I have been wrong a time or two and know I will be at some point in the future.
I don’t think Baker can keep at the pace he gave this season, and that pace was already faltering. There was that big dismal in the middle of the season, some real schoolyard kinds of thing that included holding the ball for forever too long.
Then there was the way the Bucs offense finished this season; with an interception at a time and place where and interception should not have happened.
January 24th, 2024 at 9:32 pm
@JimBobBuc, I 100% agree with you. Baker and the entire offense should take a step forward if Canales returns, but if a new OC comes in then all bets are off.
I would like to see what this offense can do if they stay together another season, adding some pieces via the draft and free agency to strengthen some positions that need it.
January 24th, 2024 at 9:53 pm
@Gipper
“Stafford was in a 10 year Detroit wilderness with a “limited ceiling” before he found his ceiling was unlimited with a well managed and coached team in LA. Same is true for Baker.”
Stafford first 6 Years:
35 Wins / 42 Losses, 45.5 Win%
59.6% Cmp Pct
7.01 YPA, 282 YPG
131 TD / 85 INT, 1.54 TD:INT Ratio
Playoffs 0 Wins / 3 Losses
Baker Mayfield first 6 Years:
40 Wins / 46 Losses, 46.5 Win%
61.9% Cmp Pct
7.19 YPA, 228.4 YPG
130 TD / 74 INT, 1.75 TD:INT Ratio
Playoffs 2 Wins / 2 Losses
I’d say Stafford and Baker are pretty comparable except Baker got a playoff win at crappy Cleveland and another one on a Bucs team that won a SB Champ 3 years earlier. Stafford could not ever get Detroit over the hump not just in 6 years but all 12 years he was there. I think Baker’s ceiling has not been displayed while he was at Cleveland or the Rams/Panthers. I hope this first year in Tampa is the true floor for him. And Baker does not ask for the moon and treats the Bucs as an opportunity for long-term legacy by allowing the team to build weapons around him for some deep playoff runs. There are some decent WRs in the draft in 2024.
January 24th, 2024 at 10:15 pm
BucsFanSince1996
“Baker and the entire offense should take a step forward if Canales returns, but if a new OC comes in then all bets are off.”
Baker was in the same offense the previous year with the Rams. It is Sean McVay’s version of the wide zone west coast offense. There are many QB Coaches and Passing Game coordinators in the league from the McVay tree that are waiting to be the next Zac Taylor, Matt LaFleur, Canales as OC and then HC. A quarter of the league is using the offense.
January 24th, 2024 at 10:27 pm
BakerFan Says:
If Mayfield went by the consensus on here I would sign with Atlanta and come back in here and spike the ball in the endzone over and over.
——–
Well you have to understand that not everyone is a weak minded simpleton that requires constant positive reinforcement and crumbles if anyone says something they don’t like.
I think Baker can handle some people on the internet saying something he might disagree with, even if it’s about him.
January 24th, 2024 at 10:45 pm
You’re wrong (as usual). Winfield is getting the tag.
January 24th, 2024 at 10:56 pm
Daniel Jones says yes, one good year is enough to demand $40 million dollars a year 😂
January 24th, 2024 at 11:00 pm
I hope the Falcons hire Bill Belichick so he can lose another 13 games next season by one or more scores
January 24th, 2024 at 11:03 pm
@ncbuc – Gisele was/is worth MORE than Brady. That’s called MATH
JFC – I will pay for basic math classes at HCC for some of you. On da house if you stop posting dumb comments.
January 24th, 2024 at 11:27 pm
WHAT qb would we have if we didn’t sign Baker? Trask? Name a FA? Cousins? He’s 38 years old. Draft one? Would take our first and our 2nd and/or 3rd to trade up, which prevents us from fixing our horrid pass rush, our bane of the last 3 seasons
January 24th, 2024 at 11:44 pm
@optimistic, Brady took pay cuts the entire time he was in NE. He and Giselle got married in 2009. By 2009 Brady had already signed 3 contracts with NE. Before Giselle Brady never averaged more than 10.7 mil. The most TB ever made in a season on average was with our Bucs at 25mil. My point was that he consistently continued to not be the highest paid QB to make sure the team was built. He had a contract restructuring that was a 2002-2006 contract, then the next contract was from 2005-2010. All keeping his cost down way more than he was worth
January 25th, 2024 at 12:13 am
IT’S A ONE OFF!!!!
Stop talking stupid. Stop living in the past.
Stop comparing Mayfield to Brady.
Good lawd…mercy.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:21 am
Personally I see anything above $10 million as the same but I’m broke AF.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:31 am
I’m in agreement with Truckerbuc. The man has stepped up and balled out for the Bucs at a backup’s backup price tag in ‘23. Get him in a solid system and watch him flourish! I love to watch the guy play and given a shot to be the man long term will only build the next legacy for the Bucs. Let’s lock him in, make it reasonable; $100m over 4 years and move on! Go Bucs!
January 25th, 2024 at 3:38 am
I’ll be a Baker fan no matter where he plays but I’m hoping the Bucs management is smart enough to bring him back for a multi year season!
January 25th, 2024 at 4:04 am
Marine Buc Says:
January 24th, 2024 at 6:59 pm
@ Rod
Another option is the transition tag. $31M for one year.
———–
Teams generally do those deals with a poison pill – and structure the deals in a way to make them extremely difficult, or impossible, to match. Also those deals almost certainly would be for multiple years of real money, which is not something I think the bucs would want to do, not without an out – and if they’re only matching a deal, they’d have less say in that.
I’d just do the franchise deal, assuming we got Winfield and Evans done first, and still can’t come to terms with Baker.
January 25th, 2024 at 4:10 am
Craig … ‘If he wants more than 30 million, franchise tag him.’
Keep in mind that if you franchise tag a player, the team gets to eat the entire cost of the franchise tag ($35,952,000 in 2024). Can’t defer any of that CAP Hit to the next year. That’s a massive hit when the team (as currently projected) only has $48.7 mil salary CAP space remaining with only 34 players under contract (not counting the Practice Squad guys).
Teams don’t really want to use the franchise tag if they can avoid it (very costly). Personally I’d rather use it on Winfield IF couldn’t come to a long-term contract (safeties franchise tag is $17.2 mil, slightly less than Winfield’s Market Value of $18.5 mil).
January 25th, 2024 at 4:29 am
The Bucs will not pay Baker franchise money without more proof. I do not mean NFC South titles with a 500-ish record. Bowles has kept his job…barely…Canales may return…barely. For us to dish out franchise money to Mayfield with a bunch of barely attached is not good sense for the franchise.
I am sure Jason realizes this is not a good position. To spend big salary cap money when you really are still reeling from the Brady era would be foolish, unless you have that bonafide franchise guy. I don’t think he is convinced nor should he be. Tagging him is no answer at all. Is he is worth the crazy and, frankly grossly inflated tag number for QBs? That number sets any franchise back cap wise.
If it comes down to a true bidding war we gotta let him walk, and take our chances with Trask or hit the free agent bargain bin or both. Draft and start a late 1st round rookie QB in the first game next year? Not a chance!
Tough call, but what can we do at this point. I know there are some folks who are all about blowing it up and starting over with more draft pics. LOL
Go Bucs!
January 25th, 2024 at 5:51 am
cometowin2 Says:
“I like 25 million a year for 3 years with 2 years guaranteed or give him the amount Brady played for adjusted for inflation. That should allow us to sign the other players we need to.”
LOL – man it is really amusing reading all these post about paying Baker the same as Brady and those saying pay him $30-45M a year. Yall do realize both sides are actually agreeing to very similar deals. Folks – go to Spotrac or overthecap websites and learn some reality.
These comments about Brady being paid $20-25M is fantasy. That $25M is the cap hit for that year not the actual money paid to Brady and amount of money the team had to absorb in salary cap eventually. Brady played 3 years for the Bucs. He was paid $132.9M for those services for an average of 44.3M per year of service. Repeat – Brady was paid an average of $44.3M a year for those 3 years. Please quit passing fake news by saying Brady was paid $25M a year.
$35.1M of that total was paid in 2023 as Brady and the Buc’s GM agreed to push $35.1M of his salary paid guaranteed against the Buc’s 2023 salary cap – after he retired. The NFL is not like the Joe Biden student loan program where the salary cap loan is just forgiven. All that money was paid to Brady and all that money hit the Buc’s ability to field teams in soaking up salary cap.
The $30-40M per year for Baker is a bargain compared to those pushing for a Brady deal. The question becomes do they guarantee two or three years for Baker at that annual rate. The less you guarantee Baker, the less likely he will be open to helping the Buc’s out in salary cap relief to attain and retain a better team now by pushing some of that cap hit to future years. Tagging Baker for $35M, he will not feel the team is investing in him so why should he invest in helping them retain the other guys. He gets that $35M on sign and then hits the market next year. Next year the franchise tag will be $44M (+20%) or average 5 highest QB salary, whichever is greatest. And again, he will be very unlikely to help the Bucs with cap relief to attain and retain good players for tagging him rather properly investing in him.
Anyone thinks he will take less than $35M guaranteed a year is dreaming.
$30-$40M per year guaranteed for 3 year is the happy middle ground compromise. And no the Bucs won’t see his cap hit as $35M in 2024. They will probably do the same as the Brady deal and push a chunk of that to the years after the contract ends. By end of year 2 or 3, both sides will want to renegotiate to help the team if he does well and they both want to keep him longer. Usually in added years, more money and pushing more cap hit to future years.
For those who think he is only worth $25M, he will be happy to play for a bunch of other teams wanting to jump on the McVay offense bandwagon. The Bucs can always chance it with Trask. Or grab Justin Field on the cheap. I hear the wishbone is coming back in style.
January 25th, 2024 at 6:07 am
beeej Says:
January 24th, 2024 at 11:27 pm
WHAT qb would we have if we didn’t sign Baker? Trask? Name a FA? Cousins? He’s 38 years old. Draft one? Would take our first and our 2nd and/or 3rd to trade up, which prevents us from fixing our horrid pass rush, our bane of the last 3 seasons
—
well at least there’s one or two spots of actual intelligent life in these blog comments. Here’s reality and its a peach – Baker has completely devastated all other hopes at the QB spot.
They keep day dreaming about the draft. NO ONE is going to be left at 26 and the fight is going to be broad and deep to move up so good luck there. All the free agent Qb prospects have asterisks just like Baker – Cousins is age. Fields hasn’t put together a whole good season and also played some miserable ball and Russel Wilson? hehehe
Some of these guys writing multiple long posts pretending to be GM quality minds are just showing they have no life and the know no NFl. Kiddie analysis.
and finally – the Trask stuff again. These simpletons have not figured out yet Trask is about to start into the stretch Baker was this year – even if he lit up the world he’ll be looking to move on from the team that sat him for three years unless the offer is through the roof.
FOR baker its mission accomplished. He’ s insured The bucs can’t get anyone demonstrably better by helping to drop the draft pick to 26 and sit alleged boy wonder on the bench till his own contract year
The simpletons here just haven’t figured it out yet.
January 25th, 2024 at 6:17 am
My bad – Brady was actually paid $92.7M (not $132.9M) for the 3 years. His salary was actually $30.9M annual average for those 3 years. Apologize to the GOAT for that misinterpretation of the numbers.
January 25th, 2024 at 6:20 am
5 years, $140mil – 160mil….probably fall in that range!
January 25th, 2024 at 6:25 am
BakerFan Says:
January 24th, 2024 at 9:07 pm
Please Baker move on…..Raiders, Titans, Falcons, Steelers and take Evans with you . Evans on one side and Devante Adams would be a nightmare.
—-
Ignore the simple minded trite put downs of the Priest of the Trask Cult. Grown men like great match ups and narratives when they watch ball.
So yes Baker in a steelers uniform would be FANTASTIC entertainment and those would be some epic games.
and if he were to be disrespected here by the Glazers -Him in a Falcons uniform would be a great narrative too – although less so than the Steelers.
Remember when you read these comments though – you are only getting a sliver of the buc fan base and I’d say the dumber sliver ( with a lot of kiddies) as proven all season long. They control nothing and are so weak in influence they couldn’t even get their beloved Trask to sub in for an injured near dead QB1.
P.S. There’s’ even less of them than you think too because the comment system allows you to post easily under multiple names.
January 25th, 2024 at 6:42 am
David Says:
“If Goff is at 26 per that is a good comparison. Baker should be a little lower actually.”
Uhm that is base salary or yearly cash for 2024. That does not include the signing bonus spread out the life of contract. Goff’s current contract is actually the 2nd contract originally with Rams in 2019. It is 4 years for $33.5M average per year. $134M total with $110M guaranteed. With 2019 to 2024 NFL inflation, the number is probably closer to $40M per year. I would agree, Baker 2024 probably deserves same or less than Goff in 2019. Goff had already gone to the SB. Baker has only won 2 playoff games. That’s why the $90-100M guaranteed for 3 years with an opt-out 4th year appears to be the new line.
January 25th, 2024 at 8:28 am
I say keep them both and perfect them both playing…pad Trask up for some fancy plays. Make him run the ball… Like Pittsburgh Steelers did. Play both quarter backs, which would allow Trask to get the feel for the hit and run. Lol…yeah baby just see if he can develop the right stuff by running the ball…pad him up good and let him run it, or pass it .
January 25th, 2024 at 8:32 am
3 years – $25M per year with incentives up to $30 – $50M Guaranteed
Thats the deal Tom Brady agreed to even though the GOAT could have justifiably demanded double that amount.
If that deal is good enough for Tom Brady – its good enough for Baker Mayfield!
Does Baker want to be nicely compensated and stay in a stable situation on a team loaded with receiving weapons that appreciates his talents? – or does he want to chase the $ for all he can get and wind up in yet another bad situation…..
January 25th, 2024 at 8:58 am
How much “should” Baker get? How much “will” he get? How long? 3 years? 4 years? 2 years?
Look, I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth it to buy a 6-pack of tuna or maybe the 2 pack is enough? I mean, it’s good for you and the 6-pack is almost 20 cents per can cheaper but do I “need” that much tuna? Sure it will last a long time on the shelf, but will I be sick and tired of tuna sandwiches by the 3rd or 4th can?
When I settle the great tuna debate, perhaps I’ll weigh in on Baker’s contract but for now I have bigger fish to fry. (Fried tuna? Wonder what that’s like? I might need to re-think the 6-pack angle. Sounds nasty but who knows?)
Maybe I’ll just stick to peanut butter and jelly.. Big decisions need to be made. BIG. It’s a Bucs fan’s life.
January 25th, 2024 at 11:57 am
Baker Mayfield came into a gassed franchise, exhausted after 3 years of that high maintenance quarterback Tom brady. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tom Brady. He’s the man, and he got us a super bowl. It was an awesome season. But what Baker Mayfield did with a first year offensive coordinator on a new team was well above average. The Browns should have never moved on from him in the first place. Carolina and Los Angeles were stop gaps, and here he is on his fourth team. That should not work against him. He seems genuinely excited and happy to be here, and his enthusiasm and bonding with the rest of the team was extraordinary. The reason the same eight teams suck every year is because every two years they clean house and start over again. There has to be something said for consistency and continuity.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:59 pm
I think a 3 year contract in area of 90 million sounds reasonable, with incentives. Maybe guarantee 2 years of that for 60 million. I am still not 100% convinced that Baker can play consistently at a high level and that he won’t make a lot of bonehead interceptions. The Bucs are caught between a rock and a hard place. They don’t have a low enough draft pick to go QB fishing and there isn’t much out there in free agency comparable to Baker. Fish in hand is better than none at all. Give him the contract, fire Bowles and get an new offense-oriented HC. Go Bucs.
January 25th, 2024 at 1:43 pm
What ever boob thinks Goff will sign for 26 million a year is an idiot. Not that he is worth more, but I will promise you he will not settle for less than 35 million or more. He thinks he is the reason the Lions are doing so good. And I can promise you his agent is not letting him sign that deal either. Anything that fool said after that comment is useless. Baker on the other hand will sign for around 28 to 30 simply because that will be the rate based on the Tag being a few million higher. That tag will change as soon as some other QB’s sign this off season too, so they need to just get it done before others get big extensions and the tag goes up.
January 25th, 2024 at 1:47 pm
vadertime Says:
“I think a 3 year contract in area of 90 million sounds reasonable, with incentives.”
I think the incentives would be a 4th year option with more money or resign with another contract after 3 years. Just pay him 30-35 a year straight up so we can restructure that money for cap space as needed each year. I think that’s the norm when you commit to a mid-tier QBs for 2-3 years.
January 25th, 2024 at 6:02 pm
Since76 Says:
January 24th, 2024 at 5:38 pm
Mayfield can be replaced easily. Take the best veteran Qb available at a decent price and they will play well here with this team. This talent on offense will carry the next QB just as well as they carried Mayfield.
_______________________
Must have been that great last place running game that “carried Mayfield”?
Who are you kidding with this nonsense?
January 29th, 2024 at 1:46 pm
I think anyone wo thinks Baker can’t get more than $10-$15 Million per year is delusional. That’s just the reality of QB value in the NFL.
And for those who say he can’t get you anywhere, how about looking at playoff numbers Baker – Dak – Lamar.
Winning % – Baker
Completion % – Dak (Baker was second ahead of Lamar)
Yards per Attempt – Baker
Yards per Game – Baker
TD % (highest) – Baker
Interception % (lowest) – Baker
In the playoffs, given actual performance, I would take Baker over Dak & Lamar all day long.