“They Want To Keep It Where That Daniel Jones Number Is”
February 25th, 2024
The man who hired Buccaneers assistant general manager Mike Greenberg always has Joe’s ear when he’s talking Bucs.
Joe is referring to former Tampa Bay GM Mark Dominik (2009-2013). Dominik is the SiriusXM NFL Radio draft guru and he’s also co-host.
On Friday, Dominik explored the Bucs’ free agency situation and explained that there likely would be 20 teams after Antoine Winfield Jr. if the Bucs let him hit the market. Dominik also speculated that Winfield is pricing himself at the very top of the safety market around $22 million per season, likely about $5 million more than the Bucs want to pay. “I have a feeling they’ve outpriced themselves,” Dominik said of the Winfield camp.
Baker Mayfield, however, likely onliy has a max of five teams that would pursue him in free agency. Dominik explained that makes it likely that Mayfield’s price tag is more realistic and a much easier negotiation for the Bucs.
Interestingly, Dominik scoffed at any report claiming the Bucs and Mayfield have begun negotiations. Dominik said “negotiations have started” from reporters often represents nothing more than a phone call to set a meeting with an agent at the NFL Scouting Combine.
That said, Dominik thinks Team Glazer and general manager Jason Licht are thinking somewhere around 4 years and $160,000,000 for Mayfield with at least two seasons guaranteed. That’s the cash the Giants handed their quarterback before the 2023 season.
“I think Tampa wants to do a three- or four-year deal and they want to keep it where that Daniel Jones number is,” Dominik said.
Joe realizes that kind of contract has many Bucs fans breaking out in hives, but as Joe wrote earlier, the unexpected rise of the 2024 salary cap has the franchise tag for a quarterback over $38 million for just the 2024 season.
Good quarterbacks cost money. And don’t tell Joe you can’t win with an expensive QB. See the last six Super Bowl winners.
February 25th, 2024 at 4:30 am
33 with incentives!
I got you Baker
February 25th, 2024 at 4:31 am
But you better keep gaming or I’ll turn on you
February 25th, 2024 at 5:23 am
Four years and $160,000,000 with at least two seasons guaranteed sounds about right, doable, and a win-win.
February 25th, 2024 at 5:26 am
Can we sign him long term? extend the money out say 5 years, cap hits would be lower and he is young , drafted here and All pro.
February 25th, 2024 at 6:02 am
Unsure about five year contracts. I think they have to be pro bowl two years or more too. This was the first pro bowl for Baker. He did a great job too. Won MVP. He is our guy.
With that being said, Watson was traded and signed for 5 years, $230 million, fully guaranteed. He has done nothing, and myself as a woman feels as if the Browns’ stabbed us all in the back by that deal.
February 25th, 2024 at 7:06 am
No freaking out here, Baker is way better than Jones who is brittle and can’t stay on the field. If the Buc’s can get Baker for around the 4 years at 160 M that is a fair deal and they should jump at it.
February 25th, 2024 at 7:18 am
If everyone is reasonable it will get done…….
Baker , Evans and Windfield……..
Cap numbers are what they are……
February 25th, 2024 at 7:38 am
4 years 160 mil is about are whole cap space. I am glad Dominik is not GM any more.
February 25th, 2024 at 7:41 am
I don’t think it will be $40 mil a year. I think it’s gonna be around $35 mil at most and 3 years with insensitives and maybe an option for year 4. Dominik was fired and I am not sure but I don’t think he has been a GM since. However, Dominik was GM and I am just a Bucs fan so this is just my opinion. Opinions are like …holes everybody has one.
February 25th, 2024 at 7:49 am
Lol……I’m reading this thinking licht is saying this….lol…..and my mind says “licht must be about to leave or retire” to do a deal this bad for the Bucs….
Lol Dominic…..glad he is not gm. Try about 1/2 that amount.
February 25th, 2024 at 8:13 am
Baker’s future performance is somewhat linked to Evans staying with the Bucs. With Evans, Baker will have better stats and more wins. The Bucs need an incentive laden contract with Baker, it would ensure the Bucs are paying the right money for Baker’s performance, and to a lesser extent protect Baker if Evans doesn’t sign or doesn’t perform as he gets older.
February 25th, 2024 at 8:37 am
Get it done. See how well it worked out for the Giants. Why stop at a four year deal? Baker is the present, and future, lock him up for a full five years, and spread his cap number out more years. This way we can sign everybody back, and it’s on to the superbowl!!
February 25th, 2024 at 8:37 am
Brady was expensive? I’m pretty sure he took less than market value from us for a legitimate shot at redemption with a good team.
Sure. Let’s follow the Giants script and overpay for a QB. That won’t be a problem for the blue chip guys in the locker room looking for some of that cash.
February 25th, 2024 at 8:39 am
How did Baker go from about 25 million a year like Geno Smith to 40 Million a year? Did everyone remember the games against the Panthers and the Falcons where he was good awful. If Wndfield doesn’t make that play against the Panthers then the Bucs don’t make the playoffs. The Bucs have a top 10 pick and drafting a QB with a new coaching staff and Baker is making 10 million a year.
February 25th, 2024 at 8:57 am
“Dominik is the SiriusXM NFL Radio draft guru”
HaHa Dummynik couldn’t draft his way out of a wet paper bag….
In FIVE YEARS Dom drafted exactly 3 good players (ok 4 if you want to count the Molly Hamster – who was talented…)
Gerald McCoy – a pick my grandmother could have made
LD54
Will Gholston
Dozens of draft picks down the drain because of this clown…. The man MOST responsible for the “Decade of Depression” – Ladies and Gentlemen – I give you…. Mark Dummynik
February 25th, 2024 at 9:00 am
Mike Evans made Johnny Football a Heisman winner.
He made Jameis Winston look like more than a first round bust.
He gave an aging Tom Brady what he needed to win one more.
And now, he’s made Baker look like a 40 million dollar man.
February 25th, 2024 at 9:06 am
@Towered – Well said and facts.
February 25th, 2024 at 9:08 am
What made JFF a legend was the bobbed snap against Alabama that he threw to a little known tight end. JFF made Mikey look good. Drugs destroyed JFF not anything Football related.
February 25th, 2024 at 9:09 am
Put the horns on Bakes is a Viking in the Purple Reign
February 25th, 2024 at 9:11 am
@ George
“How did Baker go from about 25 million a year like Geno Smith to 40 Million a year?”
This is just an over reaction to the cap going up a couple bucks…
Calm down people. I wouldn’t put much credence into anything Mark “The Worst GM in NFL History” Dominik says.
Baker will be back in Tampa and I doubt it will cost $40+ million per year.
February 25th, 2024 at 9:19 am
There was a game last year where (Saints) Evans exited early hurt, Godwin had 8 catches and 115 yards in that game–it’s not like Mayfield NEEDS Evans, he just seems to prefer him
February 25th, 2024 at 10:33 am
I think that there are at “least” 5 teams who would love to have Baker as their QB and all of them would be happy to pay him $40M. Let’s face it, with Dak’s probable contract approaching $60M, $40M sounds like a steal especially when you consider that both QB’s have won the same amount of Super Bowls! Same goes for Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and a host of others.
However, I still feel that Baker will re-sign for a team-friendly $35M plus a ton of incentives… IF they also re-sign Evans.
And if a asker gets more from the Bucs, good for him.
February 25th, 2024 at 10:34 am
No offense.
But does anyone else think Daniel Jones looks “special?”
For me. Daniel Jones look his parents are cousins.
The GM for the Giants is a moron.
February 25th, 2024 at 10:36 am
We won the worst division in sports by the skin of our teeth. Baker averaged 230 yards a game, often padding that stat with garbage time yards when games were out of reach. We’ve likely seen his absolute ceiling and the result was a meddling, slightly below average offense. And we’re now gonna throw $40M at this guy? We’re chasing mediocrity.
February 25th, 2024 at 10:43 am
25 million is on the cheap side but 40 million is way past the level of reasonable and makes one question the sanity of the GM. Find that sane middle ground make the offer and if not accepted, move on the plan B.
February 25th, 2024 at 10:44 am
Joe is still listening to Mark Dominic?
Well, that explains some of your post!
Dominic was perhaps the worst Gm in Buc history.
And the Bucs are the worst Pro sports franchise in History(winning percentage).
As a long time reader- stop Joe. If you need an intervention, let us know.
As Far as Winfield Jr. what is the Franchise price for a Safety? Safeties are low man on the Team payroll. Above the kickers, but thats about it.
Im sure Dominic is unaware of that.
Sooo, if Licht gets off his butt and Signs Mayfield. We just Franchise Winfield Jr.
And Dom thinks the Bucs are gonna try to pay Mayfield what Daniel Jones makes?
Jones- the Probowler who took his team deep in the Playoffs?
Lmfao.
Bet It was Dom who wants to sign Mayfield to a longterm deal, AND spend our first round pick on another QB – whos only future is to sit on the bench!
Genius!
February 25th, 2024 at 10:44 am
Jones kicked arse in his option year. From what I could see last year, before his injury, their O-line was the worst in the NFL
February 25th, 2024 at 11:03 am
Baker has a much better resume than Jones, but on the other hand, Jones’ contract was obviously terrible from the jump. So this kind of makes sense. I would guess Baker is going to want a bit more guaranteed because as it is this is basically equivalent to tagging him for two years.
February 25th, 2024 at 11:03 am
And look where that got them. Daniel Jones never shown himself to be consistently good, a picture of inconsistency. Now they’re eating boo coo bucks because they were enamored with his present and threw aside his past performances and NNNOWWWW he’s injured. Not like he’s a spring chicken you know. Baker is the same way as Danny “Dimes”, consistently inconsistent from season to season and game to game even drive to drive and you think he’s a $40mil/ year qb? His fanbois love to point out “oh he’s played injured and he throws his body around! ” yet those injuries add up and you think the Bucs should pay a guy who’s motus operandi is he follows up one good season with one bad Buc breaking bucks??? Out of here with that! Winfield is more of a top priority. He’s been CONSISTENTLY great his whole career and no one has ever been willing to throw him away for a massage therapist freakazoid.
February 25th, 2024 at 11:05 am
No more than 3 yrs/$90mil with incentives 2 years guaranteed
February 25th, 2024 at 11:27 am
let baker try the open market and then he will come back to the table humbled and ready to take a team friendly offer.
February 25th, 2024 at 11:49 am
Remember. Baker sought out the Bucs last year. He wanted the opportunity that this team gave him. We could be that vehicle for a number of QB that are being undervalued this year. Sure, there’s risk. Baker having success at his next stop would surely sting. Paying too much at QB is a problem for more teams than not. The success the Bucs have recently had has come when they have gotten more than they paid for at the position.
February 25th, 2024 at 11:51 am
Is this the same Mark Dominik that also placed more value on bringing in prospects for a Dinner Meal Test. And if they did not complain about the meal being wrong, forgot about the tape of them in college.
Or the guy that after he left said the Bucs should give up the farm for Adrian Peterson.
Or the guy that gave a 1st and 4th round pick for 1 years’ worth of Darrell Revis that turned out to be a total of $39 million for that year.
February 25th, 2024 at 11:52 am
How about this for a contract?
$20mil/year guaranteed
$100k every win
-$50k every loss
$10k every completion
-$1k every incompletion
$500k every td
-$100k every turnover by him
$500k Positive winning record
$1mil Playoff
$250k win
-$100k loss
$2mil NFC Championship game
$500k win
-$250k loss
$1mil Super Bowl
$1mil win
-$250k loss
$250k Pro Bowl
$500k MVP
He earns all this and breaks the Bucs’ bank then he worth every penny.
February 25th, 2024 at 11:56 am
$160M for Baker Mayfield is outrageous. I’d rather punt on 1st down and have a defense you can’t score on.
February 25th, 2024 at 11:57 am
Wow this is a joke right?
Now it’s 40 million.
Dominik is dumb.
That Giants deal was the worst QB deal in 10 years outside Watson.
Look what Geno got and he actually WON comeback player of the year.
They are looking at what they have to pay Wirfs now too.
The tag is the MOST money Baker is gonna steal from the Bucs GUARANTEED.
February 25th, 2024 at 11:57 am
For those who want to look at the last game of the year and say, look at this game, he is not worth as much as (insert insulting contract here). If you want to look at just one game, how about the Packers game? Against a playoff team he was virtually perfect. Since Dak is projected to get around $60MM/year, and based on this one game Baker is clearly the best QB in the league, with a MUCH better playoff record than Dak, how about 4 years, $250MM with $180MM guaranteed.
If this sounds stupid, congratulations, look in the mirror.
I have no problem with doing a deal for less than Jones with incentive to exceed that number based on performance. BUT, if you want to start around $25MM and I was Baker, I would say 1 year with a no tag clause. The reasoning being, the Buc would be saying that they clearly don’t think Baker is the guy. Actually never mind, if $25MM is all they want to offer, he will sign elsewhere for more.
February 25th, 2024 at 12:10 pm
Lmfao Mark Dominick uses the most ridiculous quarterback contract currently as his bar for negotiations? No wonder his ass is sitting at home
February 25th, 2024 at 12:26 pm
Five of the last six Superbowls were won by the two greatest QBs of all time. They both played on team friendly contracts. Stafford won playing on a sweetheart deal he signed with the Lions.
Paying too much for a QB is always a mistake .
February 25th, 2024 at 12:42 pm
Mark Dominick has no qualification to evaluate any player’s worth.
Daniel Jones is severely overpaid for his production, right?
February 25th, 2024 at 1:47 pm
Bloggers here aren’t going to negotiate Baker’s next contract. He has a score to settle with the Cleveland Browns so it’s on to Pittsburg where he will excel with a stable organization. Last season was Mayfield’s floor. Pitts will find a way to pay him. The Steelers are well aware of what a healthy Baker can do.
February 25th, 2024 at 1:58 pm
LOL at the dweebs who think Mayfield has to ”prove himself”or that he’s only worth 20-30 mil because YOU say so
Most are OSU fans still mad about the Flag Plant….
February 25th, 2024 at 2:08 pm
I stand corrected. In previous post, I had put out there it is more likely they Franchise Baker non-exclusive. And no team will offer Baker a contract and lose two first round picks for him. And supposedly that would get Baker and his agent off the Daniel Jones type deal and more towards a Derek Carr contract. With team cap blowing upwards in 2024 and the Franchise QB tag now at $38M, the Bucs will need to franchise Baker to get him for the Daniel Jones deal.
I had posted earlier in other threads that he will sign for 3 years for 90-100M with 60-70M guaranteed. I amend my guess. He will sign 5 years for $200M with $80M guaranteed. Basically $40M for first two years. And then the team can cut him with little to no dead cap if he flames or pay him $40M a year which is below the new top 10-15 play rate. They will likely renegotiate after next year or following year to shift cap to fake void years to pay for Evans and resign Godwin. If they do not come to terms by March 5th, I am convinced they will Franchise Tag him. It’s much cheaper to come to long-term deal with Winfield than Baker. Each year is 18-22M negotiation range for Winfield. Each year for Baker is 30-45M negotiation rane. The cap implications are far greater for QBs. No tag, no deal, Baker will get that deal in Atlanta or Minnesota in FA because they run the same offense and he is a less injury proned younger Kirk Cousin with playoff moxy.
February 25th, 2024 at 2:15 pm
Using Daniel Jones’ contract as a yardstick for what to pay Baker Mayfield is beyond ludicrous. That particular contract has surely been the laughing-stock of all QB contracts among NFL GMs. Jones is currently costing the Giants $47.1 mil in salary CAP hit. He went 1-5 last season & currently sports a 22-36-1 career record. Forrest’s mama was right … ‘Stupid is as stupid does’.
February 25th, 2024 at 2:15 pm
Pay the man. That’s the only chance we can get Mike Evans.
February 25th, 2024 at 2:16 pm
It is rather funny. We are couch GM’s, and all know in our hearts that we shouldn’t pay a penny over so many millions to sign Baker. LOL. I trust in Jason. If we are playing the prediction game, fine. But I’ll leave the serious football financial business to G and L.
February 25th, 2024 at 2:23 pm
So pay baker 40 a year and he’ll play like Mahomes and Brady. Ridiculous logic
February 25th, 2024 at 2:25 pm
Absolutely hilarious that the same group of bloggers who were extreme critics of Baker being a Buc last year are the same ones haggling over whether to pay him $30mil or $40mil per year. Another genius on this blog writes “are” when he means to write “our.” Mother always said to consider the source. Baker is going to do just fine whether in Tampa or not. For the mostly sensible Tampa fans who have already made Baker a fan favorite, it will be sad to see him go. I can assure you that the franchise who steps up with $40mil/year will also build a strong O line around their biggest investment.
February 25th, 2024 at 2:27 pm
For any interested in the Bucs’ Adjusted 2024 salary CAP, it now sits at $259,152,054 according to Spotrac. With 54 players under contract, including at least 14-15 ex-Practice Squad players in that number, we now have $48.2 mil of salary CAP space (Top-51) to play with. Subtract slightly over $2 mil from that for the bump in Tristan Wirfs contract, and we’re left with around $46 mil.
That’s to re-sign our Top-5 (Winfield, Evans, Mayfield, LVD & McLaughlin) … OR … find suitable replacements for them, PLUS flesh out the rest of the 53-man roster. So yes the salary CAP went up quite a bit, but what that primarily means IMO is that (1) FAs will now expect MORE to sign or re-sign; and (2) the other 31 teams will be even more willing to kick out high $$$ for premier players like our Top-5.
February 25th, 2024 at 2:33 pm
When Jensen/Shaq money finally in rear view mirror things will look better
February 25th, 2024 at 2:34 pm
Defense Rules Says:
“Using Daniel Jones’ contract as a yardstick for what to pay Baker Mayfield is beyond ludicrous. That particular contract has surely been the laughing-stock of all QB contracts among NFL GMs.”
I agree with you when the salary cap was $225M and franchise QBs tag was $32M. But it is now 2024 and the cap is $255M and QB tag will cost $38M. You tag someone at $38M this year, you will have to pay $45M to tag him again. If he does well, you won’t find a QB in the draft and other QBs in FA will won’t more money too. The top 15 QB pay rate goes up fast – and your disdain to pay anyone that much money for non-Elite play does not align with reality for average QB pay. That is why you lock and leverage 2 years guarantee with ability to cut bait or keep him at lower than the growing market rate. Elite QBs will soon be getting $60-$65m per year. The LA Ram basically cut Geoff while he was making $28M a year. Detroit got a QB below top 15 pay rate and a draft capital. Goff is FA after 2024. Expect him to jump from $28M to $50M a year. We are basically getting Baker at $10M less than Goff which is about right. Baker is in the Above Average tier – one tier below Goff (Elite, Top 10, Above Averaget Top 11-15).
February 25th, 2024 at 3:31 pm
Dumfuknik.
28-52
Let’s Michael Bennett go because DuhQuan Bowers is ready to roll.
Pays Revis $16 large a year to rehab a bum knee after trading premium draft picks for him when the Jets were going to release him.
The veteran purge when he had an incoming incompetent 32 year old party boy panic-promoted to head coach.
Mark Dumfuknik can’t tell the difference between draft stock and livestock. He’s a drooler but at least he’s a failure.
February 25th, 2024 at 4:19 pm
Defense Rules Says:
February 25th, 2024 at 2:15 pm
Using Daniel Jones’ contract as a yardstick for what to pay Baker Mayfield is beyond ludicrous.
—
to your shock
Totally agree. Unless 40 Mill is with incentives I’d let Baker go test free agency . I see Baker at Low 30s and with Baker loving to bet on himself incentives that can take him near 40. Thats fine because you are then paying for results.
This comparison to what other Qbs got is a little silly. Its not what they got but whether it worked out for the teams that gave them those contracts. In most cases it didm’t. So why is failure a template for success?
February 25th, 2024 at 4:21 pm
Would rather roll with Trask, wolford and trade for Mac jones. Baker is not close to Daniel jones. Build for our future. Sucks are division is so lousy and it wants us to overpay for a .500 qb
February 25th, 2024 at 4:45 pm
Tony marks Says:
“This comparison to what other Qbs got is a little silly. Its not what they got but whether it worked out for the teams that gave them those contracts. In most cases it didm’t. So why is failure a template for success?”
It’s easy for us to say it’s silly to say Deshaun Watson got $230M fully guaranteed for 5 years and had not played a down in over a year – and was looking suspension in the eye. And then have Lamar Jackson the one-vote shy unanimous league MVP want exactly the same. He got $260M for 5 years with $185 fully guaranteed. Baker is not on that level. But it is not out of the ordinary for a top 15 QB to look at the other top 11-18 QBs in the league and ask for the average of that pay SCALED to the new cap and franchise tag. Players do not pay in 2024 for 2021 money. Their 2024 contracts are based on 2024, 2025 and 2026 project pay. That’s why $35-40M is no longer unreasonable or unfathomable. Lose Baker to the Falcons and watch them thrive to a home playoff game whilst we fail with Trask, and that $5-15M you wished away will have you feeling like a Panther’s fan.
February 25th, 2024 at 7:39 pm
DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:
February 25th, 2024 at 11:52 am
How about this for a contract?
The collective bargaining agreement wouldn’t even allow that nonsense
February 25th, 2024 at 8:49 pm
DavidBigBucsFan99 Says:
February 25th, 2024 at 11:52 am
How about this for a contract?
Even if the CBA would allow, how in the hell do you figure that against the CAP? Here is the answer: Likely to be earned count against the cap. Unlikely to be earned do not. If you achieve an unlikely to be earned bonus, it counts against the cap the following year. If you fail to achieve a likely to be earned bonus, your team gets that money as extra cap space the following year.
So my guess would be the league would use this past year’s performance as a guide. Based on 2023 the Bucs would pay Baker $41,501,000.
I think my math is right!
February 26th, 2024 at 2:10 am
Ron & Gipper👍🏼👍🏼😂😂😂
February 26th, 2024 at 2:18 am
It gets really tiring correcting you people that can’t keep the facts straight about Baker. I mean its constant!! You have to be Mahomes fans still feeling the sting from college. Baker 2-0, Mahomes 0-2 😭
February 26th, 2024 at 7:10 am
Well at least the writer left out the Domenic the “rock star” description this time.
February 26th, 2024 at 11:39 am
All of you who are okay with Baker taking up more than 20 million in cap space are smoking crack. We were 9-8 with him under center.
I personally wouldn’t pay him more than 15 mil because there are A LOT of good enough QB’s (same category as him) that we could replace him with and win just as many games, if not more.
If we still had Caneles, I’d maybe consider paying him up to 20 mil IF we had the cap space left over.
I know everybody hates Devin White, but I’d rather keep him for 10 to 15 mil then pay Baker a penny over 15. He’s going to go be a pro-bowler somewhere else. Baker’s not.
Nothing but love, but I feel like people are disillusioned with the stats and didn’t actually watch every single play. Don’t overpay for NFL caliber mediocrity.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:13 pm
4 years 160 with 100million guaranteed is a respectable market value contract for a QB that’s gets to and wins playoff games. Especially with the new cap increase. QB is settled we better figure out Defense and the run game to have a chance.