Status Of Baker Mayfield Negotiations?
March 7th, 2024
Update.
Are the Bucs and Baker Mayfield far apart? Are they nearing a deal? Probably five parties truly know: Mayfield, Mayfield’s agent, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, Mayfield’s wife and Team Glazer.
Jenna Laine of ESPN seems to have an update of sorts from her contacts. Progress is “slowly” being made, Laine Twittered. She did not offer any detail or any ballpark timeline for the negotiations to end.
@JennaLaineESPN: … … The legal negotiation window opens up March 11, which is when other teams can enter the picture, so they still have time.
And Laine’s last sentence is the kicker. All it takes is one. One team willing to put zeros on a check.
The NFL is a quarterback league and there aren’t nearly enough to go around. Unless a team has four or five potential Hall of Famers on defense, if a team doesn’t have a quarterback, they are screwed before a game is even played.
For reasons not quite clear to Joe, the mere mention of Mayfield’s name to some people erases all the positive things he did last year. If owners just looks at results, it’s difficult to believe that with all the quarterback-needy teams out there, Mayfield won’t get serious interest as a free agent.
March 7th, 2024 at 12:10 am
“he NFL is a quarterback league. There aren’t nearly enough quarterbacks to go around.”
Last season was Baker’s 6th, (and his best) which represented a summation for all he’d learned from the previous FIVE. I don’t see how these idiots can look at season 3..4, 5, etc and confidentially pronounce him a failure. Triumph of emotion over reason
March 7th, 2024 at 12:24 am
“For reasons not quite clear to Joe, the mere mention of Mayfield’s name erases all the positive things he did last year”
Its actually much more powerful than that . It even changes stats beyond last year . You simply cannot correct the narrative that 2023 was Baker’s only good season
Even though the stats for 2020 when adjusted to the 16 game schedule are almost identical and his rookie year in yards was better per game and when adjusted per game ( 16 to 17 game season) he averages over 4000 yards in 4 of his 6 years.
Facts and data do not matter much like you are talking to a flat earther.
March 7th, 2024 at 12:26 am
Rumors are going around that Arther Blank is determined to get it right this time at the qb position so his team can get the most out of the rest of their talent that they have put together…
Justin Fields is to much of an unknown which the Falcons have been burned by several times…
Russell Wilson has been passed over by 2 teams and not a risk worth taking….
It is going around that the Falcons feel confident with Baker Mayfield or Kirk Cousins to be successful in their new system!
March 7th, 2024 at 12:47 am
GO GET SAQUAN BARKLEY TO ADD TO THIS OFFENSE
ITS A BUCS LIFE
March 7th, 2024 at 12:55 am
to me, baker SUCKS!!!!
ONE YEAR DEAL ONLY!!
I’ll be happy when this entire BAKER ERA is OVER…
WE ON A FAST TRAIN TO MEDIOCRITY
March 7th, 2024 at 1:04 am
If the Bucs sign the average Mayfield to a lucrative long term contract there will be no signings of premium free agents.
March 7th, 2024 at 1:16 am
Baker screwed HIMSELF in Cleveland and if he’s not real careful, he’s going to do exactly the same thing here, with Tampa. He waaaayyy ‘overvalued’ himself, trying to play hardball, by being extremely (‘childish’) stubborn, etc. He could’ve taken a deal THEN, for around $25-MIL per, BUT HE continued insisting on being the ‘next’ inline, & resetting the QB-market (along with Dak)… He was being completely unreasonable. Therefore, the Browns began looking/plotting elsewhere, until Watson became available & a realistic option for them to go out and get… THEN, it’s cya later Baker!!!! Sounds-like, he’s wanting (at least) “Carr-$$$$” – All I gotta say is we just BETTER NOT… And, I don’t believe we will, either. There are several ‘other’ options out there, & I believe we CAN WIN without him… This roster is set-up pretty decently, for a ‘plug-n-place’ QB (in the NFC and especially in the NFC-South and with THIS next seasons schedule). They might be confident enough in Trask, as well!!!!
March 7th, 2024 at 1:27 am
MelvinJunior is a total clown….instead of ever admitting being wrong….he’s too willing to die on his “I hate Baker” hill. Only an idiot says that it’s Baker’s fault those teams sucked…even though they were and are extremely bad after Mayfield.
Stick to soccer stooge…Baker getting big bag and you’re still renting an apartment.
March 7th, 2024 at 1:35 am
The more all-caps words and exclamation points in a comment, the dumber that comment is. Every time.
March 7th, 2024 at 1:41 am
Make a move for the super athletic up and coming Justin Fields on his cheap rookie contract. The last time the Bucs had a running QB was Steve Young and had no team around him. Fields would be an exciting QB here in Tampa.
March 7th, 2024 at 1:44 am
I kinda agree – Baker thinks he is the ace in the hole but not sure what the dealer has, depends on the player Baker could double down or fall or win if the dealer busts. i WOULD NOT MAKE THAT BET AGAINST LICHT AND COMPANY ….. just sayin
March 7th, 2024 at 1:57 am
Baker better watch out. If he gets too much money he will be expected to shoulder the team. He was not really expected to do that last year.
March 7th, 2024 at 2:05 am
Let Baker go. Trade up (if necessary) and draft Nix.
March 7th, 2024 at 2:25 am
MelvinJunior Says:
March 7th, 2024 at 1:16 am
Baker screwed HIMSELF in Cleveland and if he’s not real careful, he’s going to do exactly the same thing here, with Tampa. He waaaayyy ‘overvalued’ himself, trying to play hardball, by being extremely (‘childish’) stubborn, etc. He could’ve taken a deal THEN, for around $25-MIL per, BUT HE continued insisting on being the ‘next’ inline, & resetting the QB-market (along with Dak)… He was being completely unreasonable.
What a load of Hueey. Only the haters will buy that fairy tale because they’ll but anything bad about Baler.
” They might be confident enough in Trask, as well!!!!”
There ya Go. Where theres a lie about Baker theres usually a yarn about Trask. What else is new? lol
March 7th, 2024 at 2:45 am
I’ve always been of the opinion that it is extremely lazy as a football fan to constantly deride a player without naming a better alternative. “We should move on from ‘player x’ because he wasn’t that great last year.”, etc, without having a plan for a replacement. In the comments we have people saying that signing Baker will preclude us from signing premium free agents? How so? So the alternative would be to sign a qb who is probably not a top 16 QB (Yes, that’s what baker is, make no mistake) who will cost the same as Baker, trading for someone like Fields (who could easily be in the conversation as the worst full time starter in the nfl) while simultaneously giving up premium picks, or picking a QB high and likewise not using that pick on other areas of need. So we can have Baker and a premium talent like JPJ or Keon Coleman, or we can have a rookie QB (typically far from a guarantee to be any good) and a so called “premium free agent” like Josh Jacobs. Seems like a pretty easy choice.
March 7th, 2024 at 3:18 am
Tony what you seem to not understand is 4,000 is NOT great.
For instance Herbert has 4 years but has already thrown for 4700 and 5,000.
When did 4,000 yards become the benchmark?
Even Jamies Winston threw for 5,000 in a season with 16 games.
Yes he had a boat load of picks, but Baker has years where he threw almost as many picks as TDs and had he thrown as much as Jamies did it would be equal probably.
Please STOP touting 4,000 like it’s unachievable by most. Its not.
Your insults just never stop.
March 7th, 2024 at 3:22 am
Herbert also threw for 31 and 38 TDs which is the much bigger stat IMO.
Baker is a career 1.5 TDs per game guy at best.
He has 10 total games of 3 or more in 86 trys.
Who wants THAT for over 40 million?
March 7th, 2024 at 3:41 am
Honestly, I’ll say this and I swear it’s my last post about Baker until I either root for him as a Buc or don’t because he is on another team.
The contract with money and years doesn’t bother me it’s the guaranteed money.
Pay him 4 years 4 Billion for all I care, but t only guarantee 75 million.
There are only 8 contracts north of 100 million in guarantees RIGHT NOW and that will probably go up with Tua, but 4 of them at least are BAD DEALS.
Deshaun Watson
Kyler Murray
Lamar Jackson
Russel Wilson and maybe even Jalen Hurts.
I do think 35 is the middle ground but I’ll be interested to see what the guarantees are. At least I can guarantee they won’t be strapped with a history making 85 million in dead cap for one player like Wilson.
Most on here look at the contract and say no way but I don’t.
If the guarantees allow us to walk away after 2 years, Im fine with it.
March 7th, 2024 at 3:42 am
So, y’all wanna just pick up wundem franchise QBs in the off season? Lots of em out walkin the street I hear. Might start with Cleveland and inquire about a guy named Watson. Be a sweet deal if you can bring him in for leauge minimum while the Browns pick up the rest of his salary…
March 7th, 2024 at 3:49 am
The model of building a team around a savior QB works for the 4-5 teams with an actual franchise QB.
There is a bottleneck of hamstrung teams paying their guy too much, and unable financially to cover other deficiencies on the team.
Then there are teams built with talent all over the field. So good that the QBs that play for these teams don’t need to be top 5. They are often described as game managers, though they rarely truly are. They simply play for a team that accepts the cards they have been dealt, and responds accordingly.
Paying Baker like an elite QB doesn’t make him elite. Neither does hero worship. Spend the money on true ability, not wishful thinking.
March 7th, 2024 at 3:56 am
Smoke is all that is in the air right now.
March 7th, 2024 at 4:04 am
BillyBucco Says:
March 7th, 2024 at 3:18 am
Tony what you seem to not understand is 4,000 is NOT great.
No what I do understand is you don’t know how to read. I stated
“Even though the stats for 2020 when adjusted to the 16 game schedule are almost identical”
thats not just yardage – go look – similar TDs and ints. So no matter how it hurts your poor little Baker hating feeeeeelings its false to sell 2023 as some unachievable season he won’t repeat or excel. get over it . facts make you lose…Forever
and lol don’t make me laugh harder with the Jamies nonsense . As baker has spent more time in the league he has learned to lesson those. Your boy Jameis is still a pick machine going into his 10th season .
So all you have left is the whole 40 million lie thing because even after being corrected you dont understand starting points of negotiatons and the process . One day you might buy a house and the whole negotiation idea of offer coutner offer thing might set a lightbulb in your understanding of how the process works
March 7th, 2024 at 4:10 am
Average NFL quarterback who wants more money than multi superbowl quarterback Tom Brady. The man is not as good as he thinks he is definitely not a team player. ByeBye good riddance.
March 7th, 2024 at 4:20 am
First of all Mayfield was decent at most for the Bucs last season. All the talk was about him having a great season but I watch every Bucs game last season and there was a lot of inconsistency and bad play by Mayfield. The media gave Bowles hell about a time out he didn’t use in that last playoff game However, if Mayfield didn’t throw that interception the question of that interception would never have come up. Again I am not a GM or owner but it’s no way I would give Mayfield $40 mil a year. $32 to $34 mil max until he has proven he can be consistent for more then one year
March 7th, 2024 at 5:44 am
Take away Evans numbers and baker only throws for 2900 yds and 15 buddies. He’d be plain silly to go anywhere else
March 7th, 2024 at 5:45 am
Edit tuddies
March 7th, 2024 at 5:57 am
@Tony the Mark
Relax, you as a Baker d!ck rider is just as bad as the haters. Bucs fans love Baker and what he did last year for the team. Especially when no one in the league thought we’d have a chance. But no one wants to handicap the team for what he did last year. Especially when one of the greatest Bucs off all time is sitting there, humbly, waiting for a deal that he fully deserves
March 7th, 2024 at 6:27 am
If baker wants past 32-35 million per year pass and get Wilson or Fields team has many needs and if we get Wilson at 1.5 mill we can get alot of other talent to surround him and if Wilson plays great give him the 40 million year contract but we saved all that money this year.
March 7th, 2024 at 6:45 am
You know what they say about rumors, Tye. They make a “ru” out of “mor” and “s”.
March 7th, 2024 at 6:45 am
Nobody is taking Canales play calling into account when it comes to Bakers stats…
For the love of god, how many games did we watch with a 1st down run up the middle and a ‘surprise’ 2nd down run between the tackles only to be stuck in 3rd and long. How many games did Canales forget we had Godwin or Evans as wide receivers…. I sometimes think Baker won some games despite the play calling.
But hey, that’s why I’m not an analyst or a coach :-).
March 7th, 2024 at 7:06 am
Anything Jenna Nancy Drew Laine reports I take with a grain of salt
March 7th, 2024 at 7:14 am
For reasons not quite clear to Joe, the mere mention of Mayfield’s name to some people erases all the positive things he did last year. …people are hiding their reasons because they are personal non football non content of character reasons.
March 7th, 2024 at 7:18 am
Starring Contest
Rumor is the Bucs offered $26M and incentives. Baker wants $40M. The Bucs said, “Go find it if you can.”
IMO, Bucs have more leverage than Baker.
Let’s see who blinks first.
March 7th, 2024 at 7:23 am
Where do people get this wilson for 1.5 mill stuff? Not only that he is well past his sell by date. All those good years were a dozen years ago. He has been horrid for the Broncos. Why do you think they are dumping him! Mrs. Fields according to Sir Rodney Munchkin had one good half season. Then he days Baker will revert back to his average. Well…. Apply the same principle to the cookie man. His career average is 11-29. And why do you think these billionaire owners need financial advice?
March 7th, 2024 at 7:27 am
Baker had the luxury of weapons and a garbage division. He did not have a resurgence in his career.
March 7th, 2024 at 7:29 am
There are nearly 8 billion humans on this planet. To say there aren’t enough good QBs to fill 32 teams is just silly. The problem lies with GMs and coaches who repeatedly fill their QB spot with retreads instead of putting untested players on the field. The NFL has plenty of examples of untested, unheralded players getting a shot and running with it (Purdy? Brady? Warner?). But if you never test those untested players it will obviously look like there’s a dearth of talent.
March 7th, 2024 at 7:33 am
@Marky Marky
The reason Wilson is going to sign for a cheap deal is because he is guaranteed 38M from the Broncos. Any money he takes from a team will take away from that 38M. There is no incentive for Wilson to take more than the vet minimum since no team is going to sign him for more than 38M a season
March 7th, 2024 at 8:13 am
It gets more difficult daily to wade through the enormous amount of crap from these so called football fans. BillyBucco makes some sort of argument about 4000 yards not being a gold standard any longer for QB’s.He cites Herbert and Jamieis Winston and others as evidence of proficiency. At no time does he mention Pass Attempts. Sort of obvious to even dullards that if QB 1 throws the ball 200 more times a year than QB2 it is likely that QB1 will have more yards, TD’s and completions than QB2. In 2022 Brady threw the ball nearly 200 times more than Baker in 2023. Mayfield doesn’t call the plays. He just does as he is told and he did it pretty well in 2023. Just as he has when not injured. Again, urge anyone who doubts Mayfield, to watch his 2023 highlights tape. Can assure you that Bucs management has as have potential suitors.
March 7th, 2024 at 9:19 am
This not hard. Elite, All Pro QBs are the key to 10 plus years of success. If you don’t have one it’s much more difficult to be relevant. Baker is not elite, he’s serviceable. Last years Baker is the best he will be. That’s his ceiling.
This is why rookie QBs are drafted early and often. Ride with them for 5 years and spend money on skill players to accelerate their maturation and success.
We had 2, yes 2 Franchise QBs… Williams and Young and we got rid of them before their prime. Think about that. If Baker leaves, it’s OK. We have to maneuver in the draft to draft a potential Franchise QB.
March 7th, 2024 at 9:51 am
All of these “Baker Boi’s” are on a completely other level. They are just like legacy media… They get all hysterical. They Are THE Absolute WORST. First of all, I am PRO signing Baker… But absolutely NOT for anywhere NEAR “Carr-type $$$$.” PERIOD. If he gets it elsewhere (tho I don’t see it happening), then I’m all for him… Let him go get it. I’ll roll with (our roster and our schedule) someone else… As I stated, I BELIEVE our roster is set-up well enough (especially after the draft and free agency) where you can mostly, ‘plug-n-play’ a lot of guys!!!! I’m not a huge Fields-Guy, but I’d be fine with giving Browning, Matt Jones, Trask, or whoever a shot BEFORE I’d ever give Baker Mayfield $40-MIL+ PER. MY number is in the 3yr/$100-MIL area, including incentives, & not a penny more. And, honestly, I believe Baker could find himself in a situation where maybe, he DOESN’T really get much of any huge offers at ALL, & then finds himself in a situation where the Bucs ‘might’ be able to offer EVEN LESS than what their ‘original’ offer was!!!! By the way, the main reason I included “Trask” in there, was because I KNEW that it would absolutely, make you loooose your MIND. Friggin’ Nut Jobs. Oh, and as for my little ‘story’ about Cleveland… ALL FACTS. The reason I remember this (very well), is because it was discussed on a daily basis for literally MONTHS, by “Dan Patrick.” And, it has always been a huge ‘pet peeve’ of mine… WHY is it that EVERY QB coming up ‘thinks’ they’re resetting the market, etc.!? BUT, the bigger question was WHY were teams continuing to be held hostage by all of these ‘middle-of-the-road’ QB’s and even agreeing to do so, & completely BLOWING-UP their salary caps!? Well, I believe teams are being MUCH smarter about that now, & that our Bucs are definitely, one of them and are ahead of the curve. It is nice having a very experience front office that has already been around the block a few-times.
March 7th, 2024 at 9:58 am
Trade for Fields. No way you should give Baker more than $30MM
March 7th, 2024 at 10:20 am
Hard to read a lot of the absurdities posted here. BillyBucco for example lectures us on the new benchmark of 5000 yards but says nothing about PassAttempts. When a QB throws the ball 200 more times in a season than what Mayfield did last year, I think a rational person would expect more yards and more TD’s. Mayfield is not calling plays and I am pretty sure if he was, he wouldn’t have called runs on 1st and 2nd down for the majority of last season. Again, to assess Baker Mayfield all you experts ought to watch 2023 Baker Mayfield highlights on Youtube video. Pay particular attention to down and distance on his throws. How quickly you forget. The naysayers want to forget because they have been consistently wrong on Baker all year.
March 7th, 2024 at 10:24 am
Yawn
March 7th, 2024 at 10:47 am
Remember how good he was last yr bc “he had a chip on his shoulder”? Pay him all that money and there’s no longer a chip. He didn’t get the tag bc he’s not worth that. It’s not we hate baker so.much as it is we would hate overpaying. We beat an eagles team thay was already done and finished 1 game over .500 let’s all calm the hell down with this big money talk
March 7th, 2024 at 12:00 pm
Jarrett says lol me to brother can’t wait until this baker bumfield stuff is over smh we don’t need him one ok year really go get JR mannnnnn!!!!!
March 7th, 2024 at 12:14 pm
There is no way you give Baker a $120 mil contract. He was decent but not great. When he Threw the interception at the end of the playoff game to me summed up Baker’s career. The Lions player called the shot. This draft is extremely QB heavy.
March 7th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
To me Baker couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat.
March 7th, 2024 at 12:22 pm
Hope Baker leaves. Too many idiots on this blog who played the trombone in the high school band.
March 7th, 2024 at 12:32 pm
Bring in Russell Wilson on the cheap and sign the rest of the guys we need
March 7th, 2024 at 12:41 pm
“realistic-optimistic Says:
There are nearly 8 billion humans on this planet. To say there aren’t enough good QBs to fill 32 teams is just silly. The problem lies with GMs and coaches who repeatedly fill their QB spot with retreads instead of putting untested players on the field. The NFL has plenty of examples of untested, unheralded players getting a shot and running with it (Purdy? Brady? Warner?). But if you never test those untested players it will obviously look like there’s a dearth of talent”
QFT
^^mtn^^
since ’76
March 7th, 2024 at 12:47 pm
“Gipper Says:
Hope Baker leaves. Too many idiots on this blog who played the trombone in the high school band.”
Don’t forget flute, with the exception of Ian Anderson of course …. but don’t think he was in band
^^mtn^^
March 7th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
Boomer Says:
March 7th, 2024 at 6:45 am
For the love of god, how many games did we watch with a 1st down run up the middle and a ‘surprise’ 2nd down run between the tackles only to be stuck in 3rd and long. How many games did Canales forget we had Godwin or Evans as wide receivers…. I sometimes think Baker won some games despite the play calling.
—————————————————————————————-
I agree with this statement!
March 7th, 2024 at 2:07 pm
@melvinjunior
“He could’ve taken a deal THEN, for around $25-MIL per…He was being completely unreasonable. Therefore, the Browns began looking/plotting elsewhere, until Watson became available & a realistic option for them to go out and get.”
so after he had just gotten them their first playoff win since 1994 it was unreasonable of him to want to get paid around $30/mil because that was too much..
and then they paid a guy who sat on the bench for the previous season bc he didn’t get his way on personnel decisions and had almost 30! sexual assault accusations against him almost $50/mil per year? 100% guaranteed..
how did that work out for them?
March 7th, 2024 at 2:30 pm
@^^mtn^^
Why did you disappear?
March 7th, 2024 at 2:37 pm
I like Baker, always have. But, the Bucs are the only team to give hom a chance. He would a backup QB somewhere if it were not for the Bucs. Come on Baker show a little gratitide. And get the deal done.
March 7th, 2024 at 2:37 pm
disappear?
when?
March 7th, 2024 at 2:38 pm
Oh, did you mean why DON’t I disappear? LOL
March 7th, 2024 at 2:43 pm
RGA, are you unaware that Evans is signed and Winfield was franchised? Makes you post irrelevant.
March 7th, 2024 at 2:54 pm
Billybucco, every season is different in the NFL due to scheduling, injuries and so on. Yet, only 10 quarterbacks threw for 4000 yards or more in the 2023 season. Mahomes threw for 4183. Tua was tops of the 10 at 4624. Baker had a good year despite your hate.
March 7th, 2024 at 2:56 pm
Boomer, you don’t have to be an analyst or a coach to see tendencies. Everyone in sport knew Tampa was running on first down. Major reason the were bottom 5 in all the NFL in the run game.
March 7th, 2024 at 2:58 pm
Robert, yet Baker will make 30-40 million more than you next year
March 7th, 2024 at 3:19 pm
Baker Mayfield has said numerous times he wants to stay in Tampa Bay & Play For the Buccaneers so I’m Sure the Buccaneers will give him a Descent Contract for a couple yrs at least but I am sure the Bucs are looking into the Free Agency Marketplace to fill other positions!
March 7th, 2024 at 4:16 pm
Student,
You hit on a reason Robert is anti Baker. In short, Robert is a never was and a never will be.
March 8th, 2024 at 9:10 am
“SonnyBunny” – I never said that I agreed with the move on Watson, but the Brown’s were a desperate organization and a poorly ran one at that… So, they did exactly what those types of franchises DO. I don’t blame them at all, for going after Watson, BUT I do for what all they gave up AND the guaranteed contract. I was ONLY referring to BAKER. He had/has ZERO ‘self awareness” & an inflated ego of himself. THAT Browns Team Was Loooooaded and there was Nooobodyyyy who thought that Baker was worth $35-MIL+ at that time. They only thing that myself, for several years, have said about a number of other QB’s (and Dan Patrick literally, everyday about Baker), was that WHY doesn’t Baker take a little and keep the roster strong, Etc… And, WHY do these teams continue to go along with this!? Well, the Browns did NOT and they took a risk that has not yet proven to work out for them. All I was saying was that, it SURE as heck didn’t ‘work out’ for Baker, EITHER. He could’ve had prob a 4yr/$100-MIL Deal THERE in Cleveland (where he appeared to love), instead of having to end up going through what all he went through, with THREE ‘different’ franchises, & playing on a ‘year-to-year’ prove-it type, minimum contract!!!! HE. Screwed. HIMSELF. He’s a middle of the road QB who (like most), needs a strong cast of guys around him and in the right system/scheme. We all have ‘EYES’ – He is who HE IS… Everyone can see-it including the Browns, & that is ok.
March 8th, 2024 at 10:41 am
4000 yds is elite when the OC uses the 1st 2 downs to run up the middle that leaves baker 1 3rd to make up 10 yds that was bucs season most of the year last season when that jackass Canales let him do his thing we had games like in Green bay
March 8th, 2024 at 10:54 am
Isn’t this site just supposed to be a quick post with a little short commentary way to many of u r writing books on this site my head is spinning with all the trife STOP write a book if u r smart enough if u r smart u wud not be here
March 8th, 2024 at 11:00 am
No rumors PLZ!