SI.com: Baker Mayfield A Boom-Or-Bust QB
June 30th, 2024
Rolling the dice with Baker Mayfield.
Baker Mayfield earned his contract.
The guy replaced the greatest who ever lived and walked into a locker room that knows all about winning and how to win a Super Bowl. And Mayfield almost made folks forget about Brady (keyword: almost), won over his new teammates and took the Bucs to within a cat’s whisker of the NFC title game.
Along the way he was named Pro Bowl MVP. Not bad for a $4 million-plus-incentives investment.
So the Bucs, because Mayfield earned it, brought him back with a $100 million contract over three years. For a playoff quarterback, that’s borderline highway robbery.
SI.com NFL writer Matt Verderame believes, like Mayfield himself, it’s a boom-or-bust contract for a boom-or-bust quarterback.
Biggest gamble this offseason: Signing Baker Mayfield long term
… His career was on proverbial life support after an ugly 2022 season that included stops with the Panthers and Los Angeles Rams. Then, suddenly, he posted 4,044 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, an NFC South title and a playoff win.
The result? Mayfield got a three-year deal worth $100 million with half guaranteed. It’s not an enormous commitment by modern standards, but enough to invest two years into a quarterback with an uneven background.
If Mayfield plays as he did last season, it’s great value. If he reverts to his previous form without Canales, it could spell doom.
If Mayfield plays like he did last year, not only are the Bucs and AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht getting a steal, Joe wouldn’t be shocked at all if Mayfield’s agent walks up to Licht at the combine in February and says, “Hey, Licht! Hey! How about a little something, you know, for the effort?”
For those who never saw “Caddyshack,” that means Mayfield’s agent will want a new deal. And Joe believes if the Bucs win a playoff game or two (or more), Mayfield would deserve it.
Some $33 million for a playoff quarterback is crazy cheap.
And, hey, if the Bucs stink, go get Quinn Ewers or Cam Ward and have them ride the pine one more year. The Bucs can get out from under Mayfield’s contract after two seasons without bleeding very much.
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June 30th, 2024 at 8:39 am
Mayfield is locked in at $30M per (+incentives) for the next 2 years.
If Bake plays well both of the next 2 years – I’m guessing Licht will be willing to restructure the deal with a nice raise – even though Mayfield is technically already getting a “raise” to $40M in year 3 of this current deal.
There will NOT be a renegotiation after 2024 no matter how well Baker plays – because the Bucs are still in cap hell next year with over $50M in dead $ already on the books for 2025. And Mayfield will not hold out either after this year. He will honor his contract for at least 2 years before squawking for more.
June 30th, 2024 at 8:42 am
It is the result of having a stable environment.
In crazy CLE, Bake had an owner who lusted over a happy ending QB. So the owner left his loyal, loving wife for the girl next door…
Then in Carolina… well its drink throwing Carolina… Poor Canales. He should have waited another year…
With the Rams, Bake did fine with the limited resources he had.
I think all Bake needed is a solid, stable environment. I think Bake has the potential to be Goff. Surround him with a solid team and Bake will show what his potential really is.
Sorry Brother Rod Munch, you are wrong about Bake. Remember my words
June 30th, 2024 at 9:40 am
Carl Speckler after caddying for the Dalai Lama:
And I say, “Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know.”
And he says, “Oh, uh, there won’t be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness.” So I got that goin’ for me, which is nice.
June 30th, 2024 at 10:00 am
Again more writers who were wrong about Baker trying to be right by hoping Baker fails. Baker has never been a bust he has been injured like every NFL player in a collision sport. Waz Brady a bust when he missed a year due to a knee injury? Was the current Jets QB a bust when he missed all last year? Baker made the mistake of trying to play through an injury in 2021. But rather than being lauded for his bravery it was called a bust year that still haunts him. The lesson is you sit until you are healthy. When healthy Baker is an above average QB.
June 30th, 2024 at 10:19 am
Sick of hearing baker had 1 good year wtf r u saying so him going 11&6 is a bad year had a really good roomie season he had a BS time in Carolina but look at their rookie last year baker never ever played that bad even when he was legit hurt physically so shove u r 1 good season
June 30th, 2024 at 11:32 am
Said it before 100 times. This was all a very fortunate thing for both the Bucs and for Baker Mayfield. We now have a quarterback for the next 5 to 10 years. This guy can play he’s proven he can play. We are in good shape. All we need is a pass rush and we will be at top 5 team in the NFC. Let’s get Baked! Go Bucs!
June 30th, 2024 at 11:33 am
Probowl MVP quite possibly the least meaningful superlative of the Superbowl era.
June 30th, 2024 at 11:55 am
If Baker regresses, it’s NOT gonna be to the tune of 5-12 or anything. It will probably mean picking around 15. That isn’t high enough to go get a good QB.
The Bucs are committed to Baker and it is a friendly contract, but not one they can “Get Out Of”, after 1 year.
June 30th, 2024 at 12:29 pm
Boom boom!!
Can’t wait til we get this party started.
June 30th, 2024 at 12:36 pm
The bar is set very low around these parts. Baker will never sniff a Superbowl. Way too inconsistent. The Bucs will be “pretty good” the next few years. What’s the point in that?
June 30th, 2024 at 12:37 pm
Cannot wait for this season to begin. If Baker excels expectations this season, it will be even better and will stop the media from talking about Cousins too. And possibly Baker will be doing more commercials again, more endorsements. Would love to see that too! Show him the money!
June 30th, 2024 at 12:48 pm
The best franchises go from great to still winning. That’s the point of what Jason is doing. Reload, don’t rebuild. The Bucs tore it all down after 2008, and thanks to the genius of Mark Dumbestfuknik, we endured 9 losing seasons over the next 11.
Never again.
Thank god for Jason Licht.
June 30th, 2024 at 12:59 pm
He got progressively better as the year went on. QB is not a position we need to worry about
June 30th, 2024 at 1:02 pm
Halleleujah, Senior Harry nailed it … ‘all Bake needed is a solid, stable environment. I think Bake has the potential to be Goff. Surround him with a solid team and Bake will show what his potential really is.’
And the emphasis is on SOLID TEAM. Last year’s Bucs team was good, but we had a number of holes (and too little depth). JL made excellent progress this year in plugging many if not most of those holes by adding Whitehead, Barton, Braswell, McMillan & a number of others. Baker just needs to live up to his potential & play within the system to have a successful season.
June 30th, 2024 at 2:28 pm
Pretty good is pretty good. It is fun to watch pretty good teams play in big games.
June 30th, 2024 at 3:36 pm
@Defense Rules
I think you’re right but I honestly think Baker is better than Goff, at least as far as ceiling goes. More fire, better leader, stronger arm, quicker release, more mobility.
Only 5 or 6 QBs in the league I’d be tempted to pick over Bake to build a TEAM around.
June 30th, 2024 at 4:11 pm
Baker has always had a problem with consistency. If Cohen can get a little more out of him, it will be a very positive thing, and make the Bucs much better.
If Bake still plays street ball, it might be a long season.
June 30th, 2024 at 4:13 pm
Quin Ewers? Cam Ward? Better off with Trask.
June 30th, 2024 at 4:35 pm
LouisFriend Says:
June 30th, 2024 at 9:40 am
Carl Speckler after caddying for the Dalai Lama:
And I say, “Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know.”
And he says, “Oh, uh, there won’t be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness.” So I got that goin’ for me, which is nice.
****************************************************************
I just Youtubed that scene and Bill Murry sounds just like Trump.
June 30th, 2024 at 8:57 pm
GoneGator … Hopefully Baker can put together a couple of really nice seasons and all those questions about how good (or bad) he is will be irrelevant. Personally I think we’re about 1 more draft & a year’s worth of experience away from fielding a team that can compete for the Super Bowl, for probably several years.