Reported figures for possible Baker Mayfield contract revealed

There's more information about the type of contract Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield may be looking to sign ahead of possibly becoming a free agent later this month. 

"The market for quarterback Baker Mayfield is heating up," longtime NFL writer Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reported for a piece published Friday morning. "The Buccaneers are working to bring him back to Tampa Bay, and other suitors have lined up. In the past, I’ve reported that the expectations are Mayfield will sign a deal in the area of $40M annually. The numbers being thrown around here at the combine are $34M-$36M, though no official offers have been made." 

It was suggested last week that Mayfield's camp may want to better the four-year contract that could be worth up to $160M that New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones signed last March. That information was shared before exact details about the NFL's salary-cap explosion for 2024 went public. 

The Buccaneers likely hope Mayfield will give them even a slight discount so they also can hold onto star wide receiver Mike Evans and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht can only retain one player's rights via the franchise tag before this Tuesday's deadline for teams to use their tags passes. 

Evans reportedly "is looking for an annual figure north of $25M" attached to his next contract. He and Mayfield may be a "package deal" in free agency. 

Pauline hinted that one reason the Atlanta Falcons haven't yet traded for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is because Mayfield remains on track to reach the open market. 

"I expect Mayfield to be at the top of their wish list," Pauline said about the Falcons. 

Also on Friday, the JoeBucsFan website mentioned how the salary cap going up every year (when there isn't a global pandemic) often helps previously signed contracts become bargains for teams. 

Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk said earlier this week that the Buccaneers have the necessary salary-cap space to keep Mayfield, Evans and Winfield.

Licht probably would feel better about the situation if he got at least one of those three players to sign a deal before the NFL Scouting Combine concludes.