ESPN reporter offers take on whether Bucs and Baker Mayfield will have a long-term marriage after 2025

Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers have had a terrific partnership since the former took over as the Bucs' starting quarterback in 2023 after the retirement of the legendary Tom Brady. 

Many expected the union to flop, but the opposite took place, with Mayfield earning back-to-back Pro Bowl honors while leading the Bucs to the NFC South title twice with a playoff win mixed in. Mayfield earned himself a nice raise after the 2023 season, signing a 3-year deal worth up to $100 million.  

However, the question remains about what lies ahead down the road between Mayfield and the Bucs. Mayfield has one year remaining on his deal and will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.  He's continued, each year, to increase his potential value on the open market, checking in as a top 10 quarterback as voted on by league personnel this offseason. 

One ESPN NFL reporter is buying the Bucs winning another division title in 2025 and tying themselves to Mayfield for years to come.  Dan Graziano put out a list of league storylines he feels could be an overreaction (or not), and the Bucs and Baker sharing a long-term future is one that he feels isn't an overreaction. 

This is what Graziano had to say: 

The verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

The Falcons look like the top challenger, but they couldn't unseat the Bucs last season even after beating Tampa Bay in both head-to-head matchups. Wide receiver Chris Godwin should be back for the Bucs from his season-ending ankle injury, and they made one of the sneaky-good offseason pickups in edge rusher Haason Reddick.

It's fair to be concerned about the potential loss of left tackle Tristan Wirfs for the first month of the season because of a knee injury, or about the offensive coordinator leaving for a head coaching job for the second offseason in a row. But it would be unfair to believe the Bucs don't have the ability to solve their own problems. Mayfield found a home in Tampa Bay and has been consistently productive since he got there. The Bucs deserve to be the division favorites. And if they win it again, Mayfield will have a strong case for a big raise. - Dan Graziano, ESPN.com

Baker and Tampa Bay have shown that they're a great fit together.  General manager Jason Licht has put together a terrific situation for him to succeed with a strong offensive line, top-tier skill position players, and innovative offensive coordinators in Dave Canales and Liam Coen, both of when did so well with Mayfield they immediately landed head coaching jobs.

The Bucs will have a new offensive coordinator this fall in Josh Grizzard, who helped shape the team's offense last year as the pass game coordinator.  Accordingly, there's plenty of reason to think the good times should continue for the Bucs offense in 2025 - and perhaps very well beyond.