NFL executive gives Buccaneers advice for Baker Mayfield contract extension

Both Tampa Bay Buccaneers co-owner Joel Glazer and general manager Jason Licht have hinted this spring that the club wants to lock quarterback Baker Mayfield down via a multiyear contract extension before the 2026 season gets underway. 

That said, Mayfield remains in the final year of the three-year deal he signed in March 2024. For a FanSided piece published on Monday, one unnamed longtime personnel executive spoke with NFL insider Jason La Canfora and suggested that Tampa Bay should offer Mayfield a deal similar to the three-year, $100.5M contract that Sam Darnold received from the Seattle Seahawks last offseason. 

Neither Baker Mayfield nor Sam Darnold are perfect players

"I think there are some similarities with the players," the executive explained. "You worry about the interceptions, can they get you over the top? It’s not totally similar, and Darnold was on the market, and this is an extension. That’s the structure I would be looking at."

Per StatMuse, Darnold committed an NFL-worst 20 turnovers during the 2025 regular season. To compare, Mayfield was tied for seventh on the list with 14 giveaways. Of course, Darnold's miscues are now much more forgivable among those within the Seahawks after he helped the club win the Super Bowl. Nevertheless, he reportedly won't be receiving an extension this offseason. 

Pro Football Reference shows that Mayfield threw eight interceptions and lost one of four fumbles over the Buccaneers' final seven games of the 2025 season. He dealt with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder during the second half of the campaign, but Licht doesn't seem to be concerned about the 31-year-old's long-term health. 

Are Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield likely to come to an agreement for an extension before the 2026 season gets underway?

"This seems like a solid fit," La Canfora added about the situation. "Tampa remains in a division that looks pretty winnable most years, and they tend to win too many games to pick high enough for a QB derby in the draft. ...People seem to think this has ample potential to get done."

If the two sides don't come to an agreement, Tampa Bay could always retain Mayfield's rights for 2027 via the franchise tag.