Baker Mayfield Signs A 3-Year, $165 Million Extension With Tampa Bay

Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed Tuesday on a three-year, $165 million extension, the largest contract in franchise history and one that ties him with Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence and Matthew Stafford at $55 million per year, third highest in the NFL behind only Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott.

The timing is almost theatrical. Mayfield declared at the start of training camp that the team's two-year offer was "disappointing" and that he felt "disrespected" and "undervalued."

He said extension talks were closed until after the season. Tampa Bay needed until September 8, five days before the opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, to change both their minds.

Both sides resumed quiet conversations over the weekend after weeks of public silence. The Buccaneers came up. Mayfield came in.

The result is four more years in Tampa: the final year of his current deal plus the three-year extension through 2029.

"It's been some of the best years of my career, and I think it's only going to trend upwards," Mayfield said. Owner Joel Glazer called it a reflection of belief in Mayfield's leadership. Mayfield replaced Tom Brady in 2023, made back-to-back Pro Bowls and led Tampa Bay to consecutive NFC South titles.

The Buccaneers went 8-9 last year and missed the playoffs. The contract they were arguing about all summer is signed. The season starts Sunday.