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Baker Mayfield Could Have New Contract Before Week 1
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated thinks that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield will reach a contract extension before Week 1 of the regular season in early September. Mayfield said in June that the two sides weren't close to a new deal and that he didn't want to negotiate after training camp started this summer. The Buccaneers made an official offer back in June, and the reality is that Mayfield's camp wasn't pleased with the offer and hasn't made a counteroffer yet. There hasn't been much progress since, but Breer reports that Tampa is "prepared to dive in on negotiations this week," with the first day of practice set for next Wednesday. The 31-year-old is due to make $40 million in 2026, the final year of a three-year, $100 million contract. Something in the range of $165 million over another three years for Mayfield makes the most sense. For fantasy purposes, the two-time Pro Bowler failed to reach the 4,000-yard passing mark for the third straight year in 2025 while battling through injuries. Better health should help him in 2026, but in a new offense without future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans, a bounce-back isn't guaranteed. Fantasy managers should treat Mayfield as more of a low-end QB2 in superflex formats for 2026.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer
Source: Sports Illustrated - Albert Breer
Baker Mayfield Played Through MCL, PCL Injuries Last Year
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (knee) admitted on the second season of Netflix's "Quarterback" that he sprained his MCL and PCL and suffered a bone bruise in his knee in Week 2 last year against the Houston Texans. Mayfield played with the injuries all year and then aggravated the bone bruise in Week 7 versus the Detroit Lions. This helps makes some sense of why the 31-year-old struggled so badly in the second half, ultimately finishing with 3,693 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 games. Mayfield was in the MVP conversation through the first portion of 2025, leading Tampa to a 6-2 record before collapsing in the second half and failing to make the postseason. The 31-year-old also suffered a tendon injury in his bicep in Week 3 and an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12. Injuries definitely appeared to hamper Mayfield last year, which could make him a bounce-back candidate in 2026 in a new offensive system under coordinator Zac Robinson. Still, fantasy managers are better off targeting the veteran signal-caller as a midrange QB2 as he heads into his ninth year in the NFL.
Source: Sports Illustrated - River Wells
Source: Sports Illustrated - River Wells
Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield "Not Close" on a Contract Extension
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is heading into the final year of his contract in 2026, are "not close" to reaching a contract extension, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. "It's about finding that middle ground," Mayfield said. There is a lot of work to be done here, and Garafolo adds that the Bucs are in no rush to work something out with the 31-year-old signal-caller. The pressure to get something done before the start of the 2026 season could start to pick up at the start of training camp at the end of this month, but right now, nothing is close to being worked out. In the end, the two sides are expected to find that middle ground and get Mayfield locked up. Mayfield was a Pro Bowler in each of his first two seasons in Tampa, throwing for over 4,000 yards both years, but he took a step back in 2025, throwing for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 starts. Injuries are a concern, as well as the fact that he lost his No. 1 target in receiver Mike Evans in free agency in the offseason. The hope is that new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson can get Mayfield going in the right direction again, but he'll be a low-end QB2 with a lower floor heading into 2026 fantasy drafts.
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Has Baker Mayfield's Redraft Stock Fallen Too Far?
Across 17 games in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 63.2% of his pass attempts for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Mayfield's production represented a stark decline from his peak year in 2024, when he threw for 4,500 yards and 41 scores. However, Tampa Bay dealt with myriad injuries to its wide receiver corps in 2025. While the Bucs lost veteran wideout Mike Evans in free agency, the team still has a strong group of now-healthy pass-catchers in wide receivers Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., and Jalen McMillan. Mayfield also brings some ability to provide fantasy production with his legs, as he's rushed for 760 yards and four scores over the past two seasons. Mayfield might not have high-end upside, but he could easily get back into the fringe QB1 range and is currently valued as the QB19 by redraft ADP entering 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zac Robinson to Make Bucs Offensive Players More Fantasy-Friendly?
New Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Zac Robinson has been a play-caller for two years now and has experience working with Sean McVay. He's expected to bring Los Angeles Rams concepts to Tampa, including "emphasizing the player over the play," according to Dan Pompei of The Athletic. It could have a positive impact on players like receivers Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, and running back Bucky Irving, among others. Robinson could also help veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield bounce back in 2026, as he worked briefly with Mayfield in 2022 when Robinson was the QBs coach and passing-game coordinator for the Rams. The 31-year-old Mayfield's fantasy stock is definitely down, mainly because he lost future Hall of Fame WR Mike Evans in free agency this offseason. Godwin and Egbuka should see a steady dose of targets with Evans no longer around, and although newcomer Kenneth Gainwell will have a key role in the Bucs' backfield, Irving's explosiveness makes him an intriguing fantasy target in Robinson's new offense in 2026.
Source: The Athletic - Dan Pompei
Source: The Athletic - Dan Pompei
Todd Bowles Says he Wants Baker Mayfield Around Long Term
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Thursday that there is "absolutely no question" he wants veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield around long term, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. Mayfield said just last week that he and the team are "not anywhere close to what we were thinking" as he seeks a new deal going into the final year of his three-year, $100 million deal. The 31-year-old wants a new deal done before the start of training camp at the end of July. If a deal isn't reached by then, Mayfield and his agent, Tom Mills, plan to shut down negotiations and focus on the 2026 season. If no deal is struck during or after the season, Mayfield would become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Mayfield led Tampa to back-to-back NFC South titles in 2023 and 2024 immediately after Tom Brady retired. The team has gone 27-24 with Mayfield as their starter, and he was a Pro Bowler in both 2023 and 2024 while throwing for over 4,000 yards in both seasons. He took a step back last year, though, throwing for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 picks in 17 starts. Mayfield's fantasy stock is down entering his ninth NFL season due to durability concerns and the fact that he lost his top wideout, future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, in free agency. RotoBaller currently has Mayfield ranked as the No. 20 QB for the 2026 campaign.
Source: ESPN.com - Jenna Laine
Source: ESPN.com - Jenna Laine
Baker Mayfield "Not Anywhere Close" to New Contract With Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield said that current contract talks "are not anywhere close to what we were thinking," but he's "gonna do everything he can to help his team win a Super Bowl," according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. Mayfield wants to stay in Tampa long term, but he doesn't want to focus on negotiations once training camp hits at the end of July. The 31-year-old veteran is entering the final year of a three-year, $100 million deal he signed in 2024, and his fantasy stock is on the decline due to mounting nagging injuries and the fact that he lost future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans to free agency this offseason. Mayfield finished as the QB12 in fantasy in 2025, throwing for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 starts in his third year with the Bucs. It was a big dropoff after Mayfield threw for a career-high 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, and a league-leading 16 picks in 17 starts in 2024 to earn his second Pro Bowl berth. The Bucs still have weapons around him, but fantasy managers should be pegging Mayfield as more of a high-end QB2 than a surefire QB1 as he enters what could be his final season in Tampa.
Source: ESPN.com - Jenna Laine
Source: ESPN.com - Jenna Laine
A Lot of Uncertainty Surrounding Baker Mayfield Going into Fourth Year in Tampa
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is as gutsy as they come on the football field, and he had back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons in 2023 and 2024 in his first two years with the organization. However, he went from being the QB4 in fantasy in 2024 to the QB12 last year after finishing with 3,693 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 starts. The 31-year-old signal-caller is as tough as they come, but injuries have to be a concern because of the way he plays and always grinds for the extra yard. The biggest knock on Mayfield's dynasty stock in the future is the loss of future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans, who departed in free agency. Mayfield will also be learning a new scheme under offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. There's hope that Robinson can unlock the version of Mayfield from 2023 and 2024, but with Evans gone, Mayfield won't be as attractive as a QB1 streamer in single-year fantasy football leagues. In dynasty, it feels like Mayfield's best years are probably behind him, and he has dropped in RotoBaller's rankings to QB19, one spot behind the Houston Texans' C.J. Stroud. In superflex leagues, Mayfield can still be a serviceable No. 2, but we wouldn't want to be relying on the aging QB as a No. 1 in a new offensive scheme without his most reliable weapon from years past.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
