NFL Network: Buccaneers, QB Baker Mayfield agree to three-year, $165M contract extension

Baker Mayfield has cashed in with the Buccaneers again.

Tampa Bay is signing Mayfield to a three-year, $165 million contract extension, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday.

The news comes as a surprise after the two sides passed Mayfield’s self-imposed training camp deadline for a deal to get done, leading to the veteran QB to say he felt “disrespected” by the Bucs’ proposals.

Roughly six weeks time, however, was enough to bridge whatever gap existed in contract talks, and Mayfield now will make $55 million per year on a new deal struck on the eve of the 2026 season.

Mayfield, 31, has provided security for the Bucs in the post-Tom Brady era, keeping Tampa Bay competitive in the NFC South during his three seasons quarterbacking the team. Since joining the club in 2023, Mayfield has made two Pro Bowls and thrown for 12,237 yards, 92 touchdowns and 56 interceptions while winning two division titles.

Though last year ended in disaster — a 2-7 finish down the stretch to miss the playoffs after a 6-2 start to the season — Mayfield has proven he’s every bit the franchise quarterback the Bucs require. Half of the team’s wins during the 2025 campaign came through his late-game heroics, as he led four fourth-quarter comebacks and four game-winning drives. He was an early MVP candidate, having thrown 16 TDs to two INTs through Week 10, but a litany of ailments throughout the season took their toll.

Mayfield never missed a contest but showed up on the injury report with injuries to his foot, toe, right biceps, knee, oblique and both shoulders at various points of the season. As he wore down, the highlights came less frequently, replaced by accuracy issues, more turnovers and trouble staying on the same page with his receivers.

Nevertheless, Tampa Bay still fields a win-now team, and Mayfield is the surest bet to capitalize under center.