Baker Mayfield reaches agreement on 3-year, $165 million deal with Buccaneers

Rick Stroud, Tampa Bay Times on Sep 8, 2026

Published in Football

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TAMPA, Fla. — So much for the deadline. Baker Mayfield has a new deal.

The Buccaneers quarterback, who had refused to negotiate a contract extension after reporting to training camp, reached an agreement on a three-year deal with the team Tuesday.

Bucs general manager Jason Licht and assistant general manager Mike Greenberg reached out to Mayfield’s agent, Tom Mills, over the weekend. The contract is worth $165 million, locking up the Bucs’ franchise quarterback through the 2029 season just five days before the regular-season opener at Cincinnati. He is now the highest-paid player in Bucs history.

It’s the third contract signed with the Bucs by Mayfield, who joined the team in 2023 on a one-year, $4 million prove-it deal to compete with Kyle Trask. After leading the Bucs to an NFC South title, he agreed to a three-year, $100 million extension that was set to end after the 2026 season.

Mayfield set a self-imposed deadline of the start of training camp to reach a long-term extension. When that didn’t happen by the time the Bucs reported, he called the team’s initial offer “disrespectful.”

The agreement prevents Mayfield from becoming a free agent in March, although the team could have placed the franchise player tag on him.

“Baker’s arrival marked an important new chapter for our organization, and over the past three years he has established himself as the unquestioned leader of our franchise” said Bucs owner/co-chairman Joel Glazer in a news release.

“This contract — the largest in the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — reflects our belief in Baker, and his leadership both on and off the field. His competitive spirit, resilience and commitment to winning embody everything we want in our players. Baker and his wife, Emily, have made a meaningful impact in the Tampa Bay community and we are thrilled their family will continue to call Tampa Bay home for years to come.”

The deal averages $55 million per year. Only the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott and the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes will earn more among NFL quarterbacks. The Rams’ Matthew Stafford, Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence, Bills’ Josh Allen, Bengals’ Joe Burrow and Packers’ Jordan Love all make the same average salary as Mayfield under his new deal.

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