Baker Mayfield gets ringing endorsement from Bucs legend amid contract negotiations

The training camp deadline for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to sign Baker Mayfield to a long-term contract extension is fast approaching. 

Mayfield gave fans a glimmer of hope last week, showing a willingness to work with the team on a deal that reaches a middle ground and makes both sides happy. 

As negotiations continue to unfold, Mayfield just got a ringing endorsement from a legendary former Buccaneer.

Gerald McCoy voices support for Baker Mayfield amid Bucs contract negotiations 

Retired Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who played for the Buccaneers from 2010-2018, was interviewed by Arizona Cardinals insider Kyle Odegard for RotoGrinders.com.

The six-time Pro Bowler, who remains an outspoken Bucs fan to this day, made it clear where he stands on the ongoing contract situation between Mayfield and his former team.

"You want to have a guy that puts you in position to compete. If you get rid of Baker, who is that guy? The draft is full of question marks. I don't care how good they were in college. That does not guarantee they will be good in the NFL,” McCoy told Odegard.

"So if you get rid of Baker, who do you go get? Who is out there? If there's a top (NFL) quarterback out there, that team is not going to let them go. And to get a good guy in the draft, you've got to be trash. I don't plan on the Bucs being trash, so you might as well sign him. Let's build this thing and see what happens."

McCoy makes a strong argument: if the Bucs can’t find a way to extend Mayfield, it will be borderline impossible to find an upgrade next offseason. 

Mayfield is the top free agent quarterback on the market by a wide margin, and Tampa Bay is too good of a team to land a draft pick that would allow them to select a top quarterback prospect. 

McCoy expressed the utmost confidence in Mayfield’s ability to get the team back on track after a disappointing 2025 season, with help from his supporting cast.

"He knows how to win games, and he's really good at playing the quarterback position. All you have to do is make sure you build the offense around him and put him in great position to win. Baker will figure out a way to get the job done.”

Ideally, the Buccaneers will be able to get Mayfield’s extension done this offseason and leave this contract saga in the rearview mirror.

They’ve got lofty goals in 2026, and lifting the weight off Mayfield’s shoulders by giving him long-term security and peace of mind would go a long way as they ask him to lead the team back into the postseason. 

McCoy was a pillar player in Tampa Bay throughout the 2010s, and his voice should hold weight inside One Buc Place. The front office should heed his advice and do whatever it takes to lock down Baker Mayfield as the team's franchise quarterback. 

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