The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have committed to Baker Mayfield for now, but the reality of the NFL is that every contract comes with an exit plan. The quarterback market has never been so expensive, and teams these days are having to sacrifice a significant portion of their annual budget for even mid-tier players.
Mayfield is entering a contract year, and many fans are asking if it's even worth re-signing Mayfield to an extension, or to let him walk and try their luck either through the draft, or the free agency market.
What happens if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers move on from Baker Mayfield?
Behind Mayfield sits Jake Browning, who just arrived in Tampa Bay this offseason on a one year contract. Browning previously played for the Bengals as their backup behind Joe Burrow, but last season when Burrow went down and Browning was given the starts, the production wasn't there. This led to the Bengals trading for Joe Flacco as an alternative option. Browning then left the Bengals in free agency where the Buccaneers picked him up on a cheap $1.3 million deal.
In terms of quarterbacks, this is essentially pennies. Plenty of quarterbacks, Mayfield included, have revitalized their career on a "prove-it" contract, but do the Buccaneers seriously intend to allow that storyline to flesh out? Browning is only a year younger than Mayfield, and in the young man's game that is the NFL, it's likely that Browning isn't being viewed as a potential starter in the future. Browning should be able to hold down the fort should Mayfield fall to injury, but not in the long term.
So where does that leave the Buccaneers? With Mayfield on a contract year, the pressure to make a decision is rising with each passing day. Signing Mayfield to a short-term extension is the most likely outcome for the Bucs. This would allow for the Bucs to avoid a long term over commitment. From there, the focus should shift to the 2027 draft, where several young quarterbacks are shaping up to meet the NFL.
Selecting a young quarterback then can secure the future of the position behind Mayfield while he plays out the rest of his contract. It's a classic veteran-teaches-rookie setup that's brought many teams long term success.It’s the kind of long term planning that keeps a franchise competitive without forcing a reset. Tampa Bay can have stability now while quietly preparing for what comes next.