Generally speaking, the Baker Mayfield experience has been positive for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There have been some bumps in the road, like in any walk of life, yet doubt still hangs over the star quarterback.
No matter how good we've seen him be, Mayfield still seems to have to prove his worth. Heck, despite head coach Todd Bowles' recent comments, the Buccaneers don't even appear to be sold on the two-time Pro Bowler.
Entering the final season of a three-year, $100 million contract he signed with Tampa Bay in March 2024, Mayfield prefers to stay put. The two sides aren't "anywhere close" on an extension, though, per him. Their public standoff raises questions regarding what lies ahead, with his short- and long-term outlook being at the top of the list.
The Bucs are "already making moves to look towards the future," as FanSided's Nick Villano highlighted. That's why he included Mayfield on a list of 10 signal-callers who "could lose their job" in 2026, and frankly, the logic is sound.
"Mike Evans took a deal with the 49ers while Emeka Egbuka takes his role," Villano wrote. "Bucky Irving appears to be a great running back. The Bucs added Jake Browning this offseason, a player once considered to be a future starter. Could he take on the role if Mayfield struggles again?"
Baker Mayfield may have more to lose than Buccaneers fans realize
If no deal materializes and Mayfield is left riding out his current deal, he will be on a short leash. Tampa Bay won't have the same tolerance for mistakes or shortcomings, knowing they have no ties to him beyond the upcoming campaign. Villano noted how the potential fallout opens the door for offseason acquisition Jake Browning to swoop in eventually.
Browning may not be the next face of the franchise, but he can be a viable bridge option if the Buccaneers pivot at any point. The ex-Cincinnati Bengal led the NFL in completion percentage (70.4) in 2023 when filling in for an injured Joe Burrow. His presence puts additional pressure on Mayfield to right the ship.
While the raw counting stats are solid, Mayfield wasn't operating anywhere near peak form. His 28 turnover-worthy throws were the most in the league. He also ranked 40th out of 57 QBs with at least 50 dropbacks in adjusted completion percentage (71.9).
It's worth mentioning that Mayfield, 31, was all sorts of banged up in 2025. He played through injuries to both shoulders, his knee, foot/toe, oblique and biceps, plus an illness.
Note: Advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus' premium stats ($).
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