The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be stressed this season. From Baker Mayfield's contract situation to winning the NFC South, expectations for a turnaround are high.
The Bucs lost the division in 2025 due to a three-way tiebreaker. At 8-9, the Panthers snuck into the playoffs, leaving Tampa Bay holding a bag of "what-ifs." While most look at Mayfield as the player who will shoulder the most pressure in 2026, Cody Mauch might carry a little bit more.
Like Mayfield, Mauch is looking for a new contract too, but unlike the QB, Mauch is coming off an injury-plagued 2025. The offensive guard needs a big year, or he isn't going to get the payday he is hoping for.
Cody Mauch carries much of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' hopes on his shoulder and his checkbook
Mauch started his NFL career off with a bang. Pro Football Network listed him as the 7th -best guard in the NFL after an incredible 2024 season. Then he got hurt and missed all but two games last season. His absence on the Buccaneers' line was evident, and as a result, the Bucs offense wasn't nearly as good as it should have been. PFN believes Mauch is under the most pressure.
Yes, injuries happen all the time, but for a player hoping to parlay good play into a great contract, it's a nightmare. The Buccaneers have no problem paying him if he is available. They need him on the line; he makes them better.
If Mauch has a good, but not great, season this year, he will still make decent money as a free agent, but it may not be with Tampa. Guards are getting paid a lot more than they were in the past. If Mauch can return to his 2024 form, he could become one of the highest-paid guards in the NFL. He was that good.
Mauch is no longer showing his potential. He has moved beyond that. He is the real deal, but every player who deals with sidelining injuries becomes a question mark. For Mauch, the one benefit is that it was only one season; the downside is that it puts a lot of pressure on him in a contract year.
Mauch isn't the type of player who will play at a higher level with the hopes of getting paid; that isn't his makeup. What he can't control, however, is the health aspect. If he stays healthy, the Bucs will have a decision to make: keep him or let him go. The pressure is on them as much as it is on the player.
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