4 bold 2024 offseason predictions for Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2. Baker Mayfield signs a 4-year, $140 million contract

On one hand, Baker Mayfield was the steal of the 2023 offseason after signing a one-year deal worth $4 million. And, after a career year, does Mayfield really deserve a long-term, hefty contract? Some quarterback contracts are getting out of hand, giving passers upwards of over $50 million per year.

I think with how much Mayfield loved Tampa Bay and how much he wants to come back, coupled with the fact that he just threw for over 4,000 yards for the first time in his career and hasn't been a prolific, top-10 quarterback over his career, would allow for the two sides to meet somewhere in the middle.

Justin Herbert, for example, was given $262.5 million over five years, an average of over $50 million per season. I think a fair deal for Mayfield would give him $35 million per season, but not all fully guaranteed. It would make sense for Mayfield's new deal to include incentives, of course, which would only fuel him even more.

This is definitely still a bold prediction based on the fact that the Bucs are giving a guy $140 million a year after signing him for $4 million. Looking at it from that perspective, it might even sound crazy.