Home · Sports · Sep 9 archive
Buccaneers, Mayfield Reach 3-Year, $165M Extension
Confirmed
In Short: Tampa Bay and quarterback Baker Mayfield agreed on a surprising three-year deal just before training camp.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield have reached a three-year, $165 million extension, a development that came as a surprise given the high-profile contract standoff that had been ongoing. According to reports, the timing of the agreement was entirely unexpected, as Mayfield and the Buccaneers had seemingly shut down negotiations at the start of training camp.
Mayfield had made it clear that he wanted a deal in place by the time he reported to practice and had stated that he would not resume talks until after the 2026 season. However, the Buccaneers ultimately agreed to give Mayfield his raise and three years of security, a move that also secured a raise and extension for star defensive tackle Vita Vea.
Mayfield had expressed disappointment with the Buccaneers' initial offer, which was for just two years and slightly more than $100 million. He had said that a three-year deal was a requirement for him to sign a new contract. The final agreement, however, placed Mayfield in a tie for the third-highest-paid quarterback in the league, matching him with Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, and Matthew Stafford.
Mayfield's contract makes him the highest-paid player in franchise history, a significant milestone for the quarterback. The deal was reached just days before the start of the regular-season campaign, after Mayfield had ended contract discussions with the Buccaneers at the beginning of training camp. The two sides reopened talks and reached an agreement, surprising many in the NFL community.
The extension comes as Mayfield seeks long-term stability and a financial commitment from the Buccaneers. Despite initial disagreements, the team ultimately met Mayfield's demands, providing him with the security and financial package he had been seeking. The deal is a testament to the quarterback's importance to the franchise and his value in the league.
What's still developing
- On June 5, Mayfield said that the Buccaneers "are not anywhere close to what we were thinking" as far as contract figures were concerned.
- Mayfield was outwardly upset with the Buccaneers over their unwillingness to meet his demands by his deadline.
- Vea requested a trade and conducted a hold-in during camp until he landed a one-year, $30 million extension that keeps him in town through 2027.
- Bucs, Mayfield reach 3-year, $165M extension, sources say | ESPN La Crosse 105.5 You are using an outdated browser.
- The Australian Open champion was also on an 18-match unbeaten streak at Grand Slam tournaments, having missed the French Open and Wimbledon with injury, and was seeking to reach his fourth New York semi-final in five years.
- Seven-time major winner Alcaraz had exceeded expectations on his return after more than four months out with a wrist injury, including sweeping past 20th seed Tommy Paul to reach the last eight.
- Shelton reaches semis after beating Alcaraz in five-set epic Carlos Alcaraz's US Open title defence came to an end in a dramatic five-set quarter-final loss to Ben Shelton which ended at 03:34 local time - the latest finish in the tournament's history.