Baker Mayfield signs three-year, $100M contract extension with Bucs’ as he ends speculation on his future

NFL QB Baker Mayfield has signed a three-year, $100 million contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ending the possibility of being a free agent this offseason.

The 28-year-old one-time Pro Bowl selection will earn $50 million in guaranteed money as part of his new deal, according to a source close to Athletics’ Dianna Russini.

Mayfield will be paid $30M per season through 2026, including $20M guaranteed in 2025, and $40M his final year. The Bucs’ have also added $5M. per year in incentives, pushing his contract up to the max. value of $115 million.

Mayfield led the Bucs to the NFC divisional round this past season after exceeding expectations with a 9-8 record before the playoffs, winning the NFC South in the process.

He passed for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in the start of the postseason and had a pair of 300-yard games in the playoffs, 337 yards and three touchdowns against Philadelphia and 349-3 with two interceptions at Detroit in a loss of 31- 23 during the division’s playoff round.

Bucs’ GM Chris Licht remained optimistic that Mayfield’s future lay in Tampa when asked about the quarterback’s contract situation at the NFL Scouting Combine and again last week, but understood the reality of his predicament.

“As Bruce (Arians) would say, look behind door Nos. 2, 3 and 4 and 5. We always feel like we need opportunities,” Licht said Friday.

Mayfield, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, had played for three teams since 2021 (Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams) before signing a one-year deal in free agency last March.

The Bucs are also in active talks with linebacker Lavonte David, another free agent, Licht said.

Star wide receiver Mike Evans signed his $52M deal that runs through 2025 on Friday and gave his two cents on the quarterback situation.

“I think he’s an elite quarterback,” Evans said of Mayfield, assessing his confidence that Mayfield will be his quarterback in 2024.

‘I am extremely confident. I’m not 100 percent, but he played really well for us last year. The city took him in, the players loved him. Hopefully we’ll get him back, but he should do what’s best for him.’