Baker Mayfield’s expiring contract makes him the NFL’s most motivated QB
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is entering the final year of his contract without an extension after negotiations stalled. Despite the financial uncertainty, Mayfield has expressed a commitment to his performance and physical preparation for the upcoming season.
Why it matters
The situation highlights the high-stakes nature of NFL contract negotiations and the pressure on veteran players to perform in 'prove-it' years.
Baker Mayfield is heading into 2026 on the final year of a three-year, $100 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- and without a new contract in sight. Extension talks collapsed before training camp even began. Mayfield set his own deadline, the Buccaneers didn't meet it, and now he's playing out the year at $33.3 million annually -- ranked 16th among NFL quarterbacks. For a player who finished 2025 as an MVP candidate before the season unravelled, that number stings.Why is Baker Mayfield playing without a new contract in 2026?The Buccaneers and Mayfield were never close. By the time OTAs wrapped in June, Mayfield had already told reporters his camp was "not anywhere close" to a deal with the front office. He wanted a contract comparable to what top quarterbacks earn today -- Justin Herbert, for reference, sits at $52.5 million per year at No.
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