Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to a new three-year contract worth $165 million, a deal that locks in his presence with the team and removes the possibility of him hitting the open market after this season.
Terms of the contract
The agreement runs three years for $165 million, which works out to roughly $55 million per season, league reporting confirmed. The Athletic and other outlets verified the length and total value, and NFL insider notes on the deal’s structure put the average annual value at approximately $55 million.
The club and Mayfield finalized terms on Tuesday in a move completed just before Week 1, ending a period of negotiations that had been revisited in the days leading up to the regular-season opener.
Timing and immediate effects
Sporting News reported that the extension prevents Mayfield from becoming a free agent after this season, a factor that made the timing of the agreement significant. That report added that talks had stalled earlier in camp but were resumed and concluded once the regular season approached.
The deal was described publicly as a surprise late agreement, and outlets tracking the negotiations noted the sudden reopening of discussions prior to the season start. By tying Mayfield to a three-year commitment, the Buccaneers have ensured contractual continuity at the position for the duration of the extension.
Financially, the contract places Mayfield among the higher-paid players at his role in the league on an annual basis; the $55 million-per-year figure cited by reporting reflects the deal’s headline average annual value.
Multiple league sources circulated the agreement in real time as the team prepared for its Week 1 matchup, and the confirmation from The Athletic and other outlets made the terms public on Tuesday.
With the paperwork completed, the Buccaneers and Mayfield enter the season with an explicit multi-year commitment. The extension removes immediate roster uncertainty related to his contract status and establishes the financial framework for his time with the team through the life of the deal.
