How team-friendly is Baker Mayfield’s contract?

Rather less than a yr in the past, the Buccaneers re-signed quarterback Baker Mayfield to a long-term dedication agreeing to maintain the previous primary general collection of the Cleveland Browns beneath heart in Tampa Bay for the subsequent three seasons. On the time, Mayfield was coming off a profession season the place he threw 28 touchdowns and simply 10 interceptions, to go together with 4,000 yards. It’s laborious to think about now, however on the time there was division inside the Bucs’ fan’s group over the correct determination concerning Mayfield. Camps of individuals believed Tampa Bay had discovered their subsequent franchise participant on the place whereas different teams remained assured Mayfield was inconsistent and people inconsistencies represented the face of a bust not the face of a franchise.

The Buccaneers’ group proved to be in agreeance with the previous, figuring out a brand new take care of their quarterback. Mayfield turned the brand new 100,000,000 million greenback man in Tampa Bay and received the complete franchise quarterback remedy— From the massive payday, to having some pull within the crew’s plans at offensive coordinator.

Picture by Perry Knotts/Getty Photos

Almost one full yr has previous since Mayfield’s re-signing— How does the contract stack up now? Among the league’s highest paid quarterbacks are—

• Dak Prescott – $60M

• Joe Burrow – $55M

• Jordan Love – $55M

• Trevor Lawrence – $55M

• Tua Tagovailoa – $53M

• Jared Goff – $53M

• Justin Herbert – $52M

• Lamar Jackson – $52M

• Jalen Hurts – $51M

• Kyler Murray – $46M

• Deshaun Watson – $46M

• Kirk Cousins – $45M

• Patrick Mahomes – $45M

• Josh Allen – $43M

• Daniel Jones – $40M

• Matthew Stafford – $40M

Regardless of being one off of the league-lead in touchdowns, Mayfield doesn’t even discover himself all that near the league’s highest salaries on the place. Extra importantly, out of the above gamers listed, there are— at most—5 passers who objectively outplayed Mayfield final season.

The aforementioned Stafford, does have a Tremendous Bowl championship on his résumé, nevertheless, since that season (2021) his numbers have taken dramatic steps backwards. In his first season with the Rams, Stafford offered 41 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. As Los Angeles’ starter for every of the three years which have adopted, he has solely amassed one other 54 landing passes whereas including practically 30 extra interceptions. Coming off a season the place he threw 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions, Stafford is attempting to barter a considerable improve and the reporting signifies that there are groups on the market prepared to present him one.

Baker Mayfield, a season in the past, put up numbers shockingly much like Stafford’s greatest yr in LA— 41 touchdowns, 16 interceptions for Mayfield in 2024, 41 touchdowns and 17 interceptions for Stafford in 2021— Mayfield did so incomes simply practically 10 million much less, whereas being nearly a decade youthful.

With the marketplace for franchise quarterbacks rising tremendously every year, Jason Licht’s skill to haggle for Baker Mayfield’s companies appears to be like increasingly more like one other notch in his résumé’s belt.

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