The Daniel Jones reason why Baker Mayfield turned down Buccaneers’ 2-year contract offer originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Time is ticking for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They may still have Baker Mayfield in the coming season, but a search for a new franchise cornerstone approaches. Why is that the case? Mayfield felt disrespected after seeing the contract offer that spanned only two years. To add more odd fuel to the fire, his offer only matched that of what the Indianapolis Colts gave Daniel Jones.
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Why Mayfield turned down Buccaneers’ contract extension offer
Baker Mayfield saw a dip in his production during the 2026 NFL season, sure. Still, a big payday was expected when the larger picture of his three-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is looked at. The expectation was for him to sign a deal before July 28, 2026, but it did not happen.
Why was that the outcome?
Per Kyle Dvorchak of CBS Sports, the Buccaneers did offer Mayfield a two-year deal, but it was just not enough. Salary projections had the quarterback earning a deal valued around the ballpark of $50 million entering the last years of his prime. Instead, he received a contract offer that matched what the Indianapolis Colts gave Daniel Jones.
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To add context, Jones received a two-year deal worth $88 million from the Colts. He got $50 million upon signing and had a total of $60 million in guaranteed money. Mayfield, on the other hand, feels like this is below what he deserves.
As a point of comparison, Mayfield earned his two Pro Bowl selections with the Buccaneers while also grabbing the 2023 PFWA Most Improved Player award. Over his tenure with the Buccaneers, he totaled 12,237 passing yards and 91 passing touchdowns, with an astounding 97.4 quarterback rating and a 66.3% completion percentage. Meanwhile, Jones has not secured any accolades nor recorded a season with more than 3,200 passing yards. It’s not hard to see why Mayfield would feel disappointed at the Buccaneers front office.
There is a lot on the plate of the Buccaneers front office now. They have to find a trade partner for Vita Vea, worry about trying to give Mayfield a reason to stay, and scour for a long-term quarterback for the future as a backup plan.
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