Turbulence in Tampa: Baker Mayfield's Contract Latest
Baker Mayfield blasts the Buccaneers in a recent contract dispute, questioning the team's commitment and plans. Mayfield is looking for $50 million annually.
Video Transcript
Tampa- Okay who a lot of people think is still gonna compete, and I don't see how.
Baker Mayfield shows up at camp today, and he's basically in front of the microphone ripping the organization, going, "You know, the time for negotiations is over.
They disrespected me.
You can't tell You can't have a franchise quarterback in the building, tell everyone I'm fra- and then wait for this to drag out."
So I don't see how that is going to get any better unless they pay him, and it doesn't feel like Tampa feels like they're in this one-year moratorium where they're just, whatever they have, they have.
You know, Vita Vea comes out last week and says, "Get me out of here.
You got your quarterback going.
Get me out of here."
They're not It feels like, you wanna talk about a lame duck, and I love Todd Bowles, but it just looks like Tampa- Agreed is more than happy not to invest in any of these, right?
Agreed.
And you know, we may see this a little differently on Baker Mayfield.
So I, I, I don't think that Baker Mayfield is gonna, is gonna put, you know, have a bust in Canton.
That I don't think.
But I think because the q- the state of quarterbacking, Joe, is so bad in the NFL, I think the Bucs absolutely should be paying Baker Mayfield because what are you gonna do without this guy?
Right.
Like, th- I- Yeah I under- like if you said, "Okay, is Baker Mayfield a top five quarterback in the..." Of course not.
I would Is he top 10?
Eh, I, I But then you're right there, and there are 30 teams in the NFL.
Mm-hmm.
And he is an upper third guy in the league, and upper third guys, Joe, make $40 million a season.
The Dolphins paid Tua- Right deal $40 million.
You know?
So- Yep I, I, they have no choice.
You, you are not gonna find a better guy in the draft via trade.
It is not gonna happen.
He's an upper echelon quarterback in the National Football League, and I don't blame him.
He's played like it.
Did he regress in the second half of last season, Joe?
Of course he did.
He was, I, I think, if I'm not mistaken, on the betting sites in Ap- no, April is men's baseball.
In September and October, he was the favorite- Mm-hmm to win the MVP for a while, and then- Yeah the wheels fell off a little bit.
Yeah.
To your point, I think on the betting sites, the number one, coach to be fired starting the season, I don't know if it's Todd Bowles, but he's gonna be in that conversation.
A hun- you're 100% right.
He is right there.
It feels like the Bucs are in sort of this let's feel things out, season.
Wait and see.
It- Yeah wait and see until at the end of the season they end up going, 7 and 10, something like that, and then they, let's call, let's call it crazy.
Let's get crazy.
Then they rehire Jon Gruden to be the head coach- Yes again.
Something like that.
Yes.
It feels like that's the direction we're headed.
Tony Dungy.
Yeah, they're gonna bring Tony Dungy back- Tony Dungy's coming and see what happens here.
It, doesn't it feel like they could do something like that, though?
It feels like to me like they would do something like that.
So let me hear from that perspect- 'cause I, I get it from Baker's point of view, right?
He signs a couple years ago a three-year deal.
He's in the final year of that deal, right?
In his time there with the Bucs, he's 27 and 24, right?
He did lead them to the playoffs, right?
That's, that's fine.
As the NFC South Champion in '23 and '24, right?
So two seasons, he was a Pro Bowler, I get it, averaging about, the contract that he's got, and about 33 and a third million, which, I'm gonna give you some names, it's 16th among active quarterbacks right now.
It's a little below, but he's in the same category as Daniel Jones, Sam Darnold.
I- I- is he, i- is he- I think he's better than those that much better than those guys?
I think he's better than those guys.
You think he's better than those?
Yes.
I, I do.
Okay.
So there you go.
I'll give, I'll give Well, in my opinion.
I'll give you another example.
If I told, if I told you you could only have one or two guys, would, you could have Baker Mayfield or Trevor Lawrence, who would it be?
Oof.
It's close.
I'd rather have Craig- You maybe would say Lawrence, but close I'd rather have Craig Mish I'd rather have Craig Mish under center.
No.
No, you would not.
I'd be on my back.
No, I'd- I'd be like, oh.
You may take Lawrence.
Well, what's the difference?
You may take Lawrence- At least you wouldn't throw it to another team but it's kinda close.
Right, but it's kinda close.
I, I, yes.
So, and look at how much money Trevor Lawrence is getting paid.
He deserve Baker Mayfield deserves it.
He should Baker Mayfield should be a t- a paid top 10 quarterback in the NFL.
Is he?
Listen, three years ago- Probably not he was backing up, he was the third stringer on the Rams.
In the Rams.
