I'll start by saying that Baker won't be looking for a max contract type of deal.
His agent is currently doing what a good agent should be currently doing.
I'll start by saying that Baker won't be looking for a max contract type of deal.
His agent is currently doing what a good agent should be currently doing.
Sure. Though I freely admit I haven't been paying any attention to any stories about Baker's upcoming potential new deal. But any agent worth his paycheck would be running around hyping up his guy to anyone that would stand still long enough to listen; he should be fired if he isn't.
Just saying, Baker himself isn't motivated by being paid as "the highest paid QB in the league." It's never been a top issue for him. In fact, if he gets another 3-yr, $120M type of deal, that would just be more motivation for him. Obviously, that won't happen, just saying. Baker is motivated by competing and winning. And he's smart enough to know that he can't compete and win all by himself. I mean, just listen to him talk. he's always praising his teammates, never himself. The only time he talks about himself is to criticize his own play or to be self-deprecating, like when he was asked about his block for Irving, to which he said, 'I could've thrown a better block.'
While I agree that he likely knows he’s part of a team and appreciates his place, he also knows his value.
I think that Licht & the owners actually want him to excel. They too know that if he turns in a reasonably similar performance, they’re going to have to pay more.
Like you, I believe at this stage of his career, especially with what he went through before he got here, he’s more pragmatic than he was when he was drafted. So that likely means Baker knows the investment the Bucs have made on his behalf, they built a team around him. He knows that has a cost and he values it. That will likely make him a bit more reasonable.
His agent is no doubt reminding he and his family of his shelf life - and he won’t have to remind him of the prospect of injury.
So my guess is that he’ll get more than some here will be believe, but less than other similarly accomplished at his position.
We’re in rare air with Baker and this team - but it begs the question: when was the last QB that the Bucs (and most of the fan base) have wanted to re-sign?
It should be a fun ride, and to be honest, I’m looking forward to it!
but it begs the question: when was the last QB that the Bucs (and most of the fan base) have wanted to re-sign?
Umm...the one that played for us right before Baker.
I mean, just listen to him talk. he's always praising his teammates, never himself.
In all fairness, that's nearly every QB in the league.
The obvious aside; if he plays at a level (which you summarized) this season, he's getting paid. We probably should've knocked it out a few months ago.
Will be curious to see how it works out from a numbers perspective. especially when you factor in age/style of play/etc.
My guess is 4yr - $180M (w/ somewhere between $120M - $135M guaranteed). If they don't care about the age, I can see it with an extra year (5yr - $225M and $150M guaranteed).
Baker is still relatively young. The off-season of 2026 many decisions about the direction of this team will be made. Some not of our choice, like Mike and Lavonte retiring.
I mean, just listen to him talk. he's always praising his teammates, never himself.
In all fairness, that's nearly every QB in the league.
The obvious aside; if he plays at a level (which you summarized) this season, he's getting paid. We probably should've knocked it out a few months ago.
Will be curious to see how it works out from a numbers perspective. especially when you factor in age/style of play/etc.
My guess is 4yr - $180M (w/ somewhere between $120M - $135M guaranteed). If they don't care about the age, I can see it with an extra year (5yr - $225M and $150M guaranteed).
That's true. not saying Baker was unique. As far as i can remember, all the great QBs were about the same in that respect.
as far as the contract speculation, I think your numbers are pretty much what I'm thinking as well. When I put on my GM hat, I feel comfortable about Baker over the next 5 years, but not so sure about 6+ years. given that, a four-year deal feels about right. I might tweak the total up to closer to $200M rather than $180M, and some of that could be broken into incentives/bonuses or whatever. And the guaranteed $$$ is spot on, imo. My guts say $130M is probably the high number there.
I figured someone would go there, but we weren’t resigning Mr Brady, . Maybe a better way to phrase it is, besides the GOAT, how many times in our history have both the FO & most of the fanbase wanted re-sign a QB?but it begs the question: when was the last QB that the Bucs (and most of the fan base) have wanted to re-sign?
Umm...the one that played for us right before Baker.
which was the point.
I figured someone would go there, but we weren’t resigning Mr Brady,
I mean, they extended him immediately. So...
Maybe a better way to phrase it is, besides the GOAT, how many times in our history have both the FO & most of the fanbase wanted re-sign a QB?
Not many, if at all.
It's a good marriage.
Agree.I figured someone would go there, but we weren’t resigning Mr Brady,
I mean, they extended him immediately. So...
Maybe a better way to phrase it is, besides the GOAT, how many times in our history have both the FO & most of the fanbase wanted re-sign a QB?
Not many, if at all.
It's a good marriage.
For further consideration: How many Buccaneer GM’s & HC’s have received extensions since Chucky..?
The Bucs have had some pretty good starting QBs in their day. Jim Zorn, Joe Ferguson, Chris Chandler, and Jack Thompson the Throwin Samoan.I figured someone would go there, but we weren’t resigning Mr Brady,
I mean, they extended him immediately. So...
Maybe a better way to phrase it is, besides the GOAT, how many times in our history have both the FO & most of the fanbase wanted re-sign a QB?
Not many, if at all.
It's a good marriage.
An interesting list, two who were washed up and were cheap pick up’s by a bad owner to fool desperate fans with name recognition (at the end of their careers, a journeyman and Tampa’s favorite type of piñata, the 2nd string QB). After their initial exposure, none were wanted back.The Bucs have had some pretty good starting QBs in their day. Jim Zorn, Joe Ferguson, Chris Chandler, and Jack Thompson the Throwin Samoan.I figured someone would go there, but we weren’t resigning Mr Brady,
I mean, they extended him immediately. So...
Maybe a better way to phrase it is, besides the GOAT, how many times in our history have both the FO & most of the fanbase wanted re-sign a QB?
Not many, if at all.
It's a good marriage.
You could add Doug Williams (comeback kid), Steve Young (the Green Bay Snowplow) & Vinny Testeverde (color-blind kid) to the list, but those are stories from long ago.
The list is not a long one…
Steve Young (the Green Bay Snowplow)
Made me laugh.
the Bucs decision making around the Steve Yoing time is brutal
SR-
"Mayfield will likely be paid around $50 million per season on his next contract next offseason as long as he remains healthy and productive. But I don’t think he’ll take such a massive deal where it will negatively impact the team. That’s the great thing about this Bucs team – it truly is a team. There hasn’t been a contract holdout in such a long time outside of Devin White’s offseason antics in the spring of 2023, which is great news for Tampa Bay."
Perhaps he's right. Licht has a lot of mouths to feed coming up, and if Mayfield wants to get more than that it's going to mean somebody else isn't going to be resigned. It would be best to get it done this offseason. 50 mil seems like a lot of course, but it's probably under his market value, and it will only go up if they wait until next offseason. There hasn't been any rumblings, but on the other hand there weren't any rumblings about the Licht/Bowles extensions either.SR-
"Mayfield will likely be paid around $50 million per season on his next contract next offseason as long as he remains healthy and productive. But I don’t think he’ll take such a massive deal where it will negatively impact the team. That’s the great thing about this Bucs team – it truly is a team. There hasn’t been a contract holdout in such a long time outside of Devin White’s offseason antics in the spring of 2023, which is great news for Tampa Bay."
And the other thing to consider is when Baker wants to redo his deal. Does he want to wait until after this year? If he goes deep in the playoffs his value will go up. He's bet on himself before.