There is an thread filled with angst when it was reported Mayfield might get $40 million a few years ago. That turned out okay.
Here's Josh Q now saying $50 million:
What Would A Possible Extension Look Like?
The $40 million salary this year works as the basement floor for a potential extension.
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A . . . comp . . would be Kirk Cousins’ 2022 deal with the Minnesota Vikings. Cousins was coming off of a two-year stretch where he completed 67% of his passes for 8,486 yards and 68 touchdowns to just 20 interceptions while averaging 7.9 yards per attempt. He also had 54 big time throws to 36 turnover-worthy plays per Pro Football Focus.
Mayfield’s production since 2024 is very close to those marks. He’s completed 68% of his passes for 8,378 yards and 69 touchdowns to 27 interceptions while averaging 7.4 yards per attempt. He’s also thrown 50 big time throws to 53 turnover-worthy plays (turnover-worthy plays include fumbles).
Mayfield has a few other factors helping to set him above Cousins in terms of valuation. Mayfield is 2.5 years younger than Cousins was at the time of his 2022 extension and he is a bigger rushing threat as evidenced by his 509 extra rushing yards and 23 additional explosive runs. Those factors should more than offset the discrepancy in turnover metrics.
Cousins’ extension, a one-year, $35 million deal had an APY that 16.81% of the salary cap that year. The equivalent in 2026 would be roughly $50.5 million. And that’s where I think Mayfield’s current value lies.
Pay the man!
Pay the man!
guy was key contributor as to why we collapsed last year
the prudent thing to do would be to let him play 2026 and pay him off that performance
another 2024 like season and pay the man
another season like 2023 and 2025 then it becomes a question of….can you win with this guy and what’s the market rate
paying him 50 million plus for a 2025 like performance is not a recipe for success
Pay the man!
guy was key contributor as to why we collapsed last year
the prudent thing to do would be to let him play 2026 and pay him off that performance
another 2024 like season and pay the man
another season like 2023 and 2025 then it becomes a question of….can you win with this guy and what’s the market rate
paying him 50 million plus for a 2025 like performance is not a recipe for success
2023 was bad?
paying him 50 million plus for a 2025 like performance is not a recipe for success
With Vita and Godwin (most likely) off the roster next year and smaller dead cap hits, I can see Licht overpaying for both Bake and Yaya.
Pay the man!
guy was key contributor as to why we collapsed last year
the prudent thing to do would be to let him play 2026 and pay him off that performance
another 2024 like season and pay the man
another season like 2023 and 2025 then it becomes a question of….can you win with this guy and what’s the market rate
paying him 50 million plus for a 2025 like performance is not a recipe for success
2023 was bad?
He left a lot of points on the board in 2023.
Pay the man!
guy was key contributor as to why we collapsed last year
the prudent thing to do would be to let him play 2026 and pay him off that performance
another 2024 like season and pay the man
another season like 2023 and 2025 then it becomes a question of….can you win with this guy and what’s the market rate
paying him 50 million plus for a 2025 like performance is not a recipe for success
Agreed. Don’t understand what the rush is.
As for Diaby, what the hell are they looking at? He’s a 6 sack guy.
another season like 2023 . . . then it becomes a question of….can you win with this guy and what’s the market rate
2023?
He threw for 4000 yard and 28TDs to 10 INTs and a 95 rating and he did that in a zero play-calling experience Canales offense.
Bryce Young's BEST season in an experienced play calling Canales offense is 3000 yds 23 tds versus 11 INTs and an 80ish rating
another season like 2023 . . . then it becomes a question of….can you win with this guy and what’s the market rate
2023?
He threw for 4000 yard and 28TDs to 10 INTs and a 95 rating and he did that in a zero play-calling experience Canales offense.
Bryce Young's BEST season in an experienced play calling Canales offense is 3000 yds 23 tds versus 11 INTs and an 80ish rating
The all 22 was not good
another season like 2023 . . . then it becomes a question of….can you win with this guy and what’s the market rate
2023?
He threw for 4000 yard and 28TDs to 10 INTs and a 95 rating and he did that in a zero play-calling experience Canales offense.
Bryce Young's BEST season in an experienced play calling Canales offense is 3000 yds 23 tds versus 11 INTs and an 80ish rating
The all 22 was not good
which is why he threw for more the next year . .
If you put a semi-competent defense and special teams and, most importantly a run game with Mayfield he's fine.
If you put a semi-competent defense and special teams and, most importantly a run game with Mayfield he's fine.
Agreed. In fact he’s more than just fine. People on here acting like Mayfield can’t be a top 10 QB in the league.
Pay the man!
guy was key contributor as to why we collapsed last year
the prudent thing to do would be to let him play 2026 and pay him off that performance
another 2024 like season and pay the man
another season like 2023 and 2025 then it becomes a question of….can you win with this guy and what’s the market rate
paying him 50 million plus for a 2025 like performance is not a recipe for success
Agreed. Don’t understand what the rush is.
As for Diaby, what the hell are they looking at? He’s a 6 sack guy.
I'm in this camp as well. There is no reason to extend Baker prematurely. Let him earn it. If he performs, then pay him.
You can win with Mayfield but you can't prematurely extend Mayfield because that will prohibit the ability to add and surround talent to help Mayfield. Being patient and letting Mayfield play out his contract is the smart play here for Licht.
Again all the hyper partisan opinions...
Logically you don't need to extend Baker. The only logical reason you would, would be to get a better deal....so if you think he's worth 60m next year then you pay him 50m this year etc.
For him to be worth 60m next year it means he had a borderline all-pro year this year.
I think the odds of that are less than 30% so imo the only way you extend him is if you're paying him 40-45m/year and/or some cap friendly deal with voidable years.
I'm actually good sticking it out with Baker so long as Baker takes a contract that will allow us to build elsewhere.
Licht cannot be foolish enough to prematurely pay Baker let alone both him and Diaby unless he had gone all in on the offseason... Which he clearly didn't.
With all that reason my belief is he won't extend either this year unless he has a death sentence or plans to go big mid season.
And I'm not as gloom and doom this year as some despite Licht completely letting the entire fanbase down. I still think we will 9 games or even 10.
Pass on the extension for now but I will say that if Baker had a competent defense that forced 3 and outs + turnovers his stats would look better.