Stroud -
"Neither Baker Mayfield nor his agent has asked for $65 million per year. In fact, after the Bucs initial proposal, they haven’t made a counter offer. That might tell you something."
What does it tell us?? So odd that even the Buc reporters are falling for this.
Neither Baker Mayfield nor his agent has asked for $65 million per year.
No shit, Rick.
Biggest hack in TB media by a country mile.
Better than Purdy. Each side has equal leverage.The only logical use of franchise tag is to buy more time for negotiations. Not a great way to motivate the key to your offensive production. If you did that, surprise, you’re the Cincinnati Bengals.The Bucs are handling this perfectly
sure baker is a likable guy. Nothing more awesome than him extending a drive on a 3rd and long scramble! Pumped up!
but this is business and there’s no reason to extend him now. If he was dominate last year like he was in 2024, then hell yeah, you reward him.
but since he wasn’t, nah you show him that last year was not the standard and you let him earn it
and with franchise tag, his ass ain’t going anywhere
Talk about spiking it on the 10 yard line…
point is, we have all the leverage
Mr 16th best QB has none
Its negotiations.
Better than Purdy. Each side has equal leverage.The only logical use of franchise tag is to buy more time for negotiations. Not a great way to motivate the key to your offensive production. If you did that, surprise, you’re the Cincinnati Bengals.The Bucs are handling this perfectly
sure baker is a likable guy. Nothing more awesome than him extending a drive on a 3rd and long scramble! Pumped up!
but this is business and there’s no reason to extend him now. If he was dominate last year like he was in 2024, then hell yeah, you reward him.
but since he wasn’t, nah you show him that last year was not the standard and you let him earn it
and with franchise tag, his ass ain’t going anywhere
Talk about spiking it on the 10 yard line…
point is, we have all the leverage
Mr 16th best QB has none
Its negotiations.
would think most non bias would rank Purdy ahead of mayfield given complete body of work last 3 years and in particular heading into 2026 season
its fluid though, like baker was clearly ahead of Purdy heading into the 2025 season, but yikes is all we can say about the way baker ended the season
Baker is in the Purdy tier however and will likely get a contact value in terms of average per year in same ballpark.
That is assuming he has a better 2026 than he did 2025. There’s potential that 2024 was a fluke but even if he gets to 30 TDs, that was the difference last year between respectable record and playoffs and not.
Purdy likely ranked anywhere 11th through 15th heading into season where baker anywhere from 16th to 20th tier.
i do think Baker can get back into the top 10 but he’s currently not there
Better than Purdy. Each side has equal leverage.The only logical use of franchise tag is to buy more time for negotiations. Not a great way to motivate the key to your offensive production. If you did that, surprise, you’re the Cincinnati Bengals.The Bucs are handling this perfectly
sure baker is a likable guy. Nothing more awesome than him extending a drive on a 3rd and long scramble! Pumped up!
but this is business and there’s no reason to extend him now. If he was dominate last year like he was in 2024, then hell yeah, you reward him.
but since he wasn’t, nah you show him that last year was not the standard and you let him earn it
and with franchise tag, his ass ain’t going anywhere
Talk about spiking it on the 10 yard line…
point is, we have all the leverage
Mr 16th best QB has none
Its negotiations.
in terms of equal leverage
lets see
side A - has the QB under contract this year, has a tool that would keep QB under contract at a $47M value next year which is less than Baker wants. Hmmm, interesting 🤔 think cousins and Prescott over the years. Side A also doest’t have anything to prove as another playoff miss and likely new coach, potentially different direction. One would think QB contributes to a teams success or lack there of
side B - yeah tell me where he has leverage again?
side B - yeah tell me where he has leverage again?
Mayfield's first public comments this offseason was to make the Bucs look cheap to try to force them to negotiate against themselves lol so yes he has some leverage. He and his eagent even came out with the Stroud article ("Mayfield isn't asking for something crazy").
Here are a few basic points of leverage:
the market (this is the #1 thing)
Public perception
Bowles uncertainty
The Bucs brand is to keep their own
The threat of leaving (especially after Evans and LVD)
The team doesn't really want to use the tag, so thats not that strong for the Bucs. I think it will all work out, but I am an optimist.
Stroud -
"Neither Baker Mayfield nor his agent has asked for $65 million per year. In fact, after the Bucs initial proposal, they haven’t made a counter offer. That might tell you something."
What does it tell us?? So odd that even the Buc reporters are falling for this.
yeah i don't know what it tells us but here's my speculation and again we are on a message board so offer your thoughts as to how it could be shaping up currently.
Bakers Camp has seen the following QBs get sizable contracts over last few years - Lawrence $55M, Love - $55M, Goff - $53M, Purdy - $53M, Herbert - $52.5M, and Hurts $51M. When Baker is at his best (2024 season, the first 6 games of 2025 season); he is among those QBs if not better so one would think the negotiations for the Baker Camp are at $55M per year.
Then we have to look at length. Baker is entering his age 31 season. Rodgers is 42 years old, Stafford is 38, Geno Smith (who somehow gets starting gigs still) is 35. So the Baker Camp is going for their dream of a 5 year, $275M contract extension to take him to age 36 season. Why wouldn't they want that? Set himself up for the rest of his life and the market value is there. It's not outlandish. And as i've said before, if he would have had a solid 2025 season, meaning call it 35TDs leading to double digit wins, he likely would have gotten this back in February.
Now the Bucs Camp, as Baker mentioned, have started the discussions because of course they want to show that they want the QB back. How would that look from a perception view point if they just coldly waited until next offseason to start discussions. Of course, get it going now obviously from a relationship view point.
But, i would guess they are leveraging Bakers drop off in play the second half of last year. Also, with a coach on the hot seat, it's hard for them to lock in Baker for multiple years prematurely if he continues his drop off in play. If Bucs have a dreadful year double digit losses and now you have a cap hit on your books for a QB that maybe a new head coach may not want to work with.
So what did the Bucs offer. First off, the length was no where near the 4-5 years that likely will get a deal done. Daniel Jones just signed a 2 year deal worth $88M. I wouldn't be surprised if the Bucs offered a similar 2 year deal worth $90M in which would be structured that it would not be critical if they were to get out of it the 2nd year. That is obviously the basement of offers and one in which the Baker camp probably said, okay we are not even fucking close.
Again, i know you all strongly disagree through those Baker pewter colored glasses, but take it from a guy who adored Baker back in 2023 and 2024; the guy was a major disappointment in 2025 and the Bucs want to see 2026 play out or like i said, would be okay with a 2 year extension.
If Baker does great in 2026, looks like we got ourselves another bargain
if Baker sucks in 2026, at the 2 year extension, we likely draft a QB 1st round and the guy sits a year with Baker being the bridge guy.
and quite frankly, im glad Baker didnt settle for $45M a year. I like his confidence, show the Bucs you are worth $55M and 4 years bud. I would have been disappointed if Baker took their low ball offer.
side B - yeah tell me where he has leverage again?
Mayfield's first public comments this offseason was to make the Bucs look cheap to try to force them to negotiate against themselves lol so yes he has some leverage. He and his eagent even came out with the Stroud article ("Mayfield isn't asking for something crazy").
Here are a few basic points of leverage:
the market (this is the #1 thing)
Public perception
Bowles uncertainty
The Bucs brand is to keep their own
The threat of leaving (especially after Evans and LVD)
The team doesn't really want to use the tag, so thats not that strong for the Bucs. I think it will all work out, but I am an optimist.
so i'd argue the Bowles and team uncertainty is more for the Bucs. Like if Bowles loses his job because team played poorly, then one would think QB play was not elite. A new head coach, let them decide who they want at QB, particularly if the QB play was mid the last 2 years.
Threat of leaving is cute, but he can't leave. Franchise tag bud. Baker, the same guy who career was basically over, going to become an Antonio Brown and force his way out? unlikely. He is higher class than that and you can tell in his comments, he's handling it like a professional. A franchise tag would be last resort but again at $47M a year, que another win for the Bucs that Baker either plays under a 1 year deal or Bucs get to negotiate reasonable terms.
the market is set for franchise QBs. Baker was trending there until.....well you know what im going to say
for public perception, on red board, i am alone. On twitter/x, different story, looks like you have some incompetent fans saying " Sign the man, give him 40 a year" lmao. Others agreeing with me.
I just don't see where Baker has any leverage, particularly with how he finished last season. Like if the dude continued his HOF 2024 campaign with a HOF 2025 campaign, then yeah....there would be public outcry as to how cheap the Bucs are....but in this case they are being smart
i'm still concerned by the way that they do something stupid and sign him to a 4 year, $220M extension; he performs mid again, call it 22-25TDs, double digit INTs, Bucs have losing record again, and then we are handcuffed with a Geno Smith type QB apparently. Like Scott Reynolds said...what QB are we getting the 41 TD guy...or the 26 TD guy.....
Better than Purdy. Each side has equal leverage.The only logical use of franchise tag is to buy more time for negotiations. Not a great way to motivate the key to your offensive production. If you did that, surprise, you’re the Cincinnati Bengals.The Bucs are handling this perfectly
sure baker is a likable guy. Nothing more awesome than him extending a drive on a 3rd and long scramble! Pumped up!
but this is business and there’s no reason to extend him now. If he was dominate last year like he was in 2024, then hell yeah, you reward him.
but since he wasn’t, nah you show him that last year was not the standard and you let him earn it
and with franchise tag, his ass ain’t going anywhere
Talk about spiking it on the 10 yard line…
point is, we have all the leverage
Mr 16th best QB has none
Its negotiations.
in terms of equal leverage
lets see
side A - has the QB under contract this year, has a tool that would keep QB under contract at a $47M value next year which is less than Baker wants. Hmmm, interesting 🤔 think cousins and Prescott over the years. Side A also doest’t have anything to prove as another playoff miss and likely new coach, potentially different direction. One would think QB contributes to a teams success or lack there of
side B - yeah tell me where he has leverage again?
Not to mention, the team has the tag in their back pocket.
The player can sit out, but that doesn’t do much good for anyone. It sure as shit didn’t work out too well for Le’veon Bell or Haason Reddick. Both of their careers went down the chute after holding out.
Better than Purdy. Each side has equal leverage.The only logical use of franchise tag is to buy more time for negotiations. Not a great way to motivate the key to your offensive production. If you did that, surprise, you’re the Cincinnati Bengals.The Bucs are handling this perfectly
sure baker is a likable guy. Nothing more awesome than him extending a drive on a 3rd and long scramble! Pumped up!
but this is business and there’s no reason to extend him now. If he was dominate last year like he was in 2024, then hell yeah, you reward him.
but since he wasn’t, nah you show him that last year was not the standard and you let him earn it
and with franchise tag, his ass ain’t going anywhere
Talk about spiking it on the 10 yard line…
point is, we have all the leverage
Mr 16th best QB has none
Its negotiations.
in terms of equal leverage
lets see
side A - has the QB under contract this year, has a tool that would keep QB under contract at a $47M value next year which is less than Baker wants. Hmmm, interesting 🤔 think cousins and Prescott over the years. Side A also doest’t have anything to prove as another playoff miss and likely new coach, potentially different direction. One would think QB contributes to a teams success or lack there of
side B - yeah tell me where he has leverage again?
Not to mention, the team has the tag in their back pocket.
The player can sit out, but that doesn’t do much good for anyone. It sure as shit didn’t work out too well for Le’veon Bell or Haason Reddick. Both of their careers went down the chute after holding out.
and btw, Baker is handling this like a professional and the leader we want him to be
He was simply asked a question about it and answered it perfectly
I'm sure deep down he knows he is better than how last year ended up.
It's a win-win for us. Likely scenario - Dude plays with a chip on his shoulder and dominates this year and we pay him what he's worth in February with absolutely zero chance of him not being a Buccaneer.