I love Baker more than most on this board but if you give him a 4 year 200 million dollar contract, we are cooked.
Isnt that contract ($50m per) sort of the low end? wouldn't it be more like $55 average per year?
According to SPOTRAK the Buc's have 42 million in cap space for the 2027 season. But that is with Mayfield's 12 million salary cap hit from his last contract. Add 40 million in a new contract and that wipes out all the 2027 salary cap.I'm not sure why we aren't seriously considering the franchise tag.
Well, to start, you just handcuffed yourself to a $50m cap hit next season.
How much are we projected to have available?
The salary cap has proven to be a myth. Put it on the credit card and wait for the cap to raise. The saints have been getting away with it for a decade.
Rams are able to give Puka a monster deal. Steelers are extending their players left and right. People over hype the salary cap limits even if it is a hard cap unlike other sports. Modern NFL teams now how to work the cap since 1994.
I love Baker more than most on this board but if you give him a 4 year 200 million dollar contract, we are cooked.
Isnt that contract ($50m per) sort of the low end? wouldn't it be more like $55 average per year?
My guess is this
1) Baker would accept a 5 year, $275M deal right now; he may go for a 4 year, $220M deal. Anything less and i think he is betting on himself.
2) Bucs would likely offer a 2 year, $90M deal, maybe even 2 year, $100M deal at this point, as to not lock in Baker long-term depending how the 2026 season goes
This is just my speculation but as you can see pretty far apart. the Baker camp views this as his last chance to really cash in on a life changing deal where the Bucs might have some hesitant given (who is their coach in 2027, which Baker is the real Baker (2024 or 2025), his age and style of play)
I think if Baker plays like we know he is capable of playing - 2024 season, first 6 games of 2025; he will get that $55M a year and likely a 4 or 5 year deal depending on how good he performs in 2026
If he plays closer to the last 11 games of 2025 season, i think we are looking at potentially a franchise tag - $47M cap hit, and Bucs drafting a QB high in the draft - Mayfield being the bridge QB but clearly no long term commitment to him. He plays like that and the Bucs have double digit losses and a top 10 pick, a new coach, but also a worthwhile guy potentially to start while the rookie learns
If he plays closer to say 2023 Baker, i think he may get a 3 year deal $150M or maybe it goes 4 year, $200M
so as you can see, since the market has been set, i really dont see a huge variance in the cap hit per year...to me...it comes down to years. IF he's post child birth Baker, then yikes.....yeah maybe a 1 year deal. If he's HOF, of course, give him the max deal, and if he's who i think he is, consider $50M a year at 3 years.
This is SR's speculation
"The guess here is that the Bucs have started contract negotiations at $50 million per year and Mayfield is asking for Prescott money at $60 million. This is very typical when it comes to contract talks – the player starts high and the team starts low and they usually meet somewhere in the middle. But at the outset, a $10 million discrepancy is a canyon – not a crease.
I think if Mayfield winds up playing close to or better than his 2024 performance the Bucs will feel much better paying him around $55 million per year, especially if the season ends with double-digit wins and another NFC South title and home playoff game. In the end I think that’s what he’ll wind up getting. Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo projects Mayfield’s next contract as a four-year deal worth $216 million, averaging $54 million per year."
This is SR's speculation
"The guess here is that the Bucs have started contract negotiations at $50 million per year and Mayfield is asking for Prescott money at $60 million. This is very typical when it comes to contract talks – the player starts high and the team starts low and they usually meet somewhere in the middle. But at the outset, a $10 million discrepancy is a canyon – not a crease.
I think if Mayfield winds up playing close to or better than his 2024 performance the Bucs will feel much better paying him around $55 million per year, especially if the season ends with double-digit wins and another NFC South title and home playoff game. In the end I think that’s what he’ll wind up getting. Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo projects Mayfield’s next contract as a four-year deal worth $216 million, averaging $54 million per year."
lol sounds like me
If Baker is tagged than the salary cap hit is probably around 50 million for the tag plus the 12 million in dead cap. 62 million towards the 2027 salary cap. Only the 50 million is new money so that would put the Bucs 8 million over the 2027 salary cap. Just like in the past offseason the Bucs would have to negotiate other players contracts to get under the 2027 salary cap. That is mortgaging the future just like the Saints did.According to SPOTRAK the Buc's have 42 million in cap space for the 2027 season. But that is with Mayfield's 12 million salary cap hit from his last contract. Add 40 million in a new contract and that wipes out all the 2027 salary cap.I'm not sure why we aren't seriously considering the franchise tag.
Well, to start, you just handcuffed yourself to a $50m cap hit next season.
How much are we projected to have available?
I go off OTC because they’re far more accurate.
Regardless, what do you think the cap situation looks like next season if we tag Baker?
If Baker is tagged than the salary cap hit is probably around 50 million for the tag plus the 12 million in dead cap. 62 million towards the 2027 salary cap. Only the 50 million is new money so that would put the Bucs 8 million over the 2027 salary cap. Just like in the past offseason the Bucs would have to negotiate other players contracts to get under the 2027 salary cap. That is mortgaging the future just like the Saints did.According to SPOTRAK the Buc's have 42 million in cap space for the 2027 season. But that is with Mayfield's 12 million salary cap hit from his last contract. Add 40 million in a new contract and that wipes out all the 2027 salary cap.I'm not sure why we aren't seriously considering the franchise tag.
Well, to start, you just handcuffed yourself to a $50m cap hit next season.
How much are we projected to have available?
I go off OTC because they’re far more accurate.
Regardless, what do you think the cap situation looks like next season if we tag Baker?
Options now: Baker 5 year, $275M or 4 year, $220M. Not exactly great cap outlook. he would not accept anything less
Option if Baker is Great in 2026: See above and you got piece of mind that last year was a fluke
Option if Baker is 2023: 3 year, $150M. Honestly, even though 2023 was his best year to that point and rejuvenated a fan base expecting demise, not as great after witnessing his 2024. In any event, still some of the best QB play this franchise has seen sans Brady so we likely lock him in. Notice not much difference in Average value per year
Option if Baker is last 11 games of 2025: I know i mentioned the tag but honestly they may just let him walk, sign a cheaper bridge QB for a high draft pick QB. If he is last 11 games Baker, we are picking in the top 10, have a new coach and honestly, what good is he to this team?
so...yeah might as well wait since there's much more downside to not waiting.
If Baker is tagged than the salary cap hit is probably around 50 million for the tag plus the 12 million in dead cap. 62 million towards the 2027 salary cap. Only the 50 million is new money so that would put the Bucs 8 million over the 2027 salary cap. Just like in the past offseason the Bucs would have to negotiate other players contracts to get under the 2027 salary cap. That is mortgaging the future just like the Saints did.According to SPOTRAK the Buc's have 42 million in cap space for the 2027 season. But that is with Mayfield's 12 million salary cap hit from his last contract. Add 40 million in a new contract and that wipes out all the 2027 salary cap.I'm not sure why we aren't seriously considering the franchise tag.
Well, to start, you just handcuffed yourself to a $50m cap hit next season.
How much are we projected to have available?
I go off OTC because they’re far more accurate.
Regardless, what do you think the cap situation looks like next season if we tag Baker?
So, wouldn’t you agree that tagging him is the worst option?
Badabingbucs posted "Option if Baker is last 11 games of 2025: I know i mentioned the tag but honestly they may just let him walk, sign a cheaper bridge QB for a high draft pick QB. If he is last 11 games Baker, we are picking in the top 10, have a new coach and honestly, what good is he to this team?"
This is exactly why Baker wants big money now.
So, wouldn’t you agree that tagging him is the worst option?
Hell yeah. The tag is the last option, after the season and before he becomes a Free Agent. It's why the organization does have a little edge in the negotiating power.
Signing Baker to a 50 million a year contract or tagging him for 50 million is the same. Tagging him is for 1 year. Signing him would be for multiple years. Signing him for multiple years is good if he plays good. If Baker plays in 2026 like he did in the last half of 2025 would be a disaster if signed to a long term guaranteed contract.If Baker is tagged than the salary cap hit is probably around 50 million for the tag plus the 12 million in dead cap. 62 million towards the 2027 salary cap. Only the 50 million is new money so that would put the Bucs 8 million over the 2027 salary cap. Just like in the past offseason the Bucs would have to negotiate other players contracts to get under the 2027 salary cap. That is mortgaging the future just like the Saints did.According to SPOTRAK the Buc's have 42 million in cap space for the 2027 season. But that is with Mayfield's 12 million salary cap hit from his last contract. Add 40 million in a new contract and that wipes out all the 2027 salary cap.I'm not sure why we aren't seriously considering the franchise tag.
Well, to start, you just handcuffed yourself to a $50m cap hit next season.
How much are we projected to have available?
I go off OTC because they’re far more accurate.
Regardless, what do you think the cap situation looks like next season if we tag Baker?
So, wouldn’t you agree that tagging him is the worst option?
Signing Baker to a 50 million a year contract or tagging him for 50 million is the same. Tagging him is for 1 year. Signing him would be for multiple years. Signing him for multiple years is good if he plays good. If Baker plays in 2026 like he did in the last half of 2025 would be a disaster if signed to a long term guaranteed contract.If Baker is tagged than the salary cap hit is probably around 50 million for the tag plus the 12 million in dead cap. 62 million towards the 2027 salary cap. Only the 50 million is new money so that would put the Bucs 8 million over the 2027 salary cap. Just like in the past offseason the Bucs would have to negotiate other players contracts to get under the 2027 salary cap. That is mortgaging the future just like the Saints did.According to SPOTRAK the Buc's have 42 million in cap space for the 2027 season. But that is with Mayfield's 12 million salary cap hit from his last contract. Add 40 million in a new contract and that wipes out all the 2027 salary cap.I'm not sure why we aren't seriously considering the franchise tag.
Well, to start, you just handcuffed yourself to a $50m cap hit next season.
How much are we projected to have available?
I go off OTC because they’re far more accurate.
Regardless, what do you think the cap situation looks like next season if we tag Baker?
So, wouldn’t you agree that tagging him is the worst option?
Heck yeah! Some common sense coming to the red board.
The tag is just a negotiating tool, highly doubt Bucs would have Baker play on the tag in 2027; but it's just a mechanism to ensure it's just Baker and Bucs negotiating and not Baker, Bucs, Steelers, Vikings, etc.
Baker plays like last half of 2025 and aside from the many on the red board making excuses for him, good riddance. No thanks, we can suck with a cheaper option with a young rookie waiting in the wings.
Baker plays like 2024 then heck yeah, give him that max deal that guys like Purdy, Love, Lawrence, Hurts, etc. have gotten
Baker plays like 2023 then a tad disappointing as we didn't strike gold or likely would never win a championship with him but good enough to compete, throw him 3 year $150M deal, which again, he can take it or he can play on the tag at a lesser rate.
So, wouldn’t you agree that tagging him is the worst option?
Hell yeah. The tag is the last option, after the season and before he becomes a Free Agent. It's why the organization does have a little edge in the negotiating power.
Sorry, bud.
There’s a smooth brain or two that can’t seem to wrap their head around it.
Probably hard with the amount of flip flopping going on.
Still dont see much out of the ordinary? Tougher contract than the prior ones because this is an important contract for Mayfield and a big contract for the Bucs, who face their own uncertainty. Seems like both sides want to do a deal though and that is most important, I would think.