Buccaneers GM Jason Licht Addresses Baker Mayfield’s Future Amid Growing Extension Buzz for 2-Time Pro Bowler

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Baker Mayfield has turned what could have been Tampa Bay’s biggest gamble into their smartest move. Two seasons removed from Tom Brady’s retirement, the quarterback isn’t just filling the legend’s shoes, he’s carving out his own legacy while the Buccaneers plan for a future built around him.

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Will the Buccaneers Extend Baker Mayfield?

The Buccaneers spent three years at the top with Brady from 2020 to 2022, winning a Super Bowl and making two more playoff appearances as NFC South champions. Naturally, transitioning from the greatest player of all time to his successor could have been rocky and taken time to pay off.

However, the outcome couldn’t have been better. Mayfield’s arrival revitalized his career and sparked a fresh start for the Buccaneers. The team made the playoffs in the last two seasons, winning the division both times and proving to be a resilient, tough opponent throughout the regular season.

General Manager Jason Licht recently discussed a possible contract extension for Mayfield, whose current deal runs through the end of the 2026 season. He made it clear that the organization wants him in Tampa for the long haul.

“I love Baker. I love everything he’s done for us,” Licht told The Athletic. “The goal for us is for Baker to continue to be the player that he is, and at some point, we reach an extension when the time is right and he continues to be our quarterback for a long time. That’s the goal.”

How Has Mayfield Transformed His Career in Tampa Bay?

Over the past two seasons, Mayfield has turned his career around with back-to-back career years. In 2023, he posted 28 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and 4,044 passing yards, signaling his emergence as a reliable quarterback and earning a three-year, $100 million deal.

Questions followed about whether Mayfield could live up to the new expectations. In 2024, he answered with authority: 41 touchdowns, 4,500 passing yards and 16 interceptions, posting career-high volume despite dealing with injuries to several key offensive weapons throughout the year.

Tampa Bay enters the 2024-25 season with the third-ranked offense according to the PFSN Offense+ metric. The biggest challenge will be overcoming the loss of offensive coordinator Liam Coen, the architect behind much of the team’s 2024 success.

Once again, Mayfield will have to prove his worth and lead the Buccaneers to a sixth straight playoff appearance as their quarterback. If he maintains this level of play, a new extension is likely to come at the end of the 2024-25 season, potentially pushing his annual salary north of $50 million.

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