Report: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers have mutal interest for 2024
It looks like Baker Mayfield could be entrenched as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback for 2024.
The sides have mutual interest in a new contract after this year, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. However, Mayfield is in the middle of a resurgent year and it could lead to some complications.
But overall, Mayfield looks to stay in Tampa and vice versa.
“And all that has led to this: Sources say there is mutual interest for Mayfield and the Bucs to run it back in 2024,” Rapoport wrote. “The former Browns, Panthers and Rams quarterback might have found a stable home.
“There are potential issues to work through, however, with Mayfield set to enter free agency having renewed leverage. But based on what the team has meant to him, and what the QB means to them, both parties want to do it again next year.”
Mayfield earned a $4 million base salary and is poised to make an additional $1 million due to play-time incentives and can earn another million if the Bucs win the NFC South.
Tampa Bay is in first place with three games to play, sporting a 7-7 record, and lead the New Orleans Saints by 0.5 games. The Bucs host the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.
A win gives Tampa Bay and Mayfield a one game lead with two to play. The final two games for the Bucs are at home against the Saints next week and then at Carolina for the season finale.
This season, Mayfield is on pace to set career highs in passing yards, touchdowns and perhaps completion percentage. In 14 games, he has 3,315 yards, 24 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 63.5% completion percentage.
In his career, Mayfield has 19,603 yards, 126 touchdowns, 72 interceptions and a 61.7% completion percentage.
The former Heisman Trophy winner out of Oklahoma was the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2018.
In three years at Oklahoma, following one season at Texas Tech, Mayfield had 12,292 yards, 119 touchdowns, 21 interceptions and a 69.8% completion percentage. He added 893 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground.
As a member of the Class of 2013, Mayfield was a three-star recruit out of Austin (Texas), Lake Travis according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 151 overall prospect in the state, the No. 65 quarterback in the class and the No. 1,043 overall prospect in the class.