The Tampa Bay Buccaneers struck gold when they found quarterback Baker Mayfield in free agency—a rare diamond in the rough that doesn't come along often. Since taking over for the legendary Tom Brady, Mayfield has helped steer the team into a new era, delivering flashes of MVP-caliber play even amid some inconsistent results. Now, with his contract set to expire after the 2026 season, the Bucs face a crucial decision: how much to invest in their signal-caller.

In a recent appearance on The Drive with TKras on 95.7 WDAE, Bucs General Manager Jason Licht addressed the status of Mayfield's future. "Baker is at the forefront of our mind at all times," Licht said. "All of our plans revolve around Baker, and that's something that we'll get to at some point. I have had a lot of discussions with Baker about the team. We texted during the draft... we have a great relationship, and listen, nobody here wants Baker to be playing for any other team. So, I'll just leave it at that."

Over his three seasons in Tampa, Mayfield has posted a 27-24 record, throwing for 12,237 yards and 95 touchdowns. The offense is built around his dynamic ability to distribute the ball, though he's worked with a revolving door of play-callers each year. Next up is Zac Robinson, tasked with unlocking Mayfield's full potential. How Mayfield performs in 2026 will likely dictate the size of his next payday from the front office—and whether he stays in pewter and red for the long haul.