When Baker Mayfield signed his three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it wasn't a market-setting one, with Baker seen as a player who had everything to prove.
And he has.
He's played some of the best football of his career, with back-to-back Pro Bowls, has made the playoffs twice as a division winner, and had his best-ever year in 2024, throwing for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns.
Now, coming into the final year of his deal, if Baker continues playing as he has, next offseason will be rather interesting for both him and Tampa Bay.
Why? Because he might command a sizable contract.
For ESPN's Dan Graziano, a big payday might be awaiting Mayfield.
"The three-year contract that Mayfield signed with the Bucs last offseason pays him $33.3 million per year. He has $30 million coming this season and $40 million in 2026, though none of the 2026 money is guaranteed," Graziano writes. "The deal is certainly nothing to sneeze at, but consider that the top of the QB market right now is $55 to $60 million per year. Consider also that no quarterback in the NFL has thrown more touchdown passes over the past two regular seasons than Mayfield (69).
"If Mayfield has another big season -- with a third different offensive coordinator in three years -- he could be in line for an even bigger contract extension next offseason."
With a $33.3 million APY on his current contract, if Baker does continue to perform as he has, one could expect that number to trend significantly north next offseason.
Now, I'm not saying Mayfield will become the highest-paid quarterback, despite Spotrac.com having his market value at about $60 million APY, but maybe something around the Kyler Murray ($46 million APY) could be a ballpark.
Or maybe Baker will consider that an insult and demand to be in the $50 Million Club.
There's no denying Baker has been playing the best football of his career in Tampa Bay, and many expect him to be rewarded next offseason with a new deal.
Whether or not that is with the Buccaneers remains to be seen, but in 2025, Mayfield has the chance to put himself in with a shot at a monster pay day in 12 months.
