With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking their time on agreeing to a contract extension with Baker Mayfield, other NFL teams are circling him with the chance to snag him in free agency.
Mayfield is in the final year of his contract with Tampa Bay, the team with which he experienced a career resurgence after rough stints with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams.
While the Buccaneers are in ‘no rush’ to extend Mayfield, according to NBC Sports, the quarterback has set a deadline to get a deal put together before the start of training camp – only 19 days from now.
If the two sides are unable to reach an agreement, and the Buccaneers choose not to franchise tag Mayfield, NBC’s Mike Florio reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers ‘should be ready to make a move.’
Considering his past with the AFC North-rival Browns, Mayfield going to Pittsburgh would be an interesting prospect.
However, there are ways the Buccaneers can prevent that from happening.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could be interested in bringing aboard Baker Mayfield, per NBC
The Steelers will be looking for a more permanent solution at QB when Aaron Rodgers retires
Mayfield is in the final year of his contract with the Buccaneers and wants an extension
For starters, they can agree to terms on a contract with Mayfield. However, the market is rising for veteran starters.
He currently makes an average of $33.33million per year, but is due $40m because of money carried over from last season.
While the Buccaneers believe they will offer more than any other team, the rising market could price Mayfield out in their eyes.
The other option lies with the franchise tag – which is estimated to be at least $47.97m for 2027, a year where Mayfield turns 32.
Pittsburgh will be looking for a new quarterback in 2027 after Aaron Rodgers is set to retire from the sport.
Mayfield may not be the worst option for them, considering he was top-10 in the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2025.
