Baker Mayfield got his payday before the season, but through two games, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are already hearing the kind of questions that come with a hefty extension.
The team locked Mayfield in on a new three-year, $165 million contract extension shortly before the 2026 season began, giving the quarterback the security he wanted. But after an 0-2 start, ESPN analyst Ben Solak thinks the move may be looking shaky fast.
“I think ... the Buccaneers are already regretting that Baker Mayfield deal,” Solak writes. “Mayfield has not played well through the first two games of the season.”
That rough opening has included losses to the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns. Mayfield has thrown for 398 yards, but he has only one touchdown against one interception, and his 45.4 QBR ranks 27th in the NFL.
The timing is what stands out most in Solak’s view. His argument isn’t just that Tampa Bay paid Mayfield - it’s that the team did it before seeing how the season would unfold. Had the Buccaneers waited until after the 2026 season, Solak believes the price might not have been much different than the $55 million they’re paying him now, even if Mayfield played well.
He also points out that a stronger season could have pushed the number into the $60 million range per year over three years, which would be steep but manageable if Mayfield delivered. If he continued on this path, though, something closer to $50 million per year would have made more sense.
It’s still early, and two games won’t define the contract. But with the Buccaneers off to a bad start and Mayfield’s play under the microscope after a Week 2 loss to the Browns, the extension already looks like a decision the team may come to question.
In Other News...
Todd Bowles Pressure Is Rising As Bucs Eye Possible Replacements
The Buccaneers uneven season has put Todd Bowles back under the microscope, and once that happens in Tampa Bay, the conversation quickly shifts from weekly fixes to long-term answers. With the team searching for steadier footing, the discussion around Bowles has grown into a broader look at who might be next if the organization decides a coaching change is needed after the season.
Among the names circulating are several coordinators who have drawn attention for different reasons, including Grant Udinski, Nate Scheelhaase, Declan Doyle and Brian Flores. For a franchise that has tried to stay competitive while navigating a difficult year, the appeal of a new voice is easy to understand, but the bigger question is whether the Buccaneers will actually make that kind of move once the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Have A Growing Problem In The Middle Of Their Defense
The middle of the Buccaneers defense has already become a point of concern just two games into the season, and the issues go beyond one bad afternoon. New additions like linebacker Alex Anzalone and rookie Rueben Bain Jr. have yet to provide the kind of impact Tampa Bay was counting on, while the overall unit has had trouble finishing plays, staying firm at the point of attack and creating the pressure that helps everything else work.
Todd Bowles has kept his confidence in Anzalone, even after the early numbers and missed tackles have painted an underwhelming picture. But with Tampa Bay still searching for a consistent pass rush and cleaner tackling after the loss to the Cleveland Browns, the problem in the middle of the defense is starting to look less like a slow start and more like a test of how quickly this group can settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Rueben Bain Jr.s Slow Start Has Buccaneers Fans Wondering Why
Rueben Bain Jr.s first two games have not looked much like the kind of immediate impact the Buccaneers were hoping for when the rookie arrived in Tampa Bay. He has managed only one tackle and little pressure on opposing quarterbacks, a quiet start that has already put his early role under a bit of scrutiny as the defense searches for more consistent disruption up front.
Todd Bowles has suggested there may be a physical explanation behind the slow start, pointing to the AC joint sprain Bain suffered during a preseason joint practice, even as the rookie has said he is not dealing with lingering issues. Bowles still thinks Bain is healthy enough to play, but he also expects more from him, which leaves the Bucs watching closely to see whether production follows once the season settles in. [Read more 🡒]