Baker Mayfield, Los Angeles Rams
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Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks off the field after losing to the Miami Dolphins.
The Los Angeles Rams will need to replace Matthew Stafford when the reigning NFL MVP finally retires, and former backup Baker Mayfield could be a fitting replacement.
Mayfield is due for a new deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, their roster is in transition. Mike Evans joined the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. Lavonte David retired. Moreover, 2023 fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett IV is LA’s only other QB under contract.
That, plus his looming contract situation, could put Mayfield on a return path to the Rams.
Rams Floated as Landing Spot for Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield
GettyBaker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during a game against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Athletic’s Jeff Howe explored Mayfield’s situation in Tampa, noting he is on an expiring three-year, $100 million contract. Howe noted a team like the Rams could come calling in search of a replacement for Stafford if the former Cleveland Browns QB becomes available again.
“Baker Mayfield’s three-year, $100 million deal expires in March 2027, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to discuss an extension with him this offseason, according to league sources. But now that he has more than proven his worth as a franchise quarterback, don’t assume his next pact will remain among the most team-friendly in the NFL,” Howe wrote on March 24.
“Mayfield has a chance to be the first QB to exceed $50 million in free agency. Considering the likely competition for his services, it’s not farfetched to believe he could corral the biggest contract in NFL history. And if quarterback Matthew Stafford retires after the 2026 season, the Los Angeles Rams and Mayfield might feel compelled to reunite.”
Howe mentioned several other teams as potential destinations. That includes the Minnesota Vikings, where former Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell is head coach.
The No. 1 overall pick in 2018, Mayfield spent part of the 2022 season with the Rams.
The two-time Pro Bowler would need to make it to free agency, with the Bucs having the option to franchise tag Mayfield up to three times. Still, the Rams would certainly be among the teams linked to Mayfield should his situation remain the same or regress.
Baker Mayfield Enjoyed Time in LA
Baker Mayfield
GettyBaker Mayfield #17 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after throwing the game-winning touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. It was the first time I had fun playing football in a few years,” Mayfield said during a conference call, per Belle Fraser for The New York Post in June 2023.
“It brought that feeling of having that success and really remembering what it was all about. Kind of hit the reset button for me.”
Notably, Rams head coach Sean McVay compared Mayfield favorably to Stafford.
“I thought he brought a spark. He’s just got a great charisma and presence. He brought a spark. It was, obviously, cool to be able to get that result after what’s been a challenging season. But that’s kind of who he is,” McVay told reporters in November 2025.
“When you have certain guys that are innately thrust into leadership positions – whether that be the quarterback or the green dot on defense – and those guys have the things you’re looking for, they naturally elevate the spaces that they’re in and the people that they’re around. And that’s what guys like Matthew and Baker do.”
Former Agent Expects ‘Difficult’ Situation for Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield
GettyBaker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers listens for a play against the Carolina Panthers.
Mayfield’s situation has drawn attention independent of potential suitors like the Rams looming when he could hit the market. He is coming off arguably the worst season of his tenure with Tampa so far.
Former sports agent Joel Corry anticipates a “difficult” set of negotiations.
“Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht indicated at the start of training camp last July that he would look to extend quarterback Baker Mayfield’s contract when the time was right. A contract maneuver last April that didn’t become public knowledge until the end of last July suggested a new Mayfield deal would be a top offseason priority,” Corry wrote on March 18.
“Typically, the longer a team waits to lock up a core player long term, the more it costs. That’s something the Buccaneers may want to consider with Mayfield.”
The Rams have been through complex negotiations with Stafford in recent seasons. They could be primed to benefit from Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ experience. That is, if Stafford indeed retires after the 2026 season.