Theo Ash: Let Baker Mayfield Walk
June 8th, 2026
Popular NFL analyst reacts.
Joe can already tell that the Baker Mayfield contract debate will fuel Bucs fans and fill the gap from Bucs minicamp — next week! — through the start training camp in late July.
If one follows NFL analyst Theo Ash on Twitter and reads between the lines, he’s not much of a Mayfield kind of guy. Doesn’t hate him, just thinks Mayfield is mid.
For those who don’t know Ash, he decided to start his own NFL thinktank, solo, using various social media platforms as his stage. Joe doesn’t always agree with Ash, but his takes are usually reasoned. Between Twitter and TikTok, Ash has nearly a half-million followers.
Ash seems to think Mayfield’s camp is looking at Josh Allen-type money. And if you compare Mayfield’s numbers to Allen’s — which Ash did — they’re so close it’s spooky.
Ash leans towards letting Mayfield sign elsewhere. In a best-case scenario, he said the Bucs should franchise Mayfield for next 2027 (roughly a $50 million commitment) because Mayfield isn’t worth Allen money. Allen, at least, leads his team deep into the playoffs. Mayfield? Well…
Ash maintains the Bucs need a dramatically better defense to win the NFC. And if the Bucs pay Mayfield an Allen-like contract, the Bucs then don’t have the Team Glazer loot lying around to adequately improve the defense.
The Joe typing here has long maintained a desire to see what Mayfield does this fall before putting a contract in front of him to sign, though the Bucs already made Mayfield an offer. With next year’s draft expected to be rich with quarterbacks, the Bucs do have options if Mayfield repeats his 2025 struggles.
At the end of the day, both Joes are confident Mayfield will be barking signals for the Bucs to start the 2027 season.
Stats from 2022 to 2025.
@theoashnfl The Bucs shouldn’t offer Baker a 50+ million a year extension #nfl #football #sports #buccaneers ♬ original sound – Theo Ash