A new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts every Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Each week, the Pewter Reporters tackle another tough Bucs question. This week’s prompt: Which Buc should get a contract extension this offseason?
Scott Reynolds: Bucs Should Lock Baker Mayfield Up Long-Term
Bucs Qb Baker Mayfield
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs got a bargain in the 2024 offseason when they re-signed quarterback Baker Mayfield to a three-year contract worth $100 million. Yet at $33.3 million per year, Mayfield was still the third-highest paid quarterback in the NFC South behind Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins at $45 million per year and New Orleans’ Derek Carr at $37.5 million per year. As was the case in 2023, Mayfield once again proved to be the best quarterback in the division in 2024 with a personal-best 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns, which ranks as the second-most passing scores for a season in Tampa Bay history. Mayfield has earned a raise and it should come in the form of an extension this offseason.
The deal the Falcons gave the aging Cousins, who was coming off a torn Achilles, was just dumb. So Tampa Bay shouldn’t be penalized for Atlanta’s stupidity, especially since Cousins has been benched for Michael Penix Jr., who was the team’s first-round pick last year. Giving Mayfield a $12 million raise so he can make more than Cousins is a little rich. But Mayfield deserves to make more than Carr does, so bumping him up to $38 million per year seems fair if Mayfield were to agree to a two-year extension. That would keep him under contract through 2028. Mayfield turns 30 in April, so an extension would lock up him through age 34.
Mayfield is only the 19th-highest paid quarterback right now, and bumping him up to $38 million per year would move him up to No. 15 on the list. That’s still really good value for the Bucs long term, especially with overpaid quarterbacks like Cousins, Deshaun Watson ($45 million) and Dak Prescott ($60 million) also on the list ahead of him. Mayfield’s initial three-year deal was fully guaranteed, so guaranteeing the two-year extension – plus the raise – should be enough of an incentive for him to do the deal. Tampa Bay could be cutting off a much larger contract demand at the pass in 2027 when Mayfield is slated to become a free agent again.
Matt Matera: Keep Cade Otton As Bucs’ Starting Tight End
Bucs Te Cade Otton
Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photo by: USA Today
The Bucs know what they have with Cade Otton and it would be important to keep him as the starting tight end moving forward. Otton truly showed his worth for the Bucs last season when times were at their toughest after Chris Godwin was lost for the rest of the season in Week 7 and Mike Evans missed three games. Otton has receiving games of 100 yards, 81 yards, 77 yards and 35 yards when Tampa Bay’s best targets were out, plus he had three touchdowns during that span.
Tampa Bay could extend Otton with a four-year deal worth $13 million per season. In comparison, Saints tight end Juwan Johnson just signed a three-year deal worth $10 million a season. Otton had more yards and touchdowns than Johnson last year, plus he is a better blocker and is used in several different ways for the Bucs in their offense.
Otton proved he can be a main target but also understands what his role is when all of Tampa Bay’s weapons are healthy. He’s had clutch moments, can get a key first down when a big play is needed, and has improved a lot as a blocker in the running game. Otton won’t be in the tier one category of tight ends in the league, but the Bucs have a valuable player that they should keep on the roster with an extension.
Bailey Adams: Bucs Have Two Reasons To Lock Mike Evans In For 2026
Bucs Wr Mike Evans
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today
Last offseason, the Bucs signed Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans to a new two-year contract in an effort to ensure he has the opportunity to be a Buc for life. That locked him in for his age-31 season in 2024, as well as his age-32 season in 2025. And in that age-31 season, he tied Jerry Rice’s NFL record for longest streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons, surpassing that mark for the 11th straight season despite missing 3.5 games.
Not only that, but Evans also brought in 11 touchdowns, marking his second straight campaign with double-digit touchdowns and his fourth in the last five years. He showed no signs of slowing down in 2024, and it’s hard to imagine him calling it a career after 2025. So, why not go ahead and lock him in for another year in 2026? With that, the team would have him signed through the age of 33, and then it can go year-to-year with the best offensive player in franchise history as long as he wants to continue playing.
In addition to getting ahead of things and pushing off Evans’ next contract year into the future, signing Evans to a one-year extension could net the Bucs some additional cap savings. In my Bucs Battle Plan for 2025, I included a one-year, $23.5 million extension for the future Hall of Famer, which could provide Tampa Bay with $15,766,668 in savings this season. With multiple reasons to get this done, it feels like a no-brainer for the Buccaneers front office.
Josh Queipo: Zyon McCollum Provides An Opportunity For Value
Bucs Cb Zyon Mccollum
Bucs CB Zyon McCollum – Photo by: USA Today
Have you seen the contracts being handed out to cornerbacks this offseason? Below average 30-year-old slots are going for over $10 million per year. And third-contract guys are getting $18 million per year. The position is going through a massive reset, and we haven’t even seen extensions for Trent McDuffie, Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr.
All of this means a new contract next year for Zyon McCollum could easily top $20 million per year. But if the Bucs were to engage the former fifth-rounder about a three-year extension at around $15 million per year it could prove to be a massive value in 12 months. Especially if he takes another step forward in 2025 like he did last year.
McCollum has made less than $3 million in his career thus far, and a $45 million extension with about $28 million fully guaranteed could represent a deal that he can’t refuse to take this offseason. All while allowing the Bucs both cap flexibility and cost certainty for a high-upside player at a high-impact position.
Adam Slivon: Bucs Should Make Luke Goedeke The Next $100 Million Man
Bucs Rt Luke Goedeke
Bucs RT Luke Goedeke – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
A year after the Bucs gave nine-figure deals to Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield and All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs, they have one more of those massive deals to hand out. With Luke Goedeke emerging as a top-five right tackle over the last two seasons, Tampa Bay cannot afford to see him hit the open market. Have you seen what offensive linemen are getting paid these days?! It makes the most sense to lock up Goedeke first and as soon as possible.
Goedeke did a complete 180 of his NFL career after struggling at left guard and getting benched in favor of Nick Leverett as a rookie. He moved back over to his natural position at right tackle and has flourished ever since. He has been a model of consistency at the position after taking the spot of Wirfs, grading out as the 27th-best offensive tackle in both 2023 and 2024. His growth has coincided with the success of the offense, especially last year’s run game.
Accounting for the value that Goedeke brings to the table and the relationships he has with both Mayfield and Wirfs, it’s a no-brainer to extend him. While tight end Cade Otton and cornerback Zyon McCollum are also in the conversation to get extensions, Luke the Lifter’s deal will be the biggest and should be done before the price tag goes up anymore. He’ll become a $100 million man soon enough.