Is Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield underpaid? That's the argument NFL.com writer Tom Blair is making.
After bouncing around the league for a couple of seasons, the former top overall pick in 2018 found a home with the Buccaneers in 2023. After that first year, Mayfield signed a three-year, $100 million extension with the Buccaneers last offseason.
His response? A 4,500-yard, 41-touchdown season that set career-highs in almost every single statistical category for a quarterback.
That $100 million looks like a bargain now.
And it's exactly why Blair believes Mayfield is one of the most underpaid players in the league.
"He undoubtedly should make more than $33.33 million per year, which puts him below Sam Darnold, Geno Smith and Kirk Cousins on the contracts table. And, yes, that APY is roughly $20 million per year less than what Tua Tagovailoa, Jared Goff and Brock Purdy are receiving. " Blair wrote.
It's easy to see where Blair is coming from. Baker has more playoff wins as a starter in Tampa than Sam Darnold, Geno Smith, and Kirk Cousins have combined. The fact that Tampa Bay has him under this contract for another two years is a steal for the team.
That isn't what the former Browns star is thinking about, though.
Following two division titles, Mayfield has established himself as the top quarterback in his division, and one of the best in the conference. Anything less than a Super Bowl title should satisfy him.
The money, in this case, is just an added bonus.