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NFL - The Athletic fantasy football takes on Baker Mayfield
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from NFL - The Athletic about Baker Mayfield.
9
Insights
6
Positive
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Negative
Insight ledger
All NFL - The Athletic insights about Baker Mayfield
NegativeRoleAug 4, 2026
Mayfield is scheduled to become a free agent after the season with a $33.3 million average salary ranking 16th. Losing receiver Mike Evans could affect his performance, although one voter noted that Mayfield shined early in his career at Cleveland without a top wideout. An offensive coordinator described his inconsistency: "He is just the streakiest player of all time. He can play like a 2 and play like a 5. He misses throws, he loses vision, but then he makes some unbelievable plays with his feet. He is one of those guys that frustrates you as a coordinator, but when things around him are pretty good, he can make impressive plays and win some games, too."NegativeProjectionAug 4, 2026
Mayfield held his ground year-over-year, slipping just slightly in average vote while falling three spots in ranking. An exec said: "He probably fluctuates from a 3 to a 2, with some (Tier) 1 games in there. A little bit of a reckless play style, a little smaller guy. You saw some wear and tear catch up to him last season. I lean towards a 3." A former head coach countered: "I don't want to be unfair to Brock Purdy, but I feel more threatened by Baker. I think Baker does more outside of the system. I don't think he has been as protected in a system like Brock has, and he's a winner, he's got that edge to him. So does Brock. Baker is a 2 to me."PositiveProjectionJul 30, 2026
Baker Mayfield expressed confidence in his upcoming season, stating "I'm going to have a big year" amid contract extension negotiations with the Buccaneers where he felt undervalued and disrespected. The quote reflects his conviction about his performance outlook despite the contentious contract talks.PositiveProjectionJul 30, 2026
Baker Mayfield expressed confidence in his upcoming season, stating "I'm going to have a big year" amid contract extension negotiations with the Buccaneers where he felt undervalued. His conviction suggests elevated performance expectations for the 2026 season.PositiveProjectionJul 30, 2026
Baker Mayfield expressed confidence in his upcoming season, stating "I'm going to have a big year" amid contract extension negotiations with the Buccaneers where he felt undervalued and disrespected. The quote reflects his conviction in his performance outlook despite the contentious contract talks.PositiveProjectionJul 30, 2026
Baker Mayfield expressed confidence in his upcoming season, stating "I'm going to have a big year" amid contract extension negotiations with the Buccaneers where he felt undervalued and disrespected. The quote reflects his conviction in his performance outlook despite the contentious extension talks.NegativeProjectionNo date
Mayfield is entering the final year of his contract in 2026 with the Buccaneers after the team restructured his deal in July 2025 to guarantee him $30 million. Contract negotiations with Tampa Bay are ongoing but 'not anywhere close' to a long-term agreement, with Mayfield setting a training camp deadline for discussions. Despite uncertainty, Mayfield has committed to performing at his best for the Bucs, stating his priority is helping the team win a Super Bowl. His 2025 season showed volatility: he started 5-1 with 12 touchdowns and one interception, sparking MVP chatter, but the Bucs finished 8-9. In 2024, Mayfield posted a career-high 4,500 passing yards with a 71.4% completion rate.PositiveValueNo date
Baker Mayfield is very close to signing a long-term deal with the Buccaneers. The team is 27-24 (plus two playoff wins) with him as their starter, and he is still only 31 years old, suggesting he has multiple productive seasons ahead and strong contract leverage.PositiveProjectionNo date
Mayfield is on the final year of his contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at $33.33 million AAV, ranking 16th among quarterbacks. With the market shifting upward following Mahomes' extension, the source speculates Mayfield could receive a significant pay bump, potentially into the Daniel Jones range of $44–45 million or even the $50 million range. However, Mayfield stated he and the Buccaneers are "not anywhere close" to a deal at the time of reporting.