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Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has gotten his career back on track this year. Along the way, Mayfield has become a major bargain for the Bucs.
His one-year deal has a base value of $4 million. He has another $4.5 million in available incentives, with up to $2 million coming from playing time and making the playoffs, up to another $1.5 million based on finishing in the top 10 in the NFL or top five in the NFC in passer rating ($300,000), touchdown passes ($300,000), total yards passing ($300,000), completion percentage ($300,000), and yards per pass ($300,000), and another $250,000 for each playoff win, up to $1 million.
Regardless of the specific incentives he ultimately earns, a total payout of less than $10 million for a wire-to-wire starting quarterback who takes his team to the playoffs (if they make it there) at a time when the market value at the position has rocketed past $50 million per year creates the kind of value that teams with veteran quarterbacks on their second contracts or beyond rarely realize.
Mayfield’s real reward is looming. He has said he wants to stay with the Buccaneers. His next deal in Tampa would be significantly more valuable than his current one. And if the Bucs won’t do it, someone else will. The franchise tag, which likely will be in the range of $35 million, would give Mayfield more in 2024 than he made under his four-year rookie deal as the first overall pick in 2018 ($32.68 million).
So, yes, he’s playing well enough to get paid a lot more. For now, the Bucs have been able to get solid play through 14 games for peanuts, relative to what competent veteran quarterbacks make.
And anyone could have had him. Including, for instance, the Falcons, who gave Taylor Heinicke $6.32 million guaranteed for 2023. Or maybe the Saints, who gave Derek Carr $60 million fully guaranteed at signing — with another $10 million that becomes fully guaranteed in March 2024. If the Buccaneers win the NFC South, the Falcons and Saints will regret not…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/buccaneers-got-great-bargain-baker-023837490.html
Author : ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports
Publish date : 2023-12-23 02:38:37
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