Baker Mayfield signs three-year, $115 million contract with Tampa Bay

Baker Mayfield signs $115 million contract with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leads team to NFC South title in career-best season.

Baker Mayfield has signed a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers worth up to $115 million, with $50 million guaranteed. This deal, reported by the Tampa Bay Times, includes $30 million in 2024 and 2025, with $20 million guaranteed in the second year and a salary increase to $40 million in 2026. Mayfield, who has played for four teams in the past three seasons, had a career-best year in 2023, leading the Bucs to a third consecutive NFC South title.

Mayfield's return to Tampa Bay was also influenced by the hiring of Liam Coen as offensive coordinator and the recent signing of receiver Mike Evans to a two-year, $52 million deal. Six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox announced his retirement after 12 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he holds the franchise record for sacks by a defensive tackle. Cox helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl in 2017 and was a first-team All-Pro in 2018.

The Chicago Bears added veteran safety Kevin Byard on a two-year contract, along with re-signing long snapper Patrick Scales to a one-year deal. Byard, who played for Tennessee and Philadelphia last season, has 121 starts in 130 regular-season games with 28 interceptions, 66 passes defensed, four sacks, four fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles. Byard's addition fills a gap left by the release of Eddie Jackson last month.