The first big quarterback domino in the 2024 free agency class has fallen, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have reached a deal on a three-year contract extension with starting quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield was set to become a free agent on Wednesday. Instead, he and the Bucs reached an agreement on a three-year, $100 million contract that has $50 million in guaranteed money and a max value of $115 million, including incentives.
Mayfield, the former first overall pick of the Cleveland Browns, back in 2018, settled in Tampa in 2023, beating out former second-round pick Kyle Trask for the job in training camp last summer.
He followed that performance with a career-best regular season. Mayfield set career highs in attempts (566), completions (364), yards (4,044), touchdowns (28) and completions percentage (64.3%). His 94.6 passer rating was the second-best mark of his career.
Mayfield started all 17 games, leading Tampa to a 9-8 record and an NFC South title. They went on to upset Philadelphia in the Wild Card round before losing to Detroit in the NFC Divisional Playoff.
Mayfield had been considered one of the top quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL free agency class, along with Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings, Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears trade candidate Justin Fields.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were not as heavily linked to Mayfield as they have been the other quarterback options available this offseason. They have already met with Wilson and have been in conversation with the Bears about acquiring Fields. They can continue meeting with players like Cousins, Ryan Tannehill and Gardner Minshew beginning on Monday at noon.