All of us came upon Sunday that Professional Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield was again with the Bucs.
The main points of the contract: three years and $100 million. A complete of $40 million of that was totally assured at signing with one other $20 million in further ensures.
Some heralded the signing as an amazing deal for the Tampa Bay, citing the complete ensures as a cut price.
Others seemed on the $33.3 million common per yr and thought the Bucs overpaid for a quarterback who was not within the Prime 10 within the league. There have been opinions upon opinions.
However the true fact on the deal lies past the floor numbers. The satan is within the particulars as they are saying.
And the main points of this deal appear to be fairly incredible for Tampa Bay.
Baker Mayfield’s Contract Construction
OverTheCap.com has the main points of the Baker Mayfield contract and they’re very attention-grabbing.
Now there are a whole lot of attention-grabbing issues to notice based mostly off of OTC’s reporting. Let’s break all of them down.
No Void Years?
Bucs assistant GM Mike Greenberg and VP of soccer analysis Jacqueline Davidson – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
In response to OverTheCap.com the Bucs opted to not unfold out any of Baker’s signing bonus throughout any void years. There are execs and cons to this.
The professionals focus on the truth that there shall be no “useless cash” as soon as the deal expires. That is one thing normal supervisor Jason Licht and assistant normal supervisor Mike Greenberg shied away from early of their tenures with the Bucs, however then used closely over the 2020-2023 time interval as soon as the staff’s playoff window opened.
The cons of going this route is that it does inflate the wage cap hits over the 2024-2026 seasons. There’s a large soar between $10.75 million in 2024 and $39.625 million in 2025.
Notice that is topic to vary. In talking with somebody from OTC, in addition to others, there’s a good wager there could also be void years hooked up to the deal. If there are it might change the calculus a bit.
Comparatively Low 12 months One Cap Hit
Even with out the usage of void years the Bucs had been capable of preserve Baker Mayfield’s 2024 cap hit very cheap. At $10.75 million the Bucs have loads of room to proceed to construct out the roster.
Mayfield’s cap hit has not stopped Tampa Bay from franchise tagging All-Professional security Antoine Winfield Jr., or re-signing Professional Bowl broad receiver Mike Evans, kicker Chase McLaughlin or reserve nostril sort out Greg Gaines.
Possibly it stopped them from giving inside linebacker Devin White his $100 million deal (I child), however at lower than $11 million this yr, Mayfield’s deal is a cut price cap hit for a quarterback with a number of playoff wins and a Professional Bowl beneath his belt.
A number of Flexibility
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and HC Todd Bowles – Photograph by: USA As we speak
Let’s play out two situations with this deal.
First state of affairs, Baker Mayfield regresses mightily in 2024. Tampa Bay loses 10 video games or extra and has a excessive draft choose in 2025. In the event that they determine to do a reset, transfer on from Mayfield and go along with a rookie quarterback with their first-round choose, then his contract is not going to be a hindrance to them pivoting. His present projected cap hit for 2025 is $39.625 million.
If the staff decides to launch him, they are going to tackle a $29.250 million useless cap hit, however nonetheless save $10.375 million in wage cap room. And if the staff decides to make that minimize a post-June 1 transfer they will unfold that useless cap hit throughout 2025 ($19.625 million) and 2026 ($9.625 million).
Situation two, Mayfield continues to play properly. He even takes a step ahead from his 2023 efficiency. The Bucs make the playoffs once more with a younger, gifted roster and need to praise that roster with extra veteran items.
Would Mayfield’s contract and cap hit forestall them from making these strikes? The reply to that’s no. On this state of affairs the Bucs might restructure as much as $28.745 million of his $30 million base wage. Relying on if Jason Licht and Mike Greenberg wished to make use of void years at that time they may open up as a lot as $22.996 million in cap area whereas lowering Mayfield’s cap hit to as little as $16.629 million.
Door Is Open For One other Extension In 2026
If the wedding of the Bucs and Baker Mayfield continues to bear fruit by means of 2025 the construction of this deal makes for a simple extension. The $40 million wage Mayfield is ready to earn in 2026 will not be assured. If he will get to that time within the contract and the 2 events need to prolong it makes an ideal complete to ensure within the type of a conversion to a prorated bonus.
Tampa Bay might then tack on assured wage in 2027 because the stability of the complete ensures of that new deal whereas including a 3rd yr of non-guaranteed cash. Utilizing this contract as a mannequin that deal might look one thing like: two-year extension (by means of 2028), $85 million in new cash. $50 million totally assured. Cap hits:
2026 – $14.2 million
2027 – $52.9 million
2028 – $57.9 million
What If There Are Void Years?
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
As I famous earlier, there may be some conjecture that the Bucs have used void years in Baker Mayfield’s contract, and so they simply haven’t been reported by the NFL Gamers Affiliation. So, what modifications if they’ve used them? A number of issues would regulate.
Initially, Mayfield’s 2024 cap hit would cut back to a probable $6.9 million. The 2025 cap quantity would come all the way down to $35.775 million and 2026 would drop to $45.775 million. It will additionally set placeholder useless cap hits of $5.775 million in 2027 and 2028. The 2028 quantity would speed up to 2027 as soon as the deal expired and the Bucs can be left with an $11.55 million useless cap cost.
If the staff had been to determine to chop Mayfield after 2024, they might be answerable for a $33.1 million useless cap cost in opposition to a $35.775 wage cap hit, so they might nonetheless notice a slight financial savings of $2.675 million with a straight minimize, and $20 million with a post-June 1 designation (and a $17.325 million useless cap cost in 2026).
Regardless of the way you slice it the Bucs have dealt themselves a strong hand. They’ve a number of outs with this contract.
And a strong quarterback on the roster.
