Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will play the 2026 season on the final year of his contract, a rarity in the NFL for an established starting quarterback. General managers typically lock down sturdy QB1s before they have a chance to see the light of day in free agency. And because the Minnesota Vikings are in the middle of long-term quarterback uncertainty, the purple team may be on a collision course with the Mayfield rumor mill.
If Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy don’t show enough in 2026 to project as the QB1 of the future, you better believe Mayfield will have a front-row seat to the Vikings’ rumor mill in about six months.
Mayfield Is Now a 2027 QB Contingency to Watch
Extension Talks End Without a Deal
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows in Tampa Bay at the moment. NBC Sports‘ Kyle Dvorchak wrote Thursday, “Mayfield added that he was looking to make $50 million per year and the Bucs’ offer was ‘pretty far’ from that figure. Based on Mayfield’s comments, the Bucs wanted to offer him nearly the same contract as Daniel Jones.”
“Though Mayfield is coming off a down year, his track record in Tampa Bay is far better than Jones’ in Indy, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he declined their proposal. Now he is heading into a contract year, with the potential to make a fortune in free agency if he has a rebound season.”
Mayfield checked in as the NFL’s 20th-best quarterback in 2025, according to VikesNow‘s QBCS metric.
As it stands, Mayfield will embark on a “prove-it” year, enticing the Buccaneers brass to pay him even more next offseason or auditioning for his next club.
Vikings Await Murray/McCarthy Verdict
Meanwhile, in Minnesota, the Vikings enter 2026 with Murray and McCarthy as the main options for a quarterback of the future. Minnesota drafted McCarthy 10th overall in 2024, and due to intense injury woes and inconsistent performance, it’s unclear if the 23-year-old will mature into a franchise quarterback. Maybe, maybe not.
Then, in March, the Arizona Cardinals cut ties with Murray, paying him $36.8 million to go away. He promptly signed with the Vikings and could resume his career as a battle-tested QB1 with Kevin O’Connell’s tutelage — as O’Connell did with Sam Darnold in 2024.
If neither Murray nor McCarthy succeeds in 2026, it will be “back to the drawing board” for the Vikings at quarterback in 2027. Mayfield would project as one of the top veteran quarterback options if Tampa Bay actually allows him to reach free agency.
You do the math.
The O’Connell + Mayfield Pairing
O’Connell has manufactured winning seasons with Kirk Cousins and the aforementioned Darnold. His offense has also hummed with Nick Mullens and Joshua Dobbs (for a couple of weeks). Mayfield fits the pattern – – a pocket passer with experience, who isn’t afraid to use legs when the play breaks down.
Conversely, O’Connell’s offense has struggled with McCarthy, Jaren Hall, and Max Brosmer – – inexperienced quarterbacks.
Mayfield fits squarely in the Cousins-Darnold-Mullens-Dobbs camp. If Mayfield could perform well in Tampa Bay, there’s no reason to believe he’d struggle in Minnesota.
Mayfield Outwardly Unhappy about Contract
Mayfield’s discontent is not a hot take. He expressed dismay with his employer this week. “I’m at the point in my career, understanding what I’ve brought to this franchise – – I’m very, very thankful for the chance they gave me, don’t get me wrong about that – – but I also know, I really know what I brought to this franchise, leadership-wise and play-wise,” Mayfield told NFL.com.
“It’s been some of the best years of my career, and I think it’s only gonna trend upwards, just being comfortable and feeling that. So, disappointing in that regard to not have … to feel disrespected a little bit. That’s really the disappointing part, to feel undervalued after thinking you’ve earned it.”
A quarterback of Mayfield’s caliber – – good and efficient, not elite – – can command a contract worth $50 million to $60 million per year. His $50 million request is not outrageous.
“This is not a ‘poor me’ thing. There’s a lot amount of people who have it way worse off,” Mayfield continued.
“But I can sit here and look at other quarterbacks and peers and evaluate myself based on that and put myself in certain categories that I deserve to be compensated for that. I think I’m a franchise quarterback. I’ve been told I’m a franchise quarterback.”
The Other 2027 QB Options for Vikings
If the Vikings are in the market for a free-agent quarterback, but Mayfield doesn’t cross their radar, the projected options are plentiful but not dazzling, at least from a July 2026 viewpoint:
- Jacoby Brissett
- Justin Fields
- Mac Jones
- Will Levis
- Davis Mills
- Anthony Richardson
- Aaron Rodgers
- Geno Smith
- Deshaun Watson
- Jameis Winston
The club could also explore a trade, though the candidates aren’t clear until the 2026 regular season plays out. The 2027 NFL Draft, too, is shaping up to be one of the deepest in recent memory for prospective quarterbacks.
Mayfield will turn 32 next offseason.
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VikesNow Verdict: This isn’t a Vikings-Mayfield rumor yet. If Murray or McCarthy establishes himself as Minnesota’s long-term quarterback, Mayfield becomes irrelevant. But if the Vikings enter 2027 still searching for QB1 and Mayfield hits free agency, his experience and skill set would make him an obvious name for the rumor mill.
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