The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are beginning to crumble.
Days after two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea officially requested a trade, quarterback Baker Mayfield made it clear he is less than thrilled with the franchise and how they have handled his contract negotiations.
“I wanted the deal done and set the deadline and told them it was going to be all ball after that, and I did mean that,” Mayfield told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “And I don’t know if they thought I was just going to take some of the offers that they gave, but I’m at the point of my career and understanding what I’ve brought to this franchise. So, disappointing in that regard to not have… to feel disrespected a little bit. And that’s really the disappointing part, to feel undervalued after thinking you’ve earned it.”
Reports indicate that Mayfield and Tampa Bay have closed negotiations on an extension, and he is slated to play out the final year of his three-year, $100 million contract and become a free agent in the spring.
If Mayfield does, in fact, hit the free agent market, the New York Jets must explore that route and show legitimate interest in adding the 31-year-old.
Why Mayfield should be on Jets’ radar
Now, a lot of it hinges on what happens this season. If Geno Smith leads the team to the playoffs and looks like the Seattle Seahawks version of himself, the Jets’ approach to Mayfield will change.
However, when evaluating the present and planning ahead for the 2027 season, Mayfield makes a ton of sense for several reasons.
In three seasons and 51 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has led the team to a 27-24 record while completing 66.3% of his passes for 12,237 yards (7.3 yards per attempt) and 95 touchdowns against 37 interceptions.
During the 2025 season, Mayfield threw for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, completing 63.2% of his passes and averaging 6.8 yards per attempt, despite battling injuries from wide receivers Mike Evans (8 games) and Chris Godwin (9 games), along with running back Bucky Irving (10 games).
Mayfield also dealt with injuries of his own, appearing on the injury report in 10 out of 18 weeks for a sprained MCL and PCL, a biceps contusion, and an AC joint shoulder sprain.
In 2024, though, with better health both individually and within his supporting cast, he had a career year. Here is where he ranked among 32 qualified QBs in key statistics for the 2024 season.
- 71.4% completion rate (3rd)
- 4,500 passing yards (3rd)
- 7.9 yards per attempt (T-6th)
- 41 touchdowns (T-2nd)
- 16 interceptions (1st)
- 106.8 passer rating (4th)
At his best, Mayfield has been one of the most explosive passers in the NFL.
Even in 2025, Mayfield led Tampa Bay to a strong 6-2 start. He was viewed as an early MVP candidate before stumbling to a 2-7 finish amid injuries to himself and his weapons, which led to an 8-9 record.
The funny part is his performance with those injuries was better than any level of QB play the Jets have seen in over a decade.
Aside from his pocket passing, Mayfield has also developed into one of the most efficient rushing quarterbacks in the game.
For the 2025 season, his 86.8 rushing grade from Pro Football Focus was the second-best among 30 qualified QBs, while he also finished fifth in scramble yards (377). Mayfield is averaging 22.4 rushing yards per game on 6.6 yards per attempt over the last two seasons.
How he performs in 2026 will significantly impact his contract outlook. If he recaptures his 2024 form, he could command over $50 million per year, while a season like last year might place him in the $35 million range.
For the Jets, the goal is very simple: the team needs to start winning. With a poor start to the 2026 season, Gang Green could very well fire Aaron Glenn in-season and hire a new head coach next offseason.
A new coach could pair up with Mayfield to help the Jets return to playoff contention. Right now, the Jets have a very strong offensive supporting cast around the quarterback position, including a high-ceiling offensive line. The massive question, as it always is, is at quarterback.
Mayfield would be the Jets’ most reliable answer to that question in a long time. Since becoming Tampa Bay’s starter in 2023, Mayfield has led the team to a 27-24 record while ranking second in the NFL in touchdown passes (95) and third in passing yards (12,237).
The Jets haven’t sniffed that type of win percentage or passing production in 11 years.
Adding Mayfield wouldn’t hinder the Jets from drafting a high-end quarterback in the 2027 NFL draft. If anything, it would just give the team more flexibility with their three first-round picks and premium assets.
With the right team around him, Mayfield has proven that he can win. Right now, the Jets have a solid young offensive core. With another year of development, the Jets will be ready to compete if they have the right player under center.
Do they need a few more pieces? Yes, absolutely. An upgrade at center and a WR2 are two key areas where they should look to upgrade before the 2027 season, but the core is there.
Ultimately, the Jets can’t spend any more time trying to lose their way to the top. It’s been over 15 years without the playoffs, and the cycle of kicking the can down the road at quarterback gets old.
It’s time for the Jets to get a little bold. Just think about what a quarterback like Mayfield would do for the organization’s fanbase. For once, they would experience competitive football games in December, an offense that can move the ball, and everything that comes with that.
Once again, it is crucial to realize that signing Mayfield wouldn’t prevent the Jets from investing in a young QB next April. Instead, that young QB would have time to learn and develop behind an established veteran before getting handed the reins.
That’s how successful organizations operate. They build a competitive roster, win football games, and then hand the keys to a young quarterback when the foundation is already in place.
The Jets’ priority can no longer be chasing another long-term plan at the expense of the present. They need to start winning again.
Mayfield has shown he can lead a competitive, winning football team, and adding him wouldn’t close the door on a future plan at all; it would, in fact, make it easier to build.
