Baker Mayfield Could Return To Former Team In Blockbuster Move That Would Shake The NFL Landscape

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Baker Mayfield’s talks with the team have stalled. The player enters the final year of his current deal. He will play the entire 2026 season without a new contract.

Extension negotiations dragged on for months. Both sides remain far apart on money. The quarterback wants pay that matches the top passers in the league. The Buccaneers show little urgency to close a long-term deal right now.

He produced strong numbers in 2024. That season included 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. The Buccaneers won the NFC South. Production dropped in 2025 because of injuries. He still started every game and threw for 3,693 yards with 26 scores.

Baker Mayfield Faces Uncertain Future in Tampa

Mayfield made his stance clear earlier this offseason. He wanted an extension done before training camp. That deadline came and went with no agreement. The team posted a simple welcome message for his fourth year. He insists the stalled talks will not distract from winning.

The current contract pays him roughly $33 million per year on average. This season carries a higher number because of previous money. Market prices for starting quarterbacks keep rising.

One popular idea involves a return to his original team. Cleveland selected him first overall years ago. The split turned messy before he revived his career in Tampa.

Some analysts float the Browns as a realistic option if he reaches free agency.

“If I’m Baker Mayfield, I’m pointing to some of these guys and saying, ‘why are they getting all this money?’”

“If I’m right about the Browns… if you end up being a 7-win team and a year from now Baker Mayfield is a free agent, $60 million or $55 million settles a lot of previous grievances.”

“If I’m Baker Mayfield, I’m pointing to some of these guys and saying, ‘why are they getting all this money?'”

“If I’m right about the Browns…if you end up being a 7-win team and a year from now Baker Mayfield is a free agent, $60 million or $55 million settles a lot of… pic.twitter.com/6GmTNT6ebq

— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) July 28, 2026

Baker Mayfield Could Hit Free Agency in 2027

Baker Mayfield remains under contract through the upcoming season. He plans to focus fully on the field. The Buccaneers can still resume talks after the year ends. Both sides leave that door open for now.

His time in Tampa revived a career that once looked finished. Stops in Carolina and Los Angeles went poorly. The Buccaneers gave him a fresh start, and he delivered. Now the business side creates new questions.

A Cleveland return would surprise many. The original breakup left hard feelings on both sides.

The 2026 season will decide plenty. Strong play could raise his market value even higher. Struggles might change the conversation. Either way, the quarterback enters a pivotal year with no long-term security.

The Buccaneers hope he stays productive while they evaluate their options. He hopes to prove his worth and earn the contract he seeks.