NFL Insider Hypes Baker Mayfield as 'Top-10' QB, Predicts 'Big Season' Amid Bucs Contract Dispute

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is betting on himself as he enters the final year of his contract, and some around the NFL expect him to deliver in a big way in 2026.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler spoke to an NFL personnel evaluator who said they feel Mayfield is poised for a bounce-back year during the upcoming campaign.

"When he's healthy, he's a top-10 quarterback," the exec said. "I don't think he was healthy last year. He should have a big season."

After throwing for career highs of 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2024, Mayfield's numbers dropped to 3,693 yards and 26 touchdowns last season as the Bucs fell short of the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The 31-year-old turned down a reported two-year extension offer worth over $100 million because he feels he deserves more long-term security in Tampa Bay.

It's clear that Mayfield will be playing the 2026 season with a chip on his shoulder, so he could be set to prove his doubters wrong. The Bucs will open the year against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 13.