Overview
- The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reports Mayfield could be the first free-agent quarterback to top $50 million per year and reset the market.
- The Buccaneers are described as unlikely to offer a big extension now, making 2026 a prove-it season in the final year of his three-year, $100 million contract.
- The Vikings are labeled an obvious fit because J.J. McCarthy has struggled and Kyler Murray is on a one-year deal for 2026.
- The Rams are viewed as a reunion option only if Matthew Stafford retires after the 2026 season, according to Howe’s projection.
- Mayfield’s late-2025 slide to 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions hurt his leverage, and a rebound could draw heavy bids as the cap rises and veteran starters stay scarce.