After back-to-back Pro Bowl campaigns in 2023-2024, Mayfield threw for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions — his yardage and TD totals the lowest of his Bucs tenure.
After leading Tampa’s 6-2 start, Mayfield’s play waned as injuries piled up. Although he never missed a game, Mayfield rarely missed the injury report, appearing with foot, toe, biceps, knee, hip and shoulder issues. An injury to his non-throwing shoulder seemed to be the worst, as he went from being in early MVP conversations to throwing 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions over the last eight games after throwing 16 TDs and just two picks in his first nine.
Current teammate Lavonte David recently cited the aforementioned injury as the culprit behind Mayfield’s struggles. With the Buccaneers failing to win the NFC South or make the playoffs for the first time since Mayfield’s arrival, the 2025 season was a disappointment of the highest order.
Despite last season’s pitfalls, Mayfield needs to move up, as his annual average of $33.3 million is $16.i.e in the league, on Over the Cap, and well behind the 10 signal callers currently pulling in north of $50 million per.
Glazer defers to general manager Jason Licht when it comes to these issues.
“It’s part of Jason’s planning and everything,” Glazer said. “I know Jason is looking at all of this. It’s a constant thing that you look at.
“There is a time and a place for everything, and everything always takes care of itself.”
Taken by the Cleveland Browns with the top pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Mayfield was traded by the Browns to the Carolina Panthers for the 2022 season. His time in Charlotte was short and unsuccessful, leading to a brief stint with the Los Angeles Rams. Mayfield had suddenly become a nomad and was picked up by Licht and Co. after Tom Brady retired.
Mayfield, who was signed to a one-year probationary contract, surpassed 4,000 yards passing for the first time in 2023 and received a multi-year extension.
Regardless of the final results of 2025, it appears he is headed for another, much more fruitful extension with the Buccaneers.
“Obviously quarterback is the highest paid position on the team, rightfully so,” Glazer said. “That means it’s going well, so if the quarterback is making money at the top, your team is probably doing well and the quarterbacks are doing well. That’s obviously key to being successful. It doesn’t hurt at all to write that check, it’s something every team does when you have good quarterbacks.”