QB-Needy NFL Teams That Should Keep Tabs on Bucs' Baker Mayfield During 2026 Season

Key Points:

• Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have not agreed on a contract extension before training camp, with Mayfield expressing disappointment over feeling undervalued; he will play the final year of his contract and become a free agent in 2027.
• Mayfield has significantly improved his NFL stock with the Buccaneers, leading two playoff runs and earning two Pro Bowls, making him a top free-agent quarterback option alongside Justin Fields and others if Tampa lets him go.
• Several teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers, are potential suitors for Mayfield due to their uncertain quarterback situations and Mayfield’s proven experience and leadership.
• The Cardinals and Panthers could be good fits given their offensive talent and coaching connections to Mayfield, while the Vikings and Steelers may seek him as a stable veteran option amid quarterback competition and transitions.
• The Jets, holding three 2027 first-round picks but uncertain about drafting a top quarterback, might consider Mayfield as a safer alternative to rookie options, potentially accelerating their return to competitiveness.