When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally agreed to contract extensions with quarterback Baker Mayfield and defensive tackle Vita Vea, it felt that all was right with the world again. 

Having very contentious, very public standoffs with both the team’s offensive and defensive leaders created a dark cloud over the Bucs as they prepared to begin training camp. When the extensions were signed, everyone was able to breathe a sigh of relief. 

The Bucs had high expectations for the upcoming season, and they were overwhelming favorites to return to the top of the NFC South division and return to the playoffs after last year’s collapse caused them to watch the postseason from home. 

Averting two potential gigantic distractions heading into the season seemed like a great business decision by the organization. 

It wasn’t. 

With the benefit of hindsight, it is easy to see that the huge contracts for Mayfield and Vea were mistakes, and both deals threaten to financially cripple a team that looks like some type of rebuild will be necessary after what appears to be a lost season. 

When a team signs two 31-year-olds to big money extensions, it is a clear sign that the team expects to win now. With the Bucs sitting at 0-4 and looking like one of the NFL’s worst teams, significant changes are needed. The future money committed now to both Mayfield and Vea may hinder the team’s ability to make those changes. 

To be fair, I very much believed extending Mayfield before the season was the right move, and I still believe he is the Bucs’ best long-term option at quarterback. 

However, Mayfield did not play well over the first three games before suffering a discolored thumb in Week 3’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He missed Sunday’s loss against the Green Bay Packers and will continue to be out for Tampa’s Thursday Night Football tilt against the Dallas Cowboys. 

His new deal was for $165 million over three years. That $55 million-per-year salary ties Mayfield for the third-highest among QBs, with only Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott making more. 

Since signing the extension, Mayfield has not looked anything like one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks. He has frequently turned the ball over and has been unable to lead his team to even a single victory. In his revenge game against Cleveland, Mayfield was completely outplayed by Deshaun Watson, who replaced him as the Browns’ QB in 2022. 

Looking back, it is clear that the Bucs should have waited until after the season to come back to the negotiating table. The organization could have had another season to evaluate Mayfield’s worth, especially after his disappointing 2025 campaign, before committing so much money to him. 

Even if Mayfield had a terrific bounce-back year, it is unlikely his next deal would have been for much more than what the Bucs gave him. 

Mayfield had accepted that he wouldn't be extended before the season and was concentrating on just playing football. He wasn’t holding out. He wasn’t angry, at least not after the first day of camp. He was just doing his job. 

Tampa could have waited til season’s end to pay him, and the way this season has gone, it could have been for much less. 

Vea put the Bucs in an entirely different situation. He staged a “hold-in” during the team’s mandatory minicamp, and then wasn’t participating in team drills at camp while seeking a new deal. 

When he didn’t get one, he demanded a trade. 

The defensive tackle market exploded this offseason, and Vea understandably wanted his share. 2026 was the final year of his deal, which had no more guaranteed money. He was still a top-10 defensive tackle but had sunk to 19th among DT salaries. It is easy to see why he wanted a new contract. 

However, Vea was already 31, had a ton of wear and tear on his body, and his play, while still very good, had started to decline somewhat from his earlier days. 

That made him a very risky player to commit a ton of future money to. However, the Bucs gave in, adding $6 million to his $18 million salary for this season and guaranteeing the full $24 million, as well as a fully guaranteed $24 million salary next season as well. 

Through four games, Vea has not made much of an impact, especially in Tampa’s first two games. 

In retrospect, the Bucs probably could have appeased Vea by giving him a raise this year and guaranteeing his salary without adding a fully guaranteed $24 million for 2027. 

There would have been a robust trade market for Vea had Tampa agreed to deal him. If some type of rebuild is on the way, whatever return the team would have gotten for Vea, plus the extra cap space next year, could have helped jumpstart it.