Before the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a huge financial commitment to franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield. 

After a prolonged contract dispute, which became contentious and very public, the Bucs caved to Mayfield’s demands. Mayfield would sign a three-year, $165 million extension. His new salary of $55 million per year trails only Patrick Mahomes. 

That is a huge investment to make in any player, let alone a quarterback who most analysts ranked outside the top 10 at the position. 

However, you need a franchise QB to succeed in the NFL, and the Bucs had one in Mayfield. If the choice is to pay up or start over at quarterback, the Bucs made the right call, especially with a skyrocketing salary cap that could have Mayfield’s new deal look like a bargain in a year or two. 

Still, it was a risk, but playing in a weak NFC South division made the decision to pay Mayfield look like a solid investment. 

After nine games, the Bucs are not getting a return on their Baker Mayfield investment. 

So far this season, Mayfield has completed only 86 of his 142 passes for 922 yards. He has thrown only three touchdowns and has four interceptions. 

His QBR is an atrocious 32.4, and a dislocated thumb forced Mayfield to miss Weeks 4-6, the first games he has missed in four seasons with the Bucs. Mayfield has also fumbled six times this season, losing three. 

Tampa Bay is 3-6, and in the two games the team has won with Mayfield under center, he has completed a combined seven passes for 64 yards. 

That’s not going to cut it. 

Mayfield had another poor game as the Bucs fell 27-24 to the Chicago Bears on Thursday night. 

He completed only 18 of 32 passes for 243 yards. Mayfield threw zero touchdowns, but threw a pair of backbreaking interceptions. 

The first came with the Bucs driving down 17-3. The second was a devastating 67-yard pick-six by cornerback Jaylon Johnson near the end of the third quarter. 

The Bucs had clawed back to 17-13 and had the ball with an opportunity to take the lead. The pick-six took away all the momentum Tampa had built and was a huge moment in the loss. 

Since signing Mayfield to the huge contract extension, the Bucs have not gotten nearly enough from their star QB. 

Mayfield and the Bucs found out Sunday night that it is a lot harder to beat an opponent from outside the NFC South.

If the Bucs are going to win their division and possibly go on a run in the playoffs, they need much more from Maker. 

They paid Mayfield to be an elite QB and be the reason the team wins.

It is time for him to start to give the Bucs a return on their investment.