With a looming training camp deadline and a starring turn in Netflix’s new season of Quarterback, the veteran passer may suddenly hold all the leverage.
Tick tock.
The clock is ticking for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to reach a contract extension with quarterback Baker Mayfield. Veterans report to training camp on July 28, which is the deadline Mayfield has set to reach an agreement with the Bucs on a new deal before cutting off contract talks until after the season.
That gives the two sides 17 more days to get the deal done. Recent reports suggest that the organization is confident the final offer they submit to Mayfield will be the best he gets from any NFL team and believes the QB will accept.
Perhaps the organization should get that offer in front of Mayfield as quickly as possible, because his price may be going up soon.
That's because, on July 14, season 3 of Quarterback will be released on Netflix. The show will feature Mayfield, rising stars Jayden Daniels and Cam Ward, and ageless wonder Joe Flacco.
JoeBucsFan raises an excellent point by contemplating whether Mayfield's appearance on Netflix will affect his contract negotiations with the Bucs.
According to Joe, Mayfield isn't just part of the cast of Quarterback; he is the "runaway star."
Dalton Ross of Entertainment Weekly, who has already seen the entire season, gushes about Mayfield on the show. Mayfield gave a great interview to EW, disclosing that "no limits" were put on what Netflix could film.
According to Ross, a devout Washington Commanders fan, Mayfield steals the show.
"While this writer grew up in Washington, D.C., and is therefore a die-hard Commanders fan, even I have to admit that Mayfield steals the season. There is an impressive number of juicy clips showing epic trash-talking from the master of the form, mixed in with tender family scenes (with wife Emily and daughter Kova) and a super fun bye-week trip to the New York City Marathon."
How Could The Show Raise Mayfield's Price?
As JoeBucsFan notes, Mayfield's star turn on the show will likely endear him to football fans all over the country. Though Mayfield is already a household name to NFL fans, this show will give everybody a chance to see him up close and personal, both as a player and as a man.
Not only will we get to see him on the field, where his trash-talking and willingness to put his body on the line (perhaps too often) is sure to entertain, but we will also get to see him as a husband and father.
The more fans of other NFL teams become familiar with Mayfield, the more they will start to hope he becomes their team's next quarterback. More attention will be paid to his contract standoff with the Bucs, and any attempts by the organization to low-ball their QB will have fans everywhere defending the former top overall pick.
If Mayfield senses that other teams' interest in him is spiking, it may make him more open-minded to the idea of leaving Tampa, especially if the Bucs allow him to become a free agent and he receives massive offers elsewhere.
Final Thoughts
While Mayfield staying in Tampa is still the likeliest outcome, his appearance on Quarterback may give him even more leverage in negotiations.
The longer the Bucs allow Mayfield to go without a new contract, the more they risk his price going up or losing him altogether.
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