Buccaneers' Quarterback Can Now Make An Additional $4.5 Million

Baker Mayfield has been named the starting QB and will have the opportunity to hit the incentives in his contract.

Baker Mayfield has been named the Buccaneers Week 1 starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by head coach Todd Bowles.

The former first-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft signed a 1-year deal with the Buccaneers this off-season. The incentives in the contract are set up to reward him if he is the starter for the majority of the season.  

READ MORE: How the Relationship Fell Apart Between Buccaneers, Kyle Trask

If he gets hurt or the season doesn't go the Bucs' way, it would make sense for them to give Kyle Trask an opportunity to start with Baker's deal.

Baker Mayfield has $4.5 million in incentives, most of which are based on how much he plays. #GoBucs

- $500K 66% offensive snaps (+$1 million for playoffs)

- $750K 75% offensive snaps (+$1.5 million for playoffs)

- $1 million 85% offensive snaps (+$2 million for playoffs) pic.twitter.com/3yXMNeFcV0

— Benjamin Meyerson (@ByBenMeyerson) August 22, 2023

His incentives are based on how much he plays this season and whether or not the team makes the playoffs.

- $500,000 if he plays 66% of the team snaps ($1,000,000 total if they make the playoffs)

- $750,000 if he plays 75% of the team snaps ($1,500,000 total if they make the playoffs)

- $1,000,000 if he plays 85% of the team snaps ($2,000,000 total if they make the playoffs)

- $250,000 per playoff game if he plays 75% of the regular season snaps and playoff game snaps

-$300,000 per category if he finishes Top 10 in NFL or Top 5 in NFC in Passer Rating, TD Passes, Total Yards Passing, Completion Percentage, Yards per attempt 

READ MORE: Baker Mayfield Speaks After Being Named Buccaneers’ Starting Quarterback

By signing him to this deal the team wanted Mayfield to win the job. But he still had to beat out Kyle Trask in training camp first and now he has to hang onto the starting job for most of the season.

If the Buccaneers are out of the playoff race early enough it will be interesting to see how they handle the position with Kyle Trask behind Baker.

For Mayfield, this is his opportunity to prove that he is worthy of being a starting quarterback now and in the future, whether it is in Tampa or elsewhere. 

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