Baker Mayfield, the former No.1 draft pick from 2018, could be in for a whopping $2.2 million (£1.73m) reward after dispelling doubts that he was the right man to replace Tom Brady at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After struggling with both the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams in 2022, his move to the Buccaneers on a one-year deal raised eyebrows.
However, as we approach the final week of the NFL regular season, it's clear that this has been a smart move. While he may not be on par with Brady, Mayfield has proven himself as an efficient and effective leader, steering the Buccaneers toward the NFL Playoffs.
As Week 18 looms, reports suggest that both Mayfield and the Buccaneers are keen to stick together next year, facing an offseason contract decision. There's also a hefty cash reward up for grabs for Mayfield if he can deliver one last stellar performance against the Carolina Panthers.
Front Office Sports reveals that Mayfield could still earn a staggering $2.2 million (£1.73m) in contract incentives in the Week 18 matchup, having signed a contract heavily based on performance and with a modest $1.125 million base salary.
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The most enticing treat for the player is straightforward - make the NFL playoffs. A victory against the Panthers on Sunday would guarantee the Buccaneers do exactly that, granting Mayfield a cool $1 million (£790k) in the process.
He can pocket an additional $300,000 (£236k) if he ranks among the top 10 in the NFL or the top five in the NFC in several solo quarterback categories. Currently, he's on track to hit these targets but will need a solid performance against the Panthers to secure them. The categories are:
- Passer rating (currently ninth in NFL, fifth in NFC)
- TD passes (currently tied for fourth in both NFL and NFC)
- Passing yards (currently eighth in NFL and fifth in NFC)
- Yards per attempt (currently 10th in NFL and seventh in NFC).
Mayfield could earn big money in the final game against the Carolina Panthers (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)Despite a rocky start to the season filled with doubt about his ability to lead the Bucs back into the playoffs without Brady, Mayfield has truly excelled.
At training camp, when questioned about filling Brady's shoes, he shared his admiration for Brady but highlighted his focus on improving his own game, aptly demonstrated in his current pursuit of some hefty financial rewards.
"I've always been myself," Mayfield confessed back in August. "That's kind of why people either love or hate me. So I do it my own way. And I enjoy doing it."
"I have fun while I'm doing it.... I respect (Brady) completely, but I'm not going to ever try and be him. I'm not built like him. I don't play like him. So just, yeah, try to be the best version of myself."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to webhomepage@mirror.co.uk
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