The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, despite nailing their picks in the NFL draft, don’t seem like a team that’s going to be a contender in 2026 — which means they could very well be picking at the top of the NFL draft in 2027.
For the Buccaneers, that could mean getting a shot at a 1st round quarterback in a draft class that many believe could be historical in terms of talent.
Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman put the Buccaneers on his list of teams that should already be considered “on the clock” to draft a 1st round quarterback in the 2027 NFL draft.
“Baker Mayfield is a free agent after this season, but it’s still likely the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will give him a lucrative extension after three solid seasons taking over for Tom Brady,” Auman wrote. “If they don’t, there’s no heir apparent on the current roster, so they’d be on this list, though they’ve had good luck in the last two veterans they’ve found in free agency. They’ve drafted only one quarterback (Kyle Trask) in the last decade.”
The 2027 draft is expected to match or exceed the record number of quarterbacks drafted in the 1st round — 6 each in 1983 and 2024. That group of college quarterbacks is led by Oregon’s Dante Moore, Texas’ Arch Manning, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Indiana’s Josh Hoover, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby, and Miami’s Darian Mensah.
Bucs Won’t Commit to Mayfield’s New Contract
If Mayfield could somehow put together a season that lifts the Buccaneers back into the NFC Playoffs in 2026, he could be in line for a payday that lands him somewhere between $50 million and $60 million per season.
Until then, though, Mayfield will get to play out the final season of the 3-year, $100 million contract he signed before the 2024 season.
On the 1st day of the annual NFL owners meetings on March 30, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht told AP NFL Reporter Rob Maadi he wants Mayfield with the Buccaneers for the foreseeable future.
“Baker is a true pro,” Licht said. “He’s a leader for this team. We love Baker. Baker is still our quarterback. He’s one of the toughest guys on the team. He’s a great leader. Everything kind of revolves around the quarterback spot. At some point, I’m sure we’ll figure something out. There’s no timetable on that.”
Oddsmakers Don’t Think Much of Bucs’ Chances
With Mayfield leading the way — and without veteran leaders in wide receiver Mike Evans (free agency) and inside linebacker Lavonte David (retirement) — Vegas oddsmakers are giving the Buccaneers little hope of success in 2026.
The opening totals for the Buccaneers on DraftKings for over/under wins in 2026 were set at 8.5 wins. The other 3 teams in the NFC South Division are all vastly improved, which could mean a rough road ahead for the Buccaneers.
Following consecutive Pro Bowl seasons and consecutive NFC South Division titles in 2023 and 2024, Mayfield and the Buccaneers went 5-1 to start the 2025 season before stumbling to an 8-9 record.
It was the 1st time since 2019 that the Buccaneers missed the NFCPplayoffs.
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