Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has shared his thoughts on the contract situation of quarterback Baker Mayfield.
McCoy, a six-time Pro Bowl selection during his tenure in Tampa Bay, offered his perspective on how the organization is handling the quarterback position. Mayfield, who serves as the Buccaneers' starting quarterback, remains a central figure in the franchise's offensive plans.
As a prominent alumnus who remains closely connected to the franchise, McCoy's insights draw attention to the team's ongoing roster and financial strategies. The discussion comes as Tampa Bay continues its preparations for the upcoming 2026 NFL season.
If you get rid of Baker, who is that guy? The draft is full of question marks. I don't care how good they were in college. That does not guarantee they will be good in the NFL.--Gerald McCoy on Baker Mayfield contract negotiations
While the question of "who could you replace him with?" is a legitimate concern, the notion of "nobody can possibly replace him" that comes with such an open-ended question is where it gets problematic. Baker Mayfield isn't irreplaceable. He's not a dominant force that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can't replicate. He's not a Mike Evans, Vita Vea, or Lavonte David.
Baker Mayfield is a sometimes-solid player who can exist on a winning team. But he's not a constant catalyst for the team's success. The question of "who can replace him?" was asked by rabid Jameis Winston fans. The answer then was--ANYONE who doesn't handicap the team with costly turnovers, routine up-and-down play, and a ridiculous salary cap number. Oddly enough, seven years later, it's the same answer to Gerald McCoy's question about his fellow Oklahoma alumni, Baker Mayfield.
The full interview by Kyle Odegard and the original article by Amy Harris can be found here.