Baker Mayfield Is Tampa's Franchise Quarterback...So Why Are the Buccaneers Acting Like They're Negotiating for Cable TV?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a Baker Mayfield problem. Not because he's playing poorly. Not because he's missing games. Not because he's causing drama. Their problem is much worse.

Baker Mayfield has been too good, too consistent, and now he's about to get expensive.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles made it crystal clear this week: "There is absolutely no question" he wants Baker as his quarterback long-term. Well Todd, that's great, but the only problem is that your front office is negotiating like they're buying a used Honda Civic on Facebook Marketplace.

Meanwhile, Baker is sitting there wondering what exactly he has to do.

Win division titles? Done.

Replace Tom Brady? Done.

Revive his career? Done.

Become a respected leader in the locker room? Done.

At this point the only thing Baker hasn't done is steer the pirate ship into Raymond James Stadium himself.

The funniest part of this entire story is that Baker isn't asking for "Patrick Mahomes money." Instead, he's asking to be paid like a quarterback who has actually produced. And that's exactly what he has done.

For years people questioned whether Baker could be consistent. Guess what? He has answered that question. Since arriving in Tampa, Baker has been one of the most dependable quarterbacks in football. Week after week, game after game, he has given the Buccaneers stability at the most important position in sports.

Do you know how hard that is to find? Just ask the Jets.

The NFL is filled with teams desperately searching for quarterbacks. Every year franchises spend draft picks, trade picks, fire coaches, hire coaches, blame offensive coordinators, blame offensive lines, blame Mercury being in retrograde and still can't find a quarterback.

Tampa already found one, yet they're acting like they discovered a winning lottery ticket and now aren't sure whether they should cash it.

Mayfield said recently that contract talks aren't anywhere close. Translation? The Buccaneers are trying to order filet mignon while paying hamburger prices. Meanwhile, Todd Bowles keeps telling everyone not to worry, and honestly, Baker doesn't seem worried.

The guy showed up to OTA's throwing touchdowns to Chris Godwin like they were running backyard football routes. Then he let cancer survivors spray paint his hair red during a charity event and looked happier than most fans do after payday.

That's because Baker knows something: The Buccaneers need him more than he needs them. If Tampa somehow lets this drag out and Baker hits free agency, there will be teams lined up faster than New Yorkers grabbing pizza after a Knicks playoff win.

Good, consistent quarterbacks are hard to find. Quarterbacks who win games, stay healthy, lead locker rooms, and fit a city perfectly are even harder to find. Todd Bowles knows it, the fans know it, Baker knows it. The only people still pretending this is a difficult decision are the people holding the checkbook.

The Buccaneers spent years searching for the answer after Tom Brady, then Baker Mayfield walked through the front door. So stop treating him like he's applying for the job because he's already doing it. In other words, just pay the man before another team backs up a Brinks truck and Tampa fans are left wondering how their franchise managed to fumble another easy decision.