Bucs QB Baker Mayfield: 'We're gonna shock a lot of people' - ESPN

TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, who will play in Saturday's second preseason game against Kansas City Chiefs has gotten wind of what some prognosticators are saying about the Bucs in 2026 after failing to reach the postseason last year.

«I think we're gonna shock a lot of people this year» Mayfield said Tuesday. «You can't avoid it. There's some TVs everywhere.»

When a reporter followed up, «Are you that confident?» Mayfield responded, «Hell yeah I am. Everybody's picking us probably to have a losing record so...we'll see.»

Mayfield has had to brush aside the frustrations of not getting a new contract despite a pre-camp deadline he imposed along with his agent Tom Mills. Mayfield also said he felt «disrespected» by what the Bucs had initially offered.

When asked about being among the top 10 or in the $50-plus-million-per-year club, Mayfield told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler he «needed to be put in that category» and the Bucs were «pretty far» from it. He was also unhappy with just a two-year offer despite being told privately and publicly by the team that they see him as their «franchise quarterback.» And the timeline of events frustrated him.

«If you've waited this long to take care of your franchise quarterback, that's too bad because it's only going to get worse from here. I'm going to have a really big year,» Mayfield said.

General manager Jason Licht said recently that Mayfield is «focused on having the best year of his career.»

He had previously set statistical personal bests with the Bucs in 2023 and 2024 befoe taking a step back in 2025. Injuries — not just to him but to his supporting cast — certainly were a factor in that.

But he has participated in every camp practice, looking strong and