It appears that the NFC South is in for yet another drama-less season where a team stumbles to the finish line to make the playoffs. The only storyline in the entire division that has presented any possible mess was Baker Mayfield's extension talks with the Tampa Bay Bucs--which was short-lived.
We went from seeing contract talks stall to seeing a deal get done just days before the season, as Mayfield just signed a three-year, $165 million ($55M per year) contract extension that makes him one of the highest-paid QBs in NFL history, but it puts things into perspective for the Atlanta Falcons.
Buccaneers, QB Baker Mayfield agree to a three-year, $165M extension. (via @RapSheet, @AdamSchefter) pic.twitter.com/Ch7im4kvPQ
— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2026
Now the Falcons have to face the two-time Pro Bowler twice a year through 2029, ensuring that Kevin Stefanski will get his fair share of matchups with his former quarterback. And it also makes the Buccaneers look that much more competent in comparison to Atlanta's own quarterback issues.
The ripple effect the Baker Mayfield extension has on the Atlanta Falcons
Regardless of how you slice it Baker Mayfield was entering 2026 with a chip on his shoulder--but now he's looking to prove Tampa Bay's front office right instead of wrong. And for a guy who's one of the more fiery personalities in the NFL, you know he's excited about making his old coach look foolish..
The former No. 1 overall pick is clearly happy in Tampa Bay, and keeping your franchise quarterback happy (once you find one) should be the goal of every front office. Unfortunately, finding the signal-caller that they're willing to move heaven and Earth for is easier said than done post-Matt Ryan.
In terms of finding that guy, any hopes of Mayfield and Stefanski having their Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy moment and reuniting in Atlanta next offseason is officially over, though that seemed unlikely anyways given how Baker spoke about his former head coach earlier this offseason. But anything can happen in the NFL, and the Dirty Birds better keep their focus on the 2027 QB class.
The contract terms itself though make the deal sting much less. $55 million a year for a QB on the wrong side of 30 and has never won anything of note in the NFL is incredibly risky. If you know he's likely not winning you a Super Bowl, what is the incentive of going all-in to pay him Mahomes money?
But that's a risk they're in a position to take and the Falcons are not. Atlanta is in the midst of a quarterback dilemma between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa and it doesn't seem like either of them will be the team's long-term answer at the position regardless of how the 2026 season goes.
Baker Mayfield no longer has the lingering threat of a contract extension over his head, but the worst part of this is the message this sends. For an Atlanta Falcons team deep in quarterback purgatory, it's the most painful reminder they of their QB woes, since they likely won't make noise in the NFC South this year or return to the playoffs until they find their franchise guy.
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