Only two weeks into the 2026 NFL season, and it’s already painfully clear that some of those monster free-agency contracts are looking like absolute busts. We’re talking major red flags waving all over the place, especially for guys who just got paid like superstars but have put up duds in back-to-back games. A sluggish Week 1 is one thing, but two poor showings in a row? That’s a trend, and teams are already sweating those pricey investments. Before Week 3 even kicks off, we’re seeing some serious contract regret out there.
Mayfield’s Monster Deal Is Already Looking Like a Bust for Tampa Bay
Let’s kick things off with Baker Mayfield, whose back-and-forth contract saga with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally ended with him signing the richest deal in franchise history. We’re talking a three-year, $165 million extension with a mind-boggling $120 million in new guaranteed money. That made Mayfield the league’s third-highest paid quarterback, instantly setting the bar impossibly high for his 2026 season. So far? He’s not even sniffing a top-five level of play.
Through two weeks, Mayfield is completing 71 percent of his throws, which sounds decent, but he’s averaging a career-low 6.4 yards per attempt and has only one touchdown pass. Even worse, he’s turned the ball over four times and taken a brutal seven sacks. It’s no surprise the Bucs are sitting at 0-2 and already staring down the barrel of missing the playoffs for the second straight year. Remember when he was a revelation after Tom Brady left? He had Pro Bowl campaigns in 2023 and 2024, hitting career highs of 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. But his production dipped hard in 2025, and now he looks nowhere near that 2024 peak. Mayfield might be a competent passer, sure, one who could maybe get an offense to the playoffs, but he’s not elevating the Bucs to a Super Bowl level. If he can’t get his numbers up and win some desperately needed games this September, Tampa Bay is absolutely going to regret this decision.
Travis Etienne Jr. and the Risky Business of Running Back Contracts
Then there’s Travis Etienne Jr., who just became the latest star rusher to fall victim to the “second contract” curse for running backs. It’s a risky game to dole out big money to these guys, and Etienne’s new four-year, $48 million deal with $28 million guaranteed from the New Orleans Saints is already raising eyebrows. Etienne, a 2021 first-round pick, had a huge bounce-back 2025 campaign with Jacksonville, racking up 1,399 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns from scrimmage after shaking off previous injuries and poor play. He was a crucial part of the Jaguars’ 13-4 season.
But here’s the kicker: Jacksonville didn’t make a strong push to keep the 27-year-old. That tells you everything you need to know, doesn’t it? The Saints shelled out big bucks, and now everyone is waiting to see if he’s the next running back to regress after signing a massive free-agent deal.
The league is only two weeks in, but the pressure is already immense for guys like Mayfield and Etienne. For the Bucs, they need Mayfield to channel that 2024 magic against their next opponent, or that historic contract will become an historic nightmare. For the Saints, they’ve got to hope Etienne can prove the Jaguars wrong, and quickly. This early season drama is real, folks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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