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Ranking NFL's top 25 potential free agents in 2027

Article ranks the top 25 potential NFL free agents in 2027, with Baker Mayfield highlighted as a marquee prospect.

First seen Jul 30, 2026 · 3:00 PM UTC · last updated Jul 30 6:30 PM

Scoring Zone's Take

Baker Mayfield's frustration over the Buccaneers' failure to extend him before camp is a storyline worth monitoring but carries no direct fantasy impact right now — this is a contract dispute, not an injury, benching, or depth-chart change. He remains Tampa Bay's starting quarterback heading into the season, and nothing in these reports suggests his on-field role or workload is in question.

For draft prep, treat Mayfield as you would any other established starting QB with a defined offense, without discounting him for the contract noise. The bigger red flag is the mention that he's being framed as a marquee name on 2027 free-agent lists, which signals real uncertainty about his long-term situation in Tampa Bay beyond this season. That's a dynasty and keeper-league consideration more than anything relevant to a single-season redraft — if you're in a long-term format, this is a nudge to watch for further extension talk (or lack thereof) as camp progresses, since a disgruntled or unresolved contract situation can occasionally affect motivation, negotiating leverage, or even trade rumors down the line.

Bottom line: draft Mayfield based on his standard QB1/QB2 value in Tampa's offense; don't let the contract drama push him down your board yet. This is a low-confidence, speculative situation at this stage — no source indicates any competition for the starting job or a change in offensive scheme. Monitor for updates closer to camp, but there's no actionable start/sit or add/drop move here today.

Mayfield discussed his disappointment in not receiving a contract extension from Tampa Bay before training camp in his Thursday press conference.

Coverage from Pft Nbc News · by Myles Simmons · read original