I know what I've brought to this franchise," Mayfield said, adding that team ownership had repeatedly told him he was a franchise quarterback. "I think I'm a franchise quarterback. I've been told I'm a franchise quarterback. Mayfield added a pointed warning about the cost of the delay: "If you've waited this long to take care of your franchise quarterback, that's too bad. Mayfield is entering the final year of a three-year, $100 million contract he signed in March 2024, worth up to $115 million with incentives and carrying an average annual value of $33.33 million — currently 16th among NFL quarterbacks.