Rob Gronkowski says Baker Mayfield showed why he is the “ultimate teammate” moments after signing a $100 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Former Bucs tight end Gronkowski and Mayfield met for a gym session together in the offseason, and it coincided with the former Cleveland Browns quarterback signing a huge contract as reward for an impressive 2023 season.

Four-time Super Bowl champion Gronkowski, who played exclusively with Tom Brady as his starting quarterback throughout his career, knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a leader in the NFL, and he believes former No. 1 overall pick Mayfield checks all the boxes.

“He’s kind of like a dude’s dude, he’s kind of like a dog. He’s headbutting, he’ll go play paintball with you, he’ll go to the bar and pound six beers, you name it. Pickleball, I’ve played pickleball with him,” Gronkowski said on his “Dudes on Dudes” podcast.

“He’s like the ultimate teammate, an ultimate locker room guy. Quarterbacks aren’t really like this. I feel like he would get in the trenches with you.

“He’s a guy that wants to see you be an absolute dog, he’s a guy that’s cheering you on. I was breaking some personal records, [he was] cheering me on, hyping me up, I’m hyping him up to break personal records records.

Mayfield leads the NFL in touchdowns this season

Mayfield leads the NFL in touchdowns this season ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

“He’s not afraid to get dirty and what I really like about the dude is he’s just a normal dude, man. He just wants to have a good time.

“He actually signed a three-year, $100 million deal the morning of and then he came to the workout session day and it was like nothing happened. It was just like he showed up, he didn’t have an ego or a big head or nothing. He’s just a normal dude out there trying to have a good time.”

Mayfield was selected first overall by the Browns in 2018, making the playoffs once. But he was shipped out of Cleveland to make way for Deshaun Watson, and it appeared Mayfield’s days as a starter could be numbered.

A brief stint with the Carolina Panthers followed in 2022, going 1-5 before being cut. He was handed a lifeline by the Los Angeles Rams after an injury to Matthew Stafford, and a short time working with offensive guru Sean McVay seemed to do him the world of good.

Mayfield was brought in by the Bucs as a free agent last year after Brady’s retirement, signing a one-year prove-it deal. The former Oklahoma star obliged, leading his team to the playoffs and making it past the Wildcard round with a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The 29-year-old has made an excellent start to the 2024 campaign, leading the Bucs to a 4-3 record. Mayfield has racked up a league-high 18 touchdowns against seven interceptions, throwing for 1,589 yards with a passer rating in excess of 107. He and the Bucs face NFC South rivals the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.